Billy Bob

I am a volunteer Firefighter and have been for over 30 years. We take GREAT pride in our country and our military (I have a son in the US Air Force). On our fire truck we have a sticker that says "Remember 9-11" and underneath it is a waverly USA flag that says "These Colors Don't Run". How quickly some folks forget, but then again many don't. My son was trying to get home dress in uniform on a flight from Texas to Buffalo on stand by. A women offered up her seat so he could get home on time. And just recently he was stopped for speeding on the NYS Thruway by a state trooper. When he went to pull his license from his wallet the state trooper seen his military ID, asked him if he was in the military and then handed him back his driver license and told him to have a nice day.

I have also heard GOOD reports of limit catches on the Eastern Basin of Lake Erie from Barcelona to Buffalo. I haven't been out "yet" on Erie for walleye but that wil change come Monday.

Congrats on getting the old race off the axle. You have a good idea about maybe just replacing the hub completely but then again you still might have to add the bearings and race. But putting this thing together is really not a tough or time consuming job. IF your old hub is still good (it probably is) you just need to hammer in TWO NEW races per hub and Grease (get GOOD MARINE AXLE grease) the new bearings, set the rear bearing in place and hammer in the NEW rear grease seal. Install on axle and place the new outside bearing onto axle and push it into the hub. Place the bearing washer onto the axle and slide up against new outside bearing. Screw on nut hand tight and just snug up with channel lock pliers (large pliers) put on cotter key nut and then apply cotter key and slight spread the key. Hammer on the hub cap and repeat on the other side. OR Take the hub to a HONEST mechanic to do the above stuff and bring home and install on axle as described above. All this work I described above is TWO hours at the VERY most for even a novice. Just make sure you use GOOD MARINE AXLE grease and really pack the bearing and the HUB with enough grease. Too bad most school are now letting out because this is something they teach in all automotive class as lesson number one and they would love to do this for you for credit. I wish I lived close to you because all it would cost you is some of those COLD Canadian beers to get this pie job done.

You could save yourself some time and work if you get some Sea Foam and put some in the gas tank and run it though the carb. If it sounds like it's getting better you know you have a dirty carb and cleaning may be in order if the Sea Foam doesn't clean it out completely. Another thing is change spark plugs. I know if I run my Johnson (50hp) in the driveway with the ear muffs it runs like CRAP because it doesn't have any back pressure on the exhaust. Put it in water and it purrs like a kitten. I don't know if the Mariner will be the same but I thought I might just warn you about that. One more thing. Did you put a gas stabilizer in the gas and RUN it though the motor before putting it away for the winter. This is the NUMBER ONE cause to gunk-ed up carbs. This is a MUST before storing any motor, especially a outboard. I have been doing this for over 25 years and knock on wood no carb problems ever.

Since you mention that you had to choke the engine to keep it running that tells me you have a fuel flow problem. Check all hoses, vents and priming bulbs for any leaks or defects. It also could be your fuel pump. It definitely doesn't sound like it's a ignition problem. Bob

robinwood, the tool you got is probably to knock out the old race from the hub but you have the race stuck on the axle. The propane torch will never give you enough heat to tap off the race. Too bad you pounded it inward because that just more you have to go in the opposite direction. Please listen, almost any other way might damage the axle. The correct way is to apply heat to the race but not with a propane torch. The best would be a acetylene torch but it's something you probably don't have and would be hard to borrow. The next best torch for you to get (buy) would be a Mapp Gas torch set. They really aren't that much money (about $35 here in the states). They are real hot compared to a propane torch but not as hot as a acetylene torch so you might need someone to help you. While you apply the heat DIRECTLY on the race have a helper tap off the race. I'll bet my best walleye bait that it will come right off using the Mapp gas set up, unless you know someone who can come over with a acetylene torch.

Camp Chef is correct that walleye are not on the top of the list when it comes to smoking but I do smoke LARGE walleye that I catch from Lake Erie and did some just yesterday. Here is a VERY easy fool proof recipe that I use for ALL different species of fish including the walleye and pike I did yesterday. 1/4 to 1/3 cup of KOSHER salt to about one gallon of water and 1 cup of brown sugar. Mix well and pour over your fish in a NON metal container. Seal with a lid ( I use a LARGE TupperWare container) and place in the fridge overnight. Just before smoking rinse off the fish (very slimy) and set on paper towels with the skin down. Try off the fish more by dabbing with more paper towels. I use MAPLE wood for this smoke job, any Maple even Silver Maple will do very well. This works very well with any fish. Good Smoking, Bob

My Cabela's Pro Sport onboard charger has a breaker built in. Are you sure you need one installed ? ? ?

I have and like the Minn Kota foot control model with the cable steer. I have had to replace the cables twice but that's in 22 years. I keep thinking about upgrading to a newer one every spring but the dang thing just keeps on running. However, next year is the year I'm going to upgrade for sure as I'm saving my Cabela points to get a free one hopefully by then. If you watch carefully during any of the fishing shows, all the pros use the cable steer foot control trolling motors. My cousin had a power drive and the foot control was screwed up and you never knew which way you were going to go. There have been a LOT of trouble over the years with the control on the power drive models.

OK, I have a salsa recipe but the aplumma gave you looks fine. What I need to know is what does "NF" in your post mean. I have seen it several other times and I finally had to ask.

