Outboard motor woes

[dmwhiteoak]

This weekend is the annual catfish tournament and it looks like I'll be running lines with no reverse. I have been all day trying to piece together a lower unit with a reverse gear and it just did not work out. I just can't see spending 480.00 on a clutch dog and a reverse gear. Fiats are easy to work on compared to 30 year old Evenrudes. We are expecting rain with a cold front so this should be a fun filled weekend. Wish me luck.

[Gunsmith]

BOAT=Break out another thousand!

[dmwhiteoak]

Well, to tell the truth my motor was the best running one there. Its an old 50 hp evenrude and I have rebuilt carbs two years ago. I don't have a reverse but who wants to go where you already been? This gas we have now days isn't friendly to outbourd motors. There were 3 new Yamaha 4 strokes that had to be towed back to the ramp. I guess them guys never heard of sta- bil .

[RRoller123]

It's the alcohol in the current fuels that causes problems with these older engines. 10% in MA.

[ronarthur]

The local lawnmower repair man has told me that because of the ethanol in today's fuel, run higher octane in the lawnmower, weed wacker, chainsaw, etc. I have been doing this for at least the past couple of years. I haven't had any problems fuel related since doing this. I have even been known to dump some leftover 112 octane racing fuel in the tractor!