Karma, "They come in Three's"... whatever - I've had ENOUGH.
1 - Wreck the engine in the Elky at Rock Falls
Then, in the LAST 96 hours... (4 days)
2 - Pickup the boat from storage. Discover a HUGE crack in the lower unit... effectively screws part of weekend plans (with guests) at the cabin. (Because it's junk, I can't even get core credit, adding $350 to cost). Anyone need some "wall art"??
3 - Daughter calls in a total panic from Green Bay WI on Saturday night. Her car won't steer!! Turns out the pass side tie-rod end failed and FELL OFF. (Got it to a shop today, and it's fixed, and she's coming home tomorrow.)
4 - Discover boat trailer lights are screwed on Sunday morning. Don't even want to deal with it, drag it and boat home with wonky lights.
5 - Travel TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FEET (from wonky light discovery) and nearly hit/get hit by TWO friggin' deer!! One clears the hood by inches, and the other idiot jumped BETWEEN the wagon and trailer/boat! (Anyone ever hear of hitting a deer on dry land with a boat?)
6 - Drive 100 miles and stop for lunch at Hardee's. Get out to check the hitch & chains. Hear very LOUD hiiiisssssiiinnnnggg by left rear wheel. As I'm checking the tire, the azz-end of the "Green Mary" is dropping. Broken air shock line.
7 - Come home today to a house that's the same temp as outside... Friggin' A/C compressor and fan isn't running. Troubleshoot to either defective start-up capacitor or fried fan.
So.... how was everyone else's weekend???
dashboard said
Jun 5, 2012
Welcome to the dark cloud I’ve been living under for the last three months John.
Perhaps I’ve passed the Karma on and can get out from under the dark cloud; oh wait, is that sunshine I see?
bowtie said
Jun 5, 2012
I will abstain from commenting as to decrease my chances of being in the same broken boat as you.
bowtie said
Jun 5, 2012
oh wait, we already got some--I forgot.
We use Hotwire to book a hotel out of town, non refundable. 2 nights later all the rain comes through (2 weekends ago) and my mother in law calls to say their cabin has 3 inches of water and the kids can't come up for the week. Wife had already taken vacation for the first week of June, but she also got a Jury duty notice for this week and the week prior so her vacation might be used in court instead. So now, her mom will come down to watch the kids over the weekend while we're gone and she had to switch her vacation to next week. Hopefully, she doesn't get a case on Friday that will continue into the following week.
Scott Parkhurst said
Jun 5, 2012
I don't think it's you, John. I think it's your boat.
I feel it's been cursed/hexed by a voodoo priest or priestess. It was close enough to the car to affect it, then it brought it's own problems, then it was barely close enough to the A/C to drool some bad karma on it.
Get rid of the boat. Use the funds to step up to an LS and get rid of the now-cursed LT stuff.
Thank me later...
SShink said
Jun 5, 2012
John, just think that it could be even worse if we hadn't helped push the 64 Olds out of the turning lane in Pequot, get it started, and drive it into the car show for the guy in the wheel chair with the skittish teenager driving it. Surely Karma gave you some credit for that!
John D said
Jun 5, 2012
Well, the AC is fixed - blame that on an ID10t error (low battery in the multi-meter I was using.) Turned out to be a blown fuse at the disconnect outside.
(Our resident HVAC expert informs me this is a common problem, especially when the 1st few hot days hit. The power company will drop a phase/leg to residential service to keep critical commercial feeds running. The home AC units don't like this and will occasionally pop a supply fuse.)
I don't think it's the boat... unless it's jealous of the LT power in the car. It's got a 4.3 Chev V6 in it, and "too bad, so sad" the hull it's bolted in won't take any more power.
I've got a funny feeling it happened at the storage building. It's the only explanation I can come up with. Every year I religiously winterize it... even to the point of sucking 5 gallons of 50/50 anti-freeze mix through the freshwater cooling system. After this is sucked in I'll shut it down and pull all of the drains. ANY residual liquid in the block or drive is 50/50 mix!... except when I drop it off at the storage building, it sits for a few days outside, the prop/hub is up in the air like a 4" FUNNEL, and it may have rained!!
I'm guessing that rainwater got in the hub, settled down at the "bullet", then froze - cracking the housing. But I can't prove it. I'll be putting a rubber plumbing "test cap" over the prop hub from now on!!
Back in Black said
Jun 5, 2012
I know how you feel John, I stubbed my toe yesterday.
Dave Seitz said
Jun 11, 2012
John, Last lower unit I needed I ordered from a place in Florida. They do so many lower units down there I got mine for $500 and every shop around here was $1500.
John D said
Jun 11, 2012
Brand new "clone" unit (not genny Mercruiser) is on the way. This unit, with a new prop, gaskets/seals, shipped, etc. for less than a G.
Bobs_Place said
Jul 10, 2012
John
How is the new lower unit working, any problems, shift good.
A friend of mine called me, said his started grinding, locking in gear, would not shift. He pull the boat out dropped the oil, not good, looked like metallic paint.
Where did you get your lower unit, any recommendations
John D said
Jul 11, 2012
So far so good (knocking on head, according to wife it is made of solid wood)...
