Im starting this thread to help anyone that wants to learn more about
the basic stuff to help save a trip and save some money.
ask any question you might not be sure about and I will, and others Im sure will share many long years of frustrating times we over came.
The outboard engine 101
the mac 101
getting along with your wife 101 ( need a teacher for this one im no good at it)
each subject will be taken into a seperate thread so as to save in order
for others to use.
spelling 101 (need teacher for that one twoooo)
Maybe all those years I spent on this kind of thing will help someone else
I have gone from changing spark plugs in a fouled jet ski, to total rebuild of a 455 olds jet boat engine in a camp site. removed and replaced
with the help of a couple of come alongs and big ooow tree limb
Just ask mike
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FreeStyle
- Deckhand
- Posts: 31
- Joined: Sat May 27, 2006 11:42 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Atlanta '06 26M 60HP Yamaha
Aya16
Thanks for starting this discussion and your commitment to what may be a lot of typing.
My new M will be delivered soon so my question comes from anticipation rather than experience. The motor will be a four stroke Yamaha 60 whose technology is completely new to me. What do you see as the most common problems with these types of engines? The purpose of the question is to determine what I should have on board in terms of tools and spare parts as I plan my boating adventures. (Im generally OK with tools and repairs as long as I know what the problems are.)
John
Thanks for starting this discussion and your commitment to what may be a lot of typing.
My new M will be delivered soon so my question comes from anticipation rather than experience. The motor will be a four stroke Yamaha 60 whose technology is completely new to me. What do you see as the most common problems with these types of engines? The purpose of the question is to determine what I should have on board in terms of tools and spare parts as I plan my boating adventures. (Im generally OK with tools and repairs as long as I know what the problems are.)
John
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Freestyle
The new four stroke fuel injected engines are just flat great, and spare parts I have aboard for mine are very few, a quart of oil a spare water pump kit and some plugs. The plugs are not really needed but a habit from my old two stroke days.
the new engines seem to be, they work or they dont, and you will find this out the first time you try it. repairs on the computer controlled engines are very limited to us. but there are some new things we need to know (read the owners manual) but one new thing about these engines we need to know is when we turn the key on a buzzer will sound for a few seconds, the buzzer is two things, It tells you the warning system like low oil or over heating is working, but some dont know that when the buzzer sounds its also telling you that the fuel injection is powering up and we should not turn the key all the way to start the engine till the buzzer stops sounding. We still have to pump the primer bulb before we start it also.
the other thing is if you have a dead battery the engine can not be pull started with out some voltage. I carry one of those cheap portable jump starters just for that reason, they dont have the power to turn the engine over with a completely dead battery but will provide enough juice to let you pull start the motor . dont ask me how I know this....
In rocky shallow areas a spare prop would be a good idea to have too.
welcome to the Mac world
The new four stroke fuel injected engines are just flat great, and spare parts I have aboard for mine are very few, a quart of oil a spare water pump kit and some plugs. The plugs are not really needed but a habit from my old two stroke days.
the new engines seem to be, they work or they dont, and you will find this out the first time you try it. repairs on the computer controlled engines are very limited to us. but there are some new things we need to know (read the owners manual) but one new thing about these engines we need to know is when we turn the key on a buzzer will sound for a few seconds, the buzzer is two things, It tells you the warning system like low oil or over heating is working, but some dont know that when the buzzer sounds its also telling you that the fuel injection is powering up and we should not turn the key all the way to start the engine till the buzzer stops sounding. We still have to pump the primer bulb before we start it also.
the other thing is if you have a dead battery the engine can not be pull started with out some voltage. I carry one of those cheap portable jump starters just for that reason, they dont have the power to turn the engine over with a completely dead battery but will provide enough juice to let you pull start the motor . dont ask me how I know this....
In rocky shallow areas a spare prop would be a good idea to have too.
welcome to the Mac world
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Not really repairs but a how to. I guess. maybe Heath will add a section for this kind of thing.
The really nice thing about this board is the helpful way most guys jump in and try and solve problems. 15 heads are better then one thing.
I like this kind of thing like some like cross word puzzles or something.
and if others are able to pitch in thats great cause I like to read how others solve problems too.
One thing though the more info a person can provide about the problem
makes it easier to try and fix. Like its a two stroke or four. carb or fuel injection. Thing like that.
dealers should be really mindful of the fact that most people are new to
outboard systems and should provide more detail when the boat is
getting picked up. Telling someone that they dont have to worry about
things because the motor is high tech 4 stroke fuel injection, just turn the key and go, isnt enough.
