[CLEMSRANCH]

I HAVE A 19' FISHER I BOUGHT 2 SEASONS AGO USED. I NEED SOME INFORMATION FROM YOU GUYS WHO KNOW. QUESTION DO I NEED TO PULL THE WHEELS ON MY TRAILER AND INSPECT THE BEARINGS EVEN THOUGH IT IS EQUIPPED WITH BEARING BUDDIES. THE OUTBOARD IS A 1998 MERC. 115. DOES THIS HAVE A FUEL FILTER OR SEPERATOR THAT NEEDS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE. BIG CONCERN IT IS THE IMPELLER. IT WORKS FINE NOW, BUT DO I NEED TO REPLACE IT?. IF SO HOW OFTEN. IS IT POSSIBLE TO RECONNIZE PROBLEMS WITH IT BEFORE IT BECOMES CHRONIC? HOPING FOR A TROUBLE FREE SEASON. TRULY APPRECIATE ANY HELP WITH CONCERNS.

 

[turnmm]

Most excellent questions.

 

[J.C.C.]

Clem,

My rig is a 1994 Starcraft with a 1994 Merc 125 with bearing buddies on my trailer. I did not screw around with my wheel bearings until my seals started leaking. I changed the seals and checked the bearings in the process. They were just fine. I always check the buddies to see if they are well extended whenever I take the boat to the launch. Unless they are retracted I figure there is plenty of grease in them. If I have any doubts at all I give them a little squirt just to be safe.

The fuel filter probably should be changed out every couple of years unless you put a lot of hours on the engine then maybe yearly. The filter on mine finaly clogged up last year and it happened on the St. Clair River. The engine stalled and I just squeezed the bulb a few times and got the gas through to the engine. Luckily I didn't have too far to go to get to the launch and I was able to make it. I let it go way too long.

The water pump on my engine has never had the impeller changed. But this spring it is the first thing I am going to do to it. I have had some people say to me that if it isn't broke don't mess with it. But, 10 years is a long time for those rubber blades. If it goes I don't want to be in the middle of LSC on a weekend. I know guys that change them every spring which I personally think is an over kill unless you are into sand or other grit with the engine running often.

Well, that is my two cents, I hope it helps. I am sure others will have a few suggestions to help you with this also.

Jim

 

[smallie5]

I bought an older nitro with a 115 merc on it 2 years ago, and it was my first bass boat. The guy I bought it from did not use the boat for about 4 years, so when I got it I just put new gas and oil in it, and a few months later varnish ran up through the pistons and effected the pressure. Now Iam getting the engine rebuilt. So anytime I buy a boat used I will always check the fuel tank thoroughly before running it to make sure there is no debris that could hurt the engine. Other than that usually every spring I change the lower unit oil, and grease the bearings. In the winter just put fuel stabalizer in and put some fogging oil in the carbs. Every couple of years take it to the local marina and get the impeller and fuel filter looked at and change the spark plugs whenever you can feel they need to be changed. Tight Lines!

 

[Just One More]

I would not depend on the bearing buddies to provide adequate grease. Trailer palces have told me (and from experience seems true) that not enough grease gets to the bearings, especially the inners. If you use your boat 20+ times a year, I would shoot some grease in throughout the year, and inspect annually if you can, or every other year at worst. As for the impeller, I agree with Old Man of the Sea. It depends a lot on where you take your boat. If you are in shallow water a lot, I would check it every year. Otherwise, maybe every 2 or 3 to be safe. To me, an impeller is cheap insurance. It prevents the water pump from overheating, which could overheat the engine. If you don't know how much the boat was used or how it was maintained prior to you owning it, I would check everything this year. Good luck

 

[captstevo]

i reccomend inspecting the bearings, clean and repack with fresh grease before your first time on the road.. who wants to be on the side of I-94 with a seized bearing... easy to avoid... also when you get to the ramp let the axles cool down before launching... the warm bearings entering the cooler water will draw moisture in immediatly which will lead to early bearing failure

water pump impellor? do you like your motor? i reccomend every third year, unless you have damage to your skeg and prop.. the impellor does not like sand... or if the boat has been out of service a few years start off with a new impellor...yes your motor with a wore out or broken impellor will cook like a xmas goose!

change the fuel filter after starting and running the motor as sometimes they lose their prime, good idea to clean the fuel bowls out also, even with the best fuel stabilizers, i have seen them gumm up..

same goes for the spark plugs new ones in the spring, you don't want to be stranded out in the lake because of a fouled spark plug!

lower unit drive lube, check in the fall if dirty, drain and refill, if milky , drain it then have it resealed

make sure no zebra mussels are plugging up any water intakes or passages also...