Suzuki break-in/rpm issues.

Just got back home. Man, what a trip that was...once John called I immediately backed the F-250 up, hooked her up and off I went. I left at about 1025 hours. In Everett I noted something wasn't right as the truck seemed to be pulling a VERY heavy boat. Looked in both outside mirrors and all seemed OK. Just as I passed the new Broadway overpass an elderly gent pulls up on the passenger side and begins flagging/waving at me. I look over and he gives me the exagerated "FLAT" and points back...son of a...! :x :evil:

I immediately pull off onto the right shoulder and yep, sure enough the back tire on the passenger side is 100% F.L.A.T. by now. I couldn't see it clearly in the mirror when I had looked back at the heavy feel, but the tire had undoubtadly began flattening then. Of course, I don't have a spare yet; I have one on order but King didn't have the tire in stock last week. THIS IS NOT MY WEEK! :roll: So now what? :? Well, say what you want about Les Schwab, but their service is quick, professional and reasonably priced. I call 411, locate the nearest LS and the service guy shows up a 1/2 hour later with a new trailer tire. He jacks up the boat, pulls my tire, removes it from the rim right there on the shoulder. Luckily, it was not damaged beyond the 1/8" hole in the center. A plug AND a patch, another half hour and I'm $98 poorer but back on the road.

I made it to Kitsap Marine without further problem. John was there and they are going to hook the engine up to the computer first to diagnose any possible causes and go from there. It indeed could be something simple, or user error :oops: or something else. We'll see and I'm confident the fix will be done correctly. Pat, you are correct in that the Lake was a much better place for issues than the Sound and Matt asked if I'm ready for a kicker now. :lol:

I also had John repair/install a few trailer issues that exist; the winch housing was sliding down the mount, making the winch/strap angle too low on the bow saddle. I also noted that the front of the trailer where each side joins into one did not have a roller attached, as the other King trailers in the lot did. This will solve an issue of the brass bow guard possibly hitting the trailer at that point if/when the trailer is backed too far into the water at the ramp. I noted it yesterday, and I saw the fix at the yard. Good insurance against plunking the trailer too deep. The holes are even there on the trailer to mount the roller.

Matt was busy with another customer, so I didn't get a chance to talk to him as I wanted to get back home and knew Tacoma, Seattle and Everett traffic awaited. I'm now going to bed so I can start this day all over again in hopes it'll improve my luck. :wink:
 
Agree that it is probably a fuel related issue. C Dory has a history of some bad antisiphon valves. I had a bad one on the Tom cat out of the box--and I know of several others who also did.

If you have the time to spend time with the mechanics it is well worth your time--and down the line after warantees are gone--you can figure out what is wrong yourself.

It can also be something as simple as having wraped some threads with teflon tape, and a small amount of the tape occluding the lumen of the filter intake--

You should be able to spot air in the line with the top off.

Also you could have water in the tank--even with a new boat--which has been sitting around. Also there can be shavings in the fuel lines, a bad vent (not just pluged)--The pickup tube should have a screen over its end, and that can be plugged--again, can be shavings in the tank from thread cutting etc....

Let us know what you find.

When I have a fuel problem, the first place I go to is the bulb, disconnect it, and see what type of flow you get with pumping it alone.
 
My money is on Marc:

Ill be betting on the fact that the boat sat unsold but rigged with fuel in it [probably untreated] for a while and the vapor separator is bollixed up

It may be the rubber gasket on the filter at the separator housing has cracks and tears in it and it's sucking in air.

During idle, you woudn't be sucking in much air, hit the throttle and now you're talking about sucking in some big air.

In either case - it just plain sucks. :thdown :teeth

P.S. Get that trailer spare mounted. :mrgreen:
 
By "vapor seperator" I assume you mean the water/fuel seperator/filter. If so, it's all new. Matt had it installed at Kitsap Marine after we came to an agreement on price etc. Now how long the other fuel was inside I have no idea. I did fill it up and it took about 87 gallons (I had a discount at Fred Meyer for fuel). Hopefully, that won't all go to waste.

Dr. Bob, I'll definately share what is found.
 