You may not need to use the warm up feature of the throttle anymore but that feature also allows you to charge your battery on a mooring faster with just a little more rpm than idle.
also how hard is it to show a new buyer where the fuse is for the fuel injection circuit on the motor. That little fuse is the make or break
your weekend. And would probably cost someone a hundred bucks
to have some one come and fix it.
the other thing never shown to new buyers is how to bypass the tilt and trim system. I think a whole day should be spent with the new buyer just to go over the system, and the buyer should take notes. Thats a whole day without the sailing part that should be a another whole day too.
every fuse should be pointed out and labeled. Even though the Mac has a fuse panel there is at least one other fuse by the batterys that is laying on the floor in its own holder and its not water proof if it gets wet it will not work after awhile and you wont have any electrical in the boat, although the engine will still start.
When you buy a new boat take all the hatches up go through the boat
and look for things like that. Spare light bulbs and fuses are a must have
on board. A spare key for the motor should also be put on board. Along with a spare set of car keys. How many guys have lost car keys in the water next to the dock, I have, and that water is cold in the winter.
The really nice thing about this board is the helpful way most guys jump in and try and solve problems. 15 heads are better then one thing.
I like this kind of thing like some like cross word puzzles or something.
and if others are able to pitch in thats great cause I like to read how others solve problems too.
One thing though the more info a person can provide about the problem
makes it easier to try and fix. Like its a two stroke or four. carb or fuel injection. Thing like that.
dealers should be really mindful of the fact that most people are new to
outboard systems and should provide more detail when the boat is
getting picked up. Telling someone that they dont have to worry about
things because the motor is high tech 4 stroke fuel injection, just turn the key and go, isnt enough.
You may not need to use the warm up feature of the throttle anymore but that feature also allows you to charge your battery on a mooring faster with just a little more rpm than idle.
also how hard is it to show a new buyer where the fuse is for the fuel injection circuit on the motor. That little fuse is the make or break
your weekend. And would probably cost someone a hundred bucks
to have some one come and fix it.
the other thing never shown to new buyers is how to bypass the tilt and trim system. I think a whole day should be spent with the new buyer just to go over the system, and the buyer should take notes. Thats a whole day without the sailing part that should be a another whole day too.
every fuse should be pointed out and labeled. Even though the Mac has a fuse panel there is at least one other fuse by the batterys that is laying on the floor in its own holder and its not water proof if it gets wet it will not work after awhile and you wont have any electrical in the boat, although the engine will still start.
When you buy a new boat take all the hatches up go through the boat
and look for things like that. Spare light bulbs and fuses are a must have
on board. A spare key for the motor should also be put on board. Along with a spare set of car keys. How many guys have lost car keys in the water next to the dock, I have, and that water is cold in the winter.
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Compromise
- First Officer
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:44 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Orlando, Florida. Boat in Cocoa.
aya16 Thanks for volunteering on this.
I'm not afraid to admit, but when it comes to electrical, I'm intimidated! I have a Garmin 188c, just recently, while on shore power I hooked up the power cable and antenna. I did'nt power the unit on. I started the motor to warm her up while tending to other things. I then disconnected from shore power. When I went to turn the unit on.....nothing. I checked the switch panel down below where I power it on through 'accessories', it was turn to 'On', I then checked to make sure I had the batteries turned to "All", I did. It just would not power up. I contacted Garmin and explained what happened and asked where the fuse is located as I could not find one in the unit. They replied back saying it is on the power cable close to the power source. I have checked below and cannot find a fuse. I've followed the cables back under the sink and battery compartment area. Should I look behind the switch panel for the fuse?
Thanks again appreciate the help.
I'm not afraid to admit, but when it comes to electrical, I'm intimidated! I have a Garmin 188c, just recently, while on shore power I hooked up the power cable and antenna. I did'nt power the unit on. I started the motor to warm her up while tending to other things. I then disconnected from shore power. When I went to turn the unit on.....nothing. I checked the switch panel down below where I power it on through 'accessories', it was turn to 'On', I then checked to make sure I had the batteries turned to "All", I did. It just would not power up. I contacted Garmin and explained what happened and asked where the fuse is located as I could not find one in the unit. They replied back saying it is on the power cable close to the power source. I have checked below and cannot find a fuse. I've followed the cables back under the sink and battery compartment area. Should I look behind the switch panel for the fuse?
