1999 Ski Nautique Open Bow Project Boat

[Parkinglot]

Glad to see you make it back safe.

[NautiqueJeff]

Changed the oil and filter today. I added new VR-1 20W50 high-zinc oil and a FL-1A filter. Hooked up the battery and found that the battery cables were badly worn. They were so bad that the positive cable couldn't be tightened to the battery post. I replaced the spark plugs with new Autolite 104 plugs, and tried to start the boat. It cranked a few revolutions, and started to sputter. That's a great sign! I tried a few more times, and then it stopped cranking and lost all electrical power. I know this was due to the faulty battery cables, and I didn't want to damage anything else, so I ran new cables. I had a spare set from the Sport Nautique (the original replacements for that boat were too short, so those were perfect for this boat). I went to connect the new positive cable to the starter relay, and I overtightened it and broke the post right off of the starter relay! GRRRR. Stopping for the night now.

Hopefully I can grab a starter relay from the local Nautique dealer tomorrow. If I can, I bet I have this boat running nicely by tomorrow evening.

[NautiqueJeff]

I was able to get a new starter relay from Race City Marine today, and after I finished running the battery cables to the new relay, it fired right up! I'm hoping to go for a ride this evening.

[Evening Shade]

That's awesome!

Did you choose a high zinc oil because its a flat tappet engine?

[Treybizttu]

Cool,

I commented on your IG post.... I saw this one on CL and sent it to a buddy to go look. Checked about an hour later and the post was gone. Glad it went to a good home.

[NautiqueJeff]

Did you choose a high zinc oil because its a flat tappet engine?

I chose it because it is a flat tappet engine, but it is also a really good oil.

[NautiqueJeff]

It runs!

[NautiqueJeff]

Haven't run it very much, but I will take it out this afternoon for a bit and run it.

For today, the project boat gets the boathouse because the pollen has hit and that boat doesn't have a cover!

[NautiqueJeff]

Drove it around for about 30 minutes. It seems to be running well. It does sputter at higher RPM's, but I think this is a fuel starvation issue caused by an old FCC filter. I drained the FCC, but I don't have a filter here yet, so I haven't changed it yet. I think a new filter will fix that issue. Below 2,700 RPM's, it runs great!

[beamons]

Valvoline 20W-50 VR1 Racing Motor Oil - 1qt (Count of 6) (822347-6PK) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00DJ4FIPQ..._YIfOCbBWM2ND3
Don't tell anyone.

Let me know on the idle issue. Mine is acting the same way but I know it’s not the filter. I think mine might be the high pressure pump.


Sent from my iPhone using PLT Nautique

[Bathmagic]

subscribed

[NautiqueJeff]

Got the high RPM sputter figured out. Turns out it was the oil pressure switch throwing it into limp mode. I'll still change the FCC filter when it arrives, and now I'll be replacing the oil pressure switch too. It is now running very nicely with the switch bypassed though!

For anyone interested, here's how the SLOW system works.

[NautiqueJeff]

Had a couple of extra people help me continue testing today. It seems to be running great.

Maybe I'll throw a windshield on it this week.

[GMLIII]

Potential future PN Administrators

[Neptune442]

Are you running the 20w-50 right now because of the cooler temperatures? Just wondering because I was planning on using VR1 40W in my GT-40 this summer.