Almost there and then

[THEFERMANATOR]

Well I was hoping to take my HYDRA for it's first trip this weekend, but it decided otherwise. I started the day off by removing the engine to replace the aluminum around the transom due to corrosion. Got the new one cut and re-installed, and decided to add in a reinforcement bar on the upper 2 bolts. Got it all back together and the upper 2 bolts were too short now:cen:. After almost an hour of searching looking for 2 new bolts($12 for 2 bolts) I was able to actually mount the engine. Well it has BRASS locknuts on them and one strips out when tightening it back up, so I install stainless. So I'm almost ready, just need to install the float switch.

Well I try to start it and it doesn't want to kick over, check everything over and decide the starter is the dragging. Pull the starter off and figure it might need brush's. Pull it apart and find that the brass bushing in the end cap popped out and drove itself up into the armeture windings, and let the armeture flop around and break both magnets. Plus the brush's are shot. So now I need a new starter, no saving this one:nut:. So now an aftermarket starter will set back anywhere from $100-$250 depending wether I go with super cheap generic EBAY or an ARCO unit. And I still have to go down and give the tax man his money for registration and such:bat:. It just never ends.

[charlie_the_tuna]

nope, it dont.

[macojoe]

If I didn't have bad luck, I would not have any!! :bat:

[rb437]

I think my signature line says it all.

[willy]

Even when new they get ya, good luck Ferm

[THEFERMANATOR]

Well I went and rigged the starter up so I can at least run it some. I put it in the pond behind the house so I could do some trailer work on it. I got to run it in the water, and it doesn't want to idle with backpressure on it:nut:. Plus when the idle gets down below 800 it knocks like he!!:cen:. So it looks like I will be tearing into the powerhead soon to see if it has a cracked piston skirt:nut:. So much for that just rebuilt engine line he gave me. I'm not the sueing kind, but I may be pursueing a small claims suit against him for lying and misrepresentation. I new I should have sea trialed before buying, but he said he was just to busy to do it right now:bsflag:. I think I need another hobby, boats just don't seem to be for me. I'm going to take it out tommorrow and see just how bad it is, and get a feel for how much time I have before I have to crack it open.

[randlemanboater]

Try the small claims, if that doesn't work get Willy to come down and take it out of his hide.

[Blue_Runner]

Dang dude...I was gonna say just wrap a rope around the flywheel and put that starter on hold but sounds like you have other problems. Man I hate to hear it Ferm. You deserve better bro. Best of luck and let us know if we can help in any way.

Blue

[nymack66]

Ferm, If you need a replacement engine , I have a 1977 v4 140 25" , complete with all parts looks great and clean , I got a steal on it , was told it needs a pack , Its all yours for free , well kinda , I will just pick your brains from time to time on my 87 v4 140 , You have provided great help and this is my pay back time !! I can send you pictures if you need em

[THEFERMANATOR]

This is one of those times where a compression test isn't always right. It has good compression 82-90 across all holes, but you can't measure crankcase compression. The engine sounds fine at 1100+ where it runs on the hose, but once it drops down knock knock. I should have known better than to take his word, but he seemed upfront and honest. Oh well ,looks like I found a replacement powerhead already. Just waiting to see how it goes on Ebay. I do still have my 85 140 that is pretty potent, but these hulls need at least 175HP to really perform. There about 500 pounds heavier than a V-20 with a variable deadrise coming out close to 19 degrees at the transom, but ALOT in the bow area. And I don't trust other peoples rebuilds for just this reason. You can tell it was recently apart, but who knows what they did in there(obviously not what was needed).

And thanks for the offer NYMACK, you can still pick my brain for free. Just don't pick too hard, there aint much there.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Well hopefully this one works out. I'll bring my micrometers with me when I go to get it.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=120252530922&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=002

[Bygracealone]

Ferm, I hope this works out well for you. I'm so sorry you've had so many troubles with it.

Also, congrats on what seems to be a sweet deal on that rebuilt powerhead. I wish I lived closer to you, I'd be happy to give you an extra set of hands (but that's all I'd be able to lend you since I don't know much about outboards...).

Anyway, when do you pick it up and when do you think you'll have the work all done and ready to take her out?

[THEFERMANATOR]

I sent him my number to arrange pick-up on it. With my luck, I'm going to pull this one down and go through it myself first. I'm hoping by next week if all goes well to have it done. My other half is going to her parents house SUNDAY and coming back TUESDAY, so hopefully some peace and quiet will let me get it knocked out. And then I'll get this one tore down and survey the damage. I went ahead and took it out today, and the boat rides like a dream. BGA will have a grin from ear to ear when he gets his out on the water, but definately get trim tabs. The variable deadrise on these hulls tends to list from one side to the other.

My girlfriend was also VERY happy with the ride of it. The last big boat I took her out on was the SEARAY 250, and this HYDRA rides SO much better:sun:. Unfortuneatly I forgot my camera and GPS at the house, so no figures or pictures to post. But my taking it for a ride really helped to give me some motivation to finish it. Hopefully soon I'll be able to put LUMBER into shock from fish blood EVERYWHERE:love:!

