Look what followed me home today...

**nitro_rat** · 01-17-2019, 11:41 PM

Originally Posted by Merc 2.5

Awww. U cheated 1st time Haha, nice job refabbing cowl tho. I gotta ask. Why didn't u use BP cowl?

You know, I thought about it! The color scheme on the boat was made to match Merc's brown stripe color scheme. I just had to go with the matching look! Plus I've been wanting to put a 2.5 in clamshells for years. I've heard rumors of it being done but no pics! Now I know why no one actually does it...

No real progress the last few days, just working on wiring, very rime consuming and not much noticeable progress!

I am ready to get this on the water to finish the break in! I am going to run my preload 2:1 coned lower for now with a 24 big ear chopper. I have a 2.4 200 case that I need to cone and I guess I need to get a 26 large ear chopper.

The budget is blown and funds are low...

**Merc 2.5** · 01-18-2019, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by nitro_rat

You know, I thought about it! The color scheme on the boat was made to match Merc's brown stripe color scheme. I just had to go with the matching look! Plus I've been wanting to put a 2.5 in clamshells for years. I've heard rumors of it being done but no pics! Now I know why no one actually does it...

No real progress the last few days, just working on wiring, very rime consuming and not much noticeable progress!

I am ready to get this on the water to finish the break in! I am going to run my preload 2:1 coned lower for now with a 24 big ear chopper. I have a 2.4 200 case that I need to cone and I guess I need to get a 26 large ear chopper.

The budget is blown and funds are low...

Man I know the feeling and it does not take long! I cant even get enough decent weather to run mine.. how do u no when u got it broke in? Amount of gas u have used or.hrs?

**nitro_rat** · 01-18-2019, 01:14 PM

Originally Posted by Merc 2.5

Man I know the feeling and it does not take long! I cant even get enough decent weather to run mine.. how do u no when u got it broke in? Amount of gas u have used or.hrs?

Here is the break in procedure from the manual:

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IIRC Jay Smith recommends 32:1 non synthetic for the break in. The first 2 hours should be broken into four 30 minute sessions with a complete cool down in between. The reason for this is to get some heat cycles on the pistons. As the pistons expand it effects the ring tension so the cool down periods are equally important to the run sessions. After that do like the book says. I don't like double oil (25:1) like the book says and I run 40:1 after the break in instead of 50:1. I'm sure everyone has different opinions on this, so...

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Old 2:1 preload lower and 24 big ear chopper mounted. Looking ready anyway...

**Merc 2.5** · 01-18-2019, 05:45 PM

Its looking gud ! I think u mite had nailed the perfect prop, possibly 26

**Merc 2.5** · 01-18-2019, 06:58 PM

I have went thru same process with my break in , just making sure I'm doin close to rite, but damn it takes forever to get 10 hrs on it seems like, I'm still not at 10 yet, I'm bout 7 hrs and lots of fuel already lol, I did 25.1 for 1st tank then 32.1 for next 4 or 5 hrs,and just recently swapped to 40.1 which is where I'll stay, which I never ran it empty so I'm guessing it's still little richer than 40.1 tho, I'm havin trouble with my tach , have swapped rectifier and stator with no change so I'm guess tach is just junk, but I have a tach on the hr meter but dnt believe it's set rite

**Merc 2.5** · 01-18-2019, 07:00 PM

Nitro , if u get a chance ,shoot me a text of those stacks

**nitro_rat** · 01-19-2019, 01:31 AM

Originally Posted by Merc 2.5

Nitro , if u get a chance ,shoot me a text of those stacks

I'll try to remember...

**AZMIDLYF** · 01-19-2019, 09:20 AM

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**nitro_rat** · 01-19-2019, 10:52 AM

The water levels on my lake (Sam Rayburn) are approaching record levels. It's not currently raining but the wind is up. As I sit in the shop typing this it sounds like there is a major storm going on outside. I saw videos on facebook of waves breaking over the Hwy 147 bridge this morning.

If the expected rain continues this weekend we will see a new lake level record by Wednesday. Currently we are over 10 feet above "full pool" levels. Winds of over 13 mph have been recorded this morning.

Needless to say, there won't be any break in happening any time soon...

**FMP** · 01-19-2019, 11:48 AM

I always look at it like a bit more water is always better than not enough. Is 10' way more than enough?
Gusts at 13+ mph, is that windy day for that area?

**Merc 2.5** · 01-19-2019, 12:12 PM

My lake is up alot also but if it wasn't raining I'd be out there rite now,

**nitro_rat** · 01-19-2019, 04:25 PM

Originally Posted by FMP

I always look at it like a bit more water is always better than not enough. Is 10' way more than enough?
Gusts at 13+ mph, is that windy day for that area?

Visibility in the lake is very poor and you can usually see the cross braces in the bridge under the water when at normal level. At 5 feet low they are out of the water...

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Today:

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**Merc 2.5** · 01-19-2019, 04:49 PM

Wow, yes I believe I read sumthin on BBC earlier bout that lake being up and over bridge, we have had tons rain also but kept water kinda steady high, but we had a 100% chance rain today 61deg, and snow in morn and tomo

**Merc 2.5** · 01-25-2019, 09:30 PM

Well you been able to get out any ,put anytime on her?

**nitro_rat** · 06-03-2019, 10:49 AM

Well I finally got a little time on it the past few weekends. Runs and idles perfect. Ran through a few tanks at 32:1 with a 24 big ear chopper. Tons of power everywhere. I switched to a 28 big ear yesterday and ran a few gallons through. I'm ready to pull the trigger on hydraulic steering now...