Thanks again appreciate the help.
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
a simple test light will tell if you even have power at the wire.
most 12 volt units will come with an inline fuse on the wire harness
that came with the unit. and its close to the unit cheap plastic thing .If I was doing what you did I would run a temp. seperate hot wire and ground I knew was working and attach the unit to those. If the unit still did not power on then garmin owes you a replacement.
Just having a good hot wire will not be enough a good ground is needed too.
12 volt systems are very easy and safe to work on hot or cold.
its mainly a two wire set up a hot from the + of the battery and a neg- from the battery. In between there is sometimes a fuse on the hot side. normally hot + is red but not always.
the best way to find a break or short in a long wire run buried inside the boat is to just run another set of wires. Making sure the old ones are disconected and labeled as dead.
most 12 volt units will come with an inline fuse on the wire harness
that came with the unit. and its close to the unit cheap plastic thing .If I was doing what you did I would run a temp. seperate hot wire and ground I knew was working and attach the unit to those. If the unit still did not power on then garmin owes you a replacement.
Just having a good hot wire will not be enough a good ground is needed too.
12 volt systems are very easy and safe to work on hot or cold.
its mainly a two wire set up a hot from the + of the battery and a neg- from the battery. In between there is sometimes a fuse on the hot side. normally hot + is red but not always.
the best way to find a break or short in a long wire run buried inside the boat is to just run another set of wires. Making sure the old ones are disconected and labeled as dead.
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
on edit above your garmin came with maybe 4 feet of wire, so if the fuse is still there its in the first 4 feet or so from the unit, you didnt say if you installed it or someone else. if some one else installed it they may have
cut the fuse out and ran the wire to the fuse panel. But dont count on it.
run a seperate temp black and red wire to the unit after you tested the
power of the wires that are already there.
cut the fuse out and ran the wire to the fuse panel. But dont count on it.
run a seperate temp black and red wire to the unit after you tested the
power of the wires that are already there.
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Compromise
- First Officer
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:44 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Orlando, Florida. Boat in Cocoa.
I had not got around to testing the wiring in the boat yet! (Too hot, missing sail time.......) I did however drop into West Marine with GPS in hand and asked if they'd mind if I plugged it into their display model connectors. They were very accomodating and low and behold it's not the unit. THAT makes me feel good. I'm sure it's just the fuse, I'll track it down one of these days. Kind of getting used to eye balling depth and cruise speeds at this point. Thanks for your help.
Brian
Brian
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Compromise
- First Officer
- Posts: 213
- Joined: Wed Aug 03, 2005 6:44 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26M
- Location: Orlando, Florida. Boat in Cocoa.
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albion
- First Officer
- Posts: 280
- Joined: Sun Apr 09, 2006 11:25 pm
- Location: Medina Ohio 2007 Mac26M Suzuki 50hp Hull#M1494g607
Battery charging
Hello AYA16 Do you know of any way to put a second battery on my Mac26M. So that the tow vehicle would would be charging the second battery while towing so that if the first battery in the boat is dead whenever I get to a launch ramp, all I will have to do is switch the leads over to the one thats been charger with the tow vehicle. I have a round outlet and the 4 wire flat outlet on me tow vehicle with the towing package.I would like to use the round outlet to charge the second battery while towing and use the flat one to charge the battery with the boat motors alternator. Thanks for volunteering you expert knowledge.
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TonyHouk
- First Officer
- Posts: 278
- Joined: Wed Jan 07, 2004 3:36 pm
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: My New Hometown, Fort Mill, S.c. "98 X with a '95 Evinrude 115
Everyman,
There used to be a device that you could buy that allowed you to do just as you asked. It would regulate the electricity going to the battery to make sure that it did not overcharge the battery. As far as where to mount the battery I don't know. I have a X. You could use just the round outlet connetor to hook up to an isolator to charge both batteries at the same time. Running the wiring would be the hardest thing. I hope that gives you a start. Have fun, Tony
There used to be a device that you could buy that allowed you to do just as you asked. It would regulate the electricity going to the battery to make sure that it did not overcharge the battery. As far as where to mount the battery I don't know. I have a X. You could use just the round outlet connetor to hook up to an isolator to charge both batteries at the same time. Running the wiring would be the hardest thing. I hope that gives you a start. Have fun, Tony