[Bygracealone]

Oh man! Now you got me going... I've got to get a move on the work that I need to do...

I'm really happy that you're digging the boat. Glad your lady likes it too, that's always a plus.

[THEFERMANATOR]

This one has a set of LENCO'S on it, 9X12 tab size. They're actually marginally big enough. I figured a set of M-80's would do, but after seeing how it reacts to tabs M-120's may be better. At slower speeds I could easily run full tabs to push the bow down, making me think it could use more tabs. I personally like the BENNETT tabs, but these were on it with a new control box so they can stay for awhile. They do react quickly when you hit the button, but electrical and saltwater just don't ever seem to agree for me.

[macojoe]

Wow thats a great price on the power head!! Can't wait till you get ht set up, its going to look good on my motor!! I knew you said you would rebuild mine but never thought you go thur all this!!:clap:


Really I hope you make out this time!! and what boat is this going on?? I am sorry I have gotten lost :head:

I have 9X12 Bennett's on the 23 Sea Ox that was the size the tec told me to put on. I have taken it out on test runs and all seems well. But this is the first season for them so we will see? I have never had trim tabs before on any boat so AI a newbie.

[THEFERMANATOR]

89 HYDRA-SPORT 2000CC, the same as what BGA just bought. It currently has 12X9's on it for tabs, but at slow speeds it felt like it could use more. At high speeds you don't really need them at all except to level it out as the hull as a flare at the transom which acts as a tab at 35+. This is also the reason why anything more than about a 200 is a waste on these hulls, they just won't go much faster once you get beyond 45(which is about where a 200 should push it to, I got 43 on the dash speedo but don't think it was accurate). You could hang 300HP on the back and only barely eek out a 225 due to the hull design.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Well just when things start looking up, they crash back down. It was a no go on the other engine. It's a good thing I brought my bore guage with me to check the bore. First thing I noticed was that the pistons were used and had been chemically cleaned, and that the cylinders had been honed and not bored like he said. The first words out of his mouth though was that "I was hoping the pictures of the new pistons would help it sell". So I took my guage and measured the cylinders. The bore was 25 thousands ovbersized at the smallest point, and 33 thousandths at the ports:cen:. BAD NEWS! This engine would be lucky to clean up at 30 and would most likely need to go 40 over. So I said no thank you. Fortunately he meet me 20 minutes from my house so I didn't have to drive an hour to look at it. So it looks like I'll be doing a write up soon on a powerhead rebuild:sad:, at least then I'll know who to blame if it aint right.

[bradford]

You'll get her done Ferm. If nothing else you still have the PINK JEEP!

[THEFERMANATOR]

Well it keeps getting worse. I got time today to get the heads off of it and check the bore size. The bottom 2 holes are close to standard, but 1 and 3 are already 30 over with about 4-6 thousandths of egg shape to em. 2 and 4 are already 34 over with 6-7 thousandths of egging to them. So the engine looks like it will need 2 sleeves at the min since the largest oversize I have found is 40 over. FUN FUN!:bat:

[willy]

Jeez Ferm, you got skills with them engines I wish I had. If it had been me I would have been at the mercy of the idots you dealt with.
You will get it sorted out and when you do it will be sweet. Just keep that in mind.

[THEFERMANATOR]

Looks like i could bore this one out to 40 over and run WISECOS, but I may have a leed on another block. I can't believe what some people call a rebuild now days, this thing was a mess inside. 20 over pistons and 4 holes are 30 over, no wonder it rattled so bad in the water with backpressure on it. Hopefully I can get it sorted out soon, although I have somebody interested in my BRAVO 1 set-up. If I can sell it for my asking price i may find me a nice used OPTI, or take my flats boat and use it as a trade towards a new 4 stroke. Decisions decisions, but the price of gas sure is making them there new fangled outboards look good.

[cterrebonne]

ferm if you plan on running wiseco's in a merc make sure who you get to bore the engine knows alot of those pistons because they have a tendency to need a slightly larger bore if not they swell and will seize up in the cyl. they are good pistons though but you need to bore them right.

[THEFERMANATOR]

JOHNNY-RUDE 200 looper. I have a line on a 2.7L block, and hope to get it and bore it to stock 3L specs.

[cterrebonne]

JOHNNY-RUDE 200 looper. I have a line on a 2.7L block, and hope to get it and bore it to stock 3L specs.

my bad ferm, yeah OMC guys love the wiseco's they work well in those blocks too. those extra 300cc's should give you some more torque down low.

[THEFERMANATOR]

I have a 3L now, but the 2.7L is supposed to be better on fuel usage than the 3L's. The 2.7L block has a MASSIVE exhaust opening in them, said to be 30% larger than the 88-92 3L's and roughly 45% larger than the 93+ 3L finger port engines. My main concern is fuel efficiency though(if you could possibly consider a big 2 stroke efficient), not so much HP. Still kicking around the idea of a modern DFI engine though, also have found a 175 SUZUKI to the south of me for under $10K brand new. Scared to call and see what they want for rigging though.