1. Use the full 4 digit year for everything you are asking your question about. Example: 1962, 1988, 2000, 2011
2. Include the correct name of your Whaler model. Example: Montauk 17, Montauk 170, Outrage 26, Outrage 260
3. Include the length when necessary. Example: 16, 17, 18, 20, 22
4. Do not post your email address anywhere on this site as it is already in your user profile.

Rebuilt engine things to watch for?
ChrisMA	#1  Posted on 07/27/11 - 8:16 AM
Member Posts: 33 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/03/10	Last summer I bored out and rebuilt my 1996 Johnson 70hp 2 stroke motor. I am taking it on its maiden voyage this afternoon. Other than my ears, watching the tell tail and taking temperature of the head while it is running, what should I look out for? I am going to follow the break-in instructions in the shop manual, but I am not sure what to watch or look out for. I am running double oil as recommended by the manual. My outboard oil is synthetic, should I find some "regular" oil to "break-in" the rings? Chris
ChrisMA	#2  Posted on 07/27/11 - 6:08 PM
Member Posts: 33 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/03/10	Well, the first thing I can say to watch for is to make sure your thermostat is installed properly. Best I can tell I was shipped the wrong thermostat and the engine was overheating after a few minutes of operation. I stopped home at a repair shop and he told me to look at the thermostat. I went home, pulled the themostat and ran it on muffs, AMAZING. The tell tail went from hormoned-up teenage to oh my prostate, I can't pee. I will order a new thermostat and see how she runs. Chris
modenacart	#3  Posted on 07/27/11 - 6:34 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 741 Comments: 4 Joined: 02/28/09	The accessories. They that give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty or safety. --Benjamin Franklin
John Fyke	#4  Posted on 07/27/11 - 6:36 PM
Member Personal Page Posts: 1307 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/06/06	I would talk a little further with your mechanic. Seems to know what he's doing. John Fyke Re-Fit or Reef It 1979 15' Sport with Super Sport conversion and 70hp mercury.
Tig	#5  Posted on 07/28/11 - 3:49 AM
Member Personal Page Posts: 122 Comments: 0 Joined: 02/24/09	After any major rework of an engine I do a shake down run without passengers or distraction. Listening and watching for any sign of problems. Check plug colour a 1/2 hour into the trip and again after. Bring a spare set in case that double oil mix fouls your plugs on idle. I've read that dino oil is better for break in (in a 4 stroke), but the reasons were "too complicated to explain". I'm not certain that opinion would even translate to a 2 stroke application since the oil is burned and puffed out the exhaust. To me, good oil is good oil. Did you use new head bolts? Checking head bolt torque after a few trips was also part of the drill. Edited by Tig on 07/28/11 - 3:58 AM 1995 Dauntless 15, Honda 50
ChrisMA	#6  Posted on 07/28/11 - 4:56 PM
Member Posts: 33 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/03/10	John Fyke wrote: I would talk a little further with your mechanic. Seems to know what he's doing. Yes, this guy was very knowledgeable. He was positive it was my thermostat and nothing else. I am going to take it for a ride this weekend without the thermostat installed and see what temps I see. I already have 2 sets of extra plugs, as you said they get fouled quickly. I checked the compression and I have almost exactly 125 PSI in each cylinder. Tig, I agree with you, I took a half day from work so I could run this in peace and quiet! It was a little scary to hear and see steam leaking from the tell tail. I used the same head bolts, and the manual states to retest torque at the end of the break-in cycle. Chris Edited by ChrisMA on 07/28/11 - 4:57 PM
ChrisMA	#7  Posted on 07/30/11 - 10:05 AM
Member Posts: 33 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/03/10	Success today, removing the thermostat the engine ran great! Never went over 110 degrees, which is actually probably too cool. I got 2 hours of run time on the motor today and fouled a set of plugs from the double oil it seems. I have a new problem, even with brand new plugs it will idle for a short while, decrease in speed and finally die. This takes a minute or so. I have the idle timing screw probably 1/4" from being screwed in all the way. To me it feels like a fuel delivery issue, what should I be looking for? I am going to proactively replace the fuel line to see if that addresses the issue. Chris
Derwd24	#8  Posted on 07/30/11 - 10:34 AM
Member Posts: 1607 Comments: 9 Joined: 05/09/07	I'd suggest getting the correct thermostat in and running the rest of the break in (and then some if you've already logged a number of hours w/o the thermostat) at proper temp, then see how it idles at that point. Dave - 1983 Outrage 22
ChrisMA	#9  Posted on 07/31/11 - 5:19 AM
Member Posts: 33 Comments: 0 Joined: 09/03/10	Derwd24 wrote: I'd suggest getting the correct thermostat in and running the rest of the break in (and then some if you've already logged a number of hours w/o the thermostat) at proper temp, then see how it idles at that point. I ordered the correct thermostat last week, I think I will hold off troubleshooting until I get that replaced. I have around 4 hours of run-time on it, so I think I am through the most critical part of the break-in. I am also going to stop adding the extra oil to the gas. Chris