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I finally found a 14ft jon boat, with title that I bought for my son. Jeez, it's hard to find one with a title, I might add.
Anyway, we picked it up in Alvin and brought it home. He wanted to take it for a test ride before calling it a night. Big surprise.
So, we hooked up the 4hp mariner that he found a few months ago. Started it up, and I showed him how to throttle it and put it in gear.
So, he puts it in gear, goes out about 100ft, turns around while he screwing with the throttle when all of a sudden he takes a sharp turn while accelerating, he gets excited and pushes down on the throttle arm and it breaks off in his hand. LOL..... you should have seen his face while holding onto the throttle that wasn't attached to anything and the motor reving away. Perfect visual for ...WTF.....
You had to be there, it was funny. Anyway, he brought it in with a big smile on his face. I did a quick re-engineering of the throttle arm, replaced it with vice grips, showed him how to steer without the arm and he was off and running.
He ran it for about a half hour. Everything seems fine. The pee stream is really hot. I replaced the impeller, but I guess the jackets are corroded (no thermostat that I can tell). I don't think I want to spend anymore time on the engine. So, maybe we'll run it until it goes......... If anyone has any suggestions, please post them.
He has his summer planned and has already invited all his friends to fish and crab.
Anyway, we picked it up in Alvin and brought it home. He wanted to take it for a test ride before calling it a night. Big surprise.
So, we hooked up the 4hp mariner that he found a few months ago. Started it up, and I showed him how to throttle it and put it in gear. So, he puts it in gear, goes out about 100ft, turns around while he screwing with the throttle when all of a sudden he takes a sharp turn while accelerating, he gets excited and pushes down on the throttle arm and it breaks off in his hand. LOL..... you should have seen his face while holding onto the throttle that wasn't attached to anything and the motor reving away. Perfect visual for ...WTF.....
You had to be there, it was funny. Anyway, he brought it in with a big smile on his face. I did a quick re-engineering of the throttle arm, replaced it with vice grips, showed him how to steer without the arm and he was off and running.
He ran it for about a half hour. Everything seems fine. The pee stream is really hot. I replaced the impeller, but I guess the jackets are corroded (no thermostat that I can tell). I don't think I want to spend anymore time on the engine. So, maybe we'll run it until it goes......... If anyone has any suggestions, please post them.
He has his summer planned and has already invited all his friends to fish and crab.
"I love the smell of napalm and watermelon slicks in the mornin'...."
Nothing like a kid and his first boat. Even the mess ups turn into cherished memories. No suggestions on the motor, except perhaps trying some of that Salt Away stuff and running it in a bucket with that stuff.
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