Vapor separator is the high pressure fuel pump in the motor . Supplies the injection system . They dont like to sit over about 6 Mos. with fuel in em .
Marc
 
After I rigged up my new 22', and took it out for sea trials, about the same thing happened to my outboard. Ran fine at idle, but as soon as I pushed up on the throttle, it would quit. Turns out the fuel selector was plumed wrong. Every fuel line was in the wrong place, and it had so much goop in it, it would have blocked fuel flow at high engine speed. Boat is a 2002 22'
 
Mark/Matt, keep us posted. We're all waiting to see what the simple fix was....at least we all hope it's simple and will keep US from problems in the future.

Charlie
 
Geez, Matt, please don't do anything soon. This thing has kept the C-Brats busy all week. Sort of the guess of the hour. If you can keep it going till next week? I mean, you only got the boat today.

Thanks, Boris
 
Oh great; no pressure. Now I'm praying for something to actually BE WRONG...uh, I think :| :? :roll: ...so I don't have to admit being a newbie, inexperienced idiot in front of everyone. If it does determine "user error" I'll admit it, though I won't be happy. :cry:
 
Mark,
In an effort to help "ease" your pain in this hour of need.....be thankful that the flat tire is out of the way now and did not occur as you were towing the boat towards the launch ramp prior to departing for the Friday Harbor Gathering. Additionally, be extremely happy that the flat did not occur on the Hewitt Avenue Trestle during the morning rush hour traffic..... :disgust .

Two summers ago, I had major brake problems on the boat trailer as we were leaving for a family 3 day cruise. The good part of that venture, was that I discovered the problem when I got to town and was able (after some roadside adjustments) to get the boat and trailer back home safely. Unfortunately, it took a week to get the parts, so I spent our 3 day cruise time mowing the yard again and splitting firewood. (The yard sure looked nice and we kept warm in the following winter... :smile ).
 
Thanks, Dave. You're right; it COULD always be worse.

I hate to admit when I make dumb, bone-headed mistakes though. But I guess that is how we learn. I'm definately a kinsthetic learner first and foremost; I learn by doing primarily and not by reading or listening.
 
Alright-

I called Mark, but you guys want to know, so here's the scoop.

There is a rubber insert on the motor which has all the cables, harnesses and hoses running through it. The dealer who rigged the boat (not us) had installed it 180 degrees out. Which routed the fuel line in the wrong spot and created a pinch in it when the lower pan was installed. (wonder if this is part of whjy said company went out of business)

In talking further with John in Service, there was also some concern about the anti siphon valve, so we replaced that as well, just to be sure.

On the muffs, fuel flow is fine. Under a load- fuel is restricted so it can't get enough to puch the boat.

Whoops.

Properly install the rigging grommet, and voila- all looks good now. Mark will be at the gathering next weekend! (or if now, it won't be our fault :wink: )

Glad we could provide a week of armchair diagnostics. Sorry Mark had to be the one to have it happen to. ANybody want to volunteer for next weeks's challange?
 
Well Matt has not only beaten me to the punch, but explained the issue in detail. I just got a msg from John too. As noted, he said your mechanic/tech also replaced an anti-siphon valve due to a vacuum in the fuel line of "4", which I assume is out of spec.

A couple of small issues with the trailer, also not Kitsap Marine's fault, and I'll go pick it up on Thursday.

I passed Totem Lake yesterday on I-405 and saw all the boats and a C-Dory or two. Hope business was good.
 
Matt, we all understand that you didn't do the work, and I could make a smart remark about that. Just be aware we also understand that you represent a whole group of people and when we say "you" most of the time we're talking about the corporate body. so your job is to go back to the service dept and tell them they got an "atta boy".

Another example is when I go into one of the big-box stores and say "you sold me this", and the person says "not me". My next move is to ask for the manager to figure out with whom I'm should be dealing. That gets everyone going.

In this web site, you get both the credit and (if any) the blame. So rest easy.

Boris
 
Just got a msg from Matt; the boat AND trailer are done. I'll pick them up on Thursday and launch for Friday Harbor on Friday morning. :thup

I even have a spare tire now. :wink:
 
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