You can get cheap new rams and pumps from www.sterndrive.cc

Great job,your boat is awesome!

Look at the bright side, you're in the water and it runs. (And it looks awesome too.) After all you've been through, that says a lot. Now you can start throwing hundred dollar bills at it like the rest of us poor slobs! And in the words of agent Maxwell Smart - "And loving it!"

Argh. So now the thing won't shift correctly, for some reason.

When I move the controls, the shift arm just barely moves. I can move the shift arm (which is connected to the stern drive shift cable), it moves fine. By using the controls, I can shift from reverse, to nuetral, to forward, but then it just stays there. This means the cable is obviously connected and crimped, since it can pull it from reverse to forward, but why is it not going back into reverse??!??

It turns out the shift cable "housing" or "outer sheath" was disconnected from the controls. I snapped it back together and all was well for a while. Until when docking, I tried to goose it into reverse, and instead shot forward and almost beached the boat on a bunch of concrete. Definitely going to make sure this doesn't EVER happen again.

Also, I got new trim rams as my old ones were leaking; installed them, bled them according to the manual, twice, but they aren't working. Trim works going up/out, but instantly starts sagging downwards. Also, they don't pull the lower unit down at all. Pressing the "down" button = no difference.

Sounds like the check valve in the pump is not seating and passing fluid, allowing the pump to bleed down. You seem mechanincal enough. Remove the pump from the reservoir and disassemble the pump unit. Its just a few gears and the check vaves. Make sure every thing is clean (no gunk) and that the valves seat properly (no pitting or dirt ) at the seat.. If the pump works one way and not the other, you have a bad solenoid. I've un-done the crimps and cleaned the copper plate and terminals and saved many a solenoid. YOU CAN DO IT!

Well, I give up for now. She's had a great year, I've received a LOT of attention, was featured on build threads, annoyed the local DNR with the exhaust, and definitely had one of the coolest boats in the Madison area. More importantly, I learned a lot. She's getting buttoned up for the winter, at which point she will be reborn with tidier wiring, restored trailer, a sound system, new lighting, and some other goodies. If I have enough freetime I'd really like to sculpt a partial engine cover. Peace guys! I'll post some updates in a few months.

The best photo of the year....

Great Photo! You had to drive all the cops nuts on those Madison Lakes!!
Jr.

30k views!!!!!!!!!!!