Re: Progress so far
 

Can't you just keep two sets and alternate cleaning them? I haven't seen them in a while but my dad used to have a spark plug cleaner. It had a small electric motor with soft brass brushes inside and you just stuck the plug in the hole and it came out all spiffy clean. They must still make them, but even if you cleaned in gasoline and wire brushed them yourself, I would think that you'd be able to reuse them a few times.

Re: Progress so far
 

well I have done that in the past and they don't last that long , maybe one or two trips. So as soon as they give me crap I change them.
I am going to be taking it to Jeff for a tune up, water pump, and winter fogging. I don't no how long it has been since this stuff has been done so want to get it out of the way.
I will ask him what he thinks?? I no he wants me to fix the injection system but I don't have the faith that it will work all the time and Blow the engin. If there was a alarm for the system shutting down i would do it.

Re: Progress so far
 

Been quite a while since I last posted. Had some trouble getting parts quickly and as the season ran down, decided to concentrate more on fishing and less on being a mechanic. Also had some employment problems that took most of my attention for a couple of months. But now I'm back working on the engine.

Tore the whole thing down, polished all the journals and replaced any bearings showing wear. Pistons and rings are good and only one cylinder shows very slight scoring due to a stuck ring. I've removed the oil pump and warning module because the oil pump gear on the crankshaft was chewed up. Going to premix.

Finally began reassembly the other day. It's going pretty fast. In just a couple of hours, I put all the pistons and crankshaft in and got the crankcase cover back on. It looks like a engine again.

During the teardown it was obvious that a couple of the spark coils were pretty well corroded and need to be replaced along with ignition wiring. Haven't looked at the carbs but I might rebuild them too.

I'll keep you posted.

Re: Progress so far
 

Sounds great!!
Better hurry up, fishing is just around the corner. At least I like to think so!!
You going to keep that thing moored?? or trailer?? I like to show you and Christen around the Vinyard sometime.

Well keep us posted!!

Re: Progress so far
 

Hi Macojoe,

If you check out Striped-bass.com, you'll see that we haven't stopped fishing (and , at least for Christian, catching) stripers yet. The engine is going back together a lot faster than it came apart- so it will be ready for an early season. Let's just hope it runs when I'm done!

With any luck it will be moored at a yacht club in Boston Habba this year. Cost of theBoston south shore marina it's at now is too high. It's on a trailer which really needs some work before it goes very far. Planning on doing trailer work when boat is in water this summer.

Christian and I would really enjoy hooking up with you this year to check out the Vinyard.

Repirts (AKA Christian's Dad)

Re: Progress so far
 

I left Christian a message saying that hes going to be showing us how to fish soon!! on the SB site.

Well if you can't trailer you can come out on my tub sometime this summer, and I will show you a nice Fluking area around the Vinyard. But you may have to clean the fish gut off your feet before geting in your car? I really don't clean that old tub to much. ::)

Lets no how it comes out!!

Re: Progress so far
 

Can I go on your tub too? huh? Can I, can I? hmmmmm? :-*

Re: Progress so far
 

Only if I get some tounge :P

Re: Progress so far
 

Ok with that picture in my mind, I won't sleep for a week.

Hi Macojoe,

It was great to talk to you and your daughter last saturday. Worked on the engine when i got home. I'm 99% done. Just going to replace a couple of suspect spark coils and plug wires and I'm done! As soon as it warms up a little I'll the powerhead back on the boat.

Sure hope it starts in the spring but I don't see why it wouldn't.

Re: Progress so far
 

That tongue is why I didn't go to the Plugfest Saturday. :o I was afraid of catching whatever unidentified germs and fluids MJ has been expelling the last few days :-X
I hope it works out for ya Repirts. We'll have to have a Northeast V20 get together on the water this year. ;D