It clicks into gear easily, NO noise, and between it and the new prop (exact replacement, no change) there is a marked difference in performance, holeshot & top-end. I'm "technically" still within the 20-hour break-in period, but have pushed the envelope a bit by towing tube'rs and doing a few full throttle speed runs this past weekend.
I'll be pulling the boat out of the water this weekend, and my next time "up" to the cabin I'll drain the lube, inspect, and replace it.
Karma, "They come in Three's"... whatever - I've had ENOUGH.
1 - Wreck the engine in the Elky at Rock Falls
Then, in the LAST 96 hours... (4 days)
2 - Pickup the boat from storage. Discover a HUGE crack in the lower unit... effectively screws part of weekend plans (with guests) at the cabin. (Because it's junk, I can't even get core credit, adding $350 to cost). Anyone need some "wall art"??
3 - Daughter calls in a total panic from Green Bay WI on Saturday night. Her car won't steer!! Turns out the pass side tie-rod end failed and FELL OFF. (Got it to a shop today, and it's fixed, and she's coming home tomorrow.)
4 - Discover boat trailer lights are screwed on Sunday morning. Don't even want to deal with it, drag it and boat home with wonky lights.
5 - Travel TWO HUNDRED AND FIFTY FEET (from wonky light discovery) and nearly hit/get hit by TWO friggin' deer!! One clears the hood by inches, and the other idiot jumped BETWEEN the wagon and trailer/boat! (Anyone ever hear of hitting a deer on dry land with a boat?)
6 - Drive 100 miles and stop for lunch at Hardee's. Get out to check the hitch & chains. Hear very LOUD hiiiisssssiiinnnnggg by left rear wheel. As I'm checking the tire, the azz-end of the "Green Mary" is dropping. Broken air shock line.
7 - Come home today to a house that's the same temp as outside... Friggin' A/C compressor and fan isn't running. Troubleshoot to either defective start-up capacitor or fried fan.
So.... how was everyone else's weekend???
Welcome to the dark cloud I’ve been living under for the last three months John.
Perhaps I’ve passed the Karma on and can get out from under the dark cloud; oh wait, is that sunshine I see?
We use Hotwire to book a hotel out of town, non refundable. 2 nights later all the rain comes through (2 weekends ago) and my mother in law calls to say their cabin has 3 inches of water and the kids can't come up for the week. Wife had already taken vacation for the first week of June, but she also got a Jury duty notice for this week and the week prior so her vacation might be used in court instead. So now, her mom will come down to watch the kids over the weekend while we're gone and she had to switch her vacation to next week. Hopefully, she doesn't get a case on Friday that will continue into the following week.
I feel it's been cursed/hexed by a voodoo priest or priestess. It was close enough to the car to affect it, then it brought it's own problems, then it was barely close enough to the A/C to drool some bad karma on it.
Get rid of the boat. Use the funds to step up to an LS and get rid of the now-cursed LT stuff.
Thank me later...
John, just think that it could be even worse if we hadn't helped push the 64 Olds out of the turning lane in Pequot, get it started, and drive it into the car show for the guy in the wheel chair with the skittish teenager driving it. Surely Karma gave you some credit for that!
Well, the AC is fixed - blame that on an ID10t error (low battery in the multi-meter I was using.) Turned out to be a blown fuse at the disconnect outside.
(Our resident HVAC expert informs me this is a common problem, especially when the 1st few hot days hit. The power company will drop a phase/leg to residential service to keep critical commercial feeds running. The home AC units don't like this and will occasionally pop a supply fuse.)
I don't think it's the boat... unless it's jealous of the LT power in the car. It's got a 4.3 Chev V6 in it, and "too bad, so sad" the hull it's bolted in won't take any more power.
I've got a funny feeling it happened at the storage building. It's the only explanation I can come up with. Every year I religiously winterize it... even to the point of sucking 5 gallons of 50/50 anti-freeze mix through the freshwater cooling system. After this is sucked in I'll shut it down and pull all of the drains. ANY residual liquid in the block or drive is 50/50 mix!... except when I drop it off at the storage building, it sits for a few days outside, the prop/hub is up in the air like a 4" FUNNEL, and it may have rained!!
I'm guessing that rainwater got in the hub, settled down at the "bullet", then froze - cracking the housing. But I can't prove it. I'll be putting a rubber plumbing "test cap" over the prop hub from now on!!
This unit, with a new prop, gaskets/seals, shipped, etc. for less than a G.
John
How is the new lower unit working, any problems, shift good.
A friend of mine called me, said his started grinding, locking in gear, would not shift. He pull the boat out dropped the oil, not good, looked like metallic paint.
Where did you get your lower unit, any recommendations
So far so good (knocking on head, according to wife it is made of solid wood)...
It clicks into gear easily, NO noise, and between it and the new prop (exact replacement, no change) there is a marked difference in performance, holeshot & top-end. I'm "technically" still within the 20-hour break-in period, but have pushed the envelope a bit by towing tube'rs and doing a few full throttle speed runs this past weekend.
I'll be pulling the boat out of the water this weekend, and my next time "up" to the cabin I'll drain the lube, inspect, and replace it.
These are the guys I bought from