On my onboard charger the GREEN light means power is on and the RED light means it is charging. So if the batteries are down BOTH the Green and Red light is on but when fully charged only the GREEN light will remain on as it does ALL the time. So at home if I'm working on the outboard and have trimmed up and down the motor, that runs the main battery down just a bit and when the onboard charger is plugged back in both the Green and Red lights will come on. However, the Red light will go out shortly leaving only the Green light on showing that the onboard charger is plugged in and only maintaining the batteries at that time. I keep my boat in the garage when not in use (I think this is why it is still in great shape after 22 years) with the onboard charger plugged in. I set up the charging cord so it is right by my throttle controls and it hangs down out of sight when not in use. But when in use it is raised straight up and plugs into a extension just above the gunnel that hangs straight down above it. This way I can have the boat hooked up to my truck ready to go in the morning and still be on charge and it automatically disconnects when I drive away.

I have this on-board charger (Pro Sport 12) for the last 3 or 4 years and I leave it plugged in ALL the time even through out the winter. http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/template...&id=0043939

It looks HEAVY to tow and launch.

For the past 22 years my 16.4' Grumman with a 50 hp VRO Johnson has served me well. I fish Lake Erie and Ontario and have trailered it all over the US and Canada. Trolling I get 30 miles to a 6 gallon tank, cruising I get 42 miles to a 6 gallon tank. She is 39 inches deep and has a 84" beam. I have fished contest with her in 6 ft waves but I no longer believe in contest nor fish them. Here is one very similiar to mine http://www.boatingvermont.com/preenjoyed/grummancc.htm Good Luck finding your dream boat, Bob

I think the bottom line here is try one of the additives first and if you don't get the results you were looking for then take it in for a professional injector cleaning.

I would mount it OUTSIDE of the boat for BEST results. Boats that have them mounted inside are set up for such a application. If you don't have a good area to shoot thru your sonar results will suffer BIG time making you wish you just did a outside transom mount. Follow the directions and after you drill the holes just use some silicone caulking before running the screws in. Mine has been mounted this way for 22 years now without a leak. Good Fishing, Bob

Nice Job. Now here is a EASY question for you. It's time to FISH or cut bait, you make the choice. My oldest son has been studing for 3 week now to take his medical board exams in 2 weeks. If he passes I just might have to call him "Doc"

YEP, that team provided a LOT of entertainment (and isn't that what sports is all about) and now they are being recognized as several of that team's players are being inducted into the Football Hall of Fame. For anyone who has had their team win it all, guess what, the next day no one gives a rats ass anymore. Who won last year's Super Bowl, World Series, Stanley Cup, NBA Championship. You all had to do some thinking and I'll bet some of you guys couldn't remember all of them. RIGHT ? I'll take another four year run at the Super Bowl with the Bills then watch the New Jersey Giants play this year.

DON'T tell me you consider cars going around in CIRCLES a SPORT ? ? ?

I don't think you bent the crank shaft but rather broke the timing shim/pin and now the motor is out of whack for it's electrical spark.

I have never fished Simcoe for bass but can it really compete with Lake Erie in numbers and SIZE. It used to be 4 lb bass were trophy smallmouth on Lake Erie with a occasional 5 pounder throw in. Now since the smallmouths on Erie have been gouging themselves on gobies, 4 pounders are COMMON and 6 pounders and UP are now considered Trophy fish on Lake Erie, not to mention a good day on Erie can mean 25 to 50 NICE fish per outing for two guys. And the answer to "do I target out of season bass". No I rather fish for walleye, crappie and Lake Erie jumbo perch. However, there are times I do take folks for bass because either they ask or I know it's the best option to have a fun day. But again, NONE are ever kept and all are released carefully. We all have to protect our sport.

I'm not a big hockey fan but I will say this, any time your team makes it to the final four you have had a GREAT season and anything after that is icing on the cake. For fans from other teams to bash a team that made it to the FINAL game when their team didn't come close or not even make the playoffs is just stupid comments from jealousy that they watched from the sidelines through out the playoff season and could only hope your team got beat. As a big fan of the Buffalo Bills I have heard it all about how the Bills are losers for losing four straight Super Bowl games, but not in my eyes. I am proud that they are the ONLY team in the NFL and may remain the only team in the NFL that could make four straight Super Bowl runs. If they are losers what is that saying about the other 30 teams through out the NFL. Only one team can win it all at the end of the year and only one team can be the runner up.

I have only done two fly-ins and the walleye fishing was nothing less than fantastic on both separate trips/areas. However, the last one which was two years ago was nothing less than a pig pen for accomodations. Some of you may know the area, it's Goga.... Lodge. The owner should be ASHAMED of himself to expect guest to stay in the dump he put us in. First thing we did was spend about 3 hours cleaning up the SHACK we stayed in to feel just a little bit comfortable to eat and sleep in the DUMPY shack. Not to mention the outhouse only had 2 1/2 walls holding it up. Good thing we had fair weather because I'm sure a strong storm would of taken out the out house. But like I said the fishing was EXCELLECT with the 14' STEEL boats and 3 hp outboard motors barely adequate. Since the owner knew we were from the US he would only take US CASH from us, as he really is a American also. I kind of think he is scamming the Canadian government out of tax money but with a operation he is running it would be par for the course.

Since I never keep any bass to eat, the season is irrelevant to me.

Percher got it right. It's has to be the inner ring of the inner bearing that is stuck on the axle and the inner race in still in the hub. I wasn't thinking when I said it must be the inner race because the inner race would be big enough to just slide right off the axle. Instead as Percher pointed out it's the inner ring that got welded to the axle. HEAT it carefully and it will just tap right off.