BPS Trip

[Bryan Fary]

Well my neighbor invited me to BPS in Concord, NC. While I didn't really need anything, whose to pass up a free ride to BPS. On the way down there, I was thinking I would get a new buzz bait or two, another plastic tackle tray and a couple of other odds and ends.



WELL....for some reason, things didn't go as planned and I ended up coming out of there with a HOT FOOT and a Teleflex ProTrim. The parts dept. was closed so I wasn't able to get the new throttle cable, but I should be able to pick up that locally here in Greensboro.



If anyone has any suggestions or tips on the installation, I am all EARS. JIM I just sent you an email, cause I know you have done this job before.



I called a couple of boat shops here locally, and the best price estimate that I could get was around $350-400. I don't know how much the throttle cable will cost, but the other parts are just over $100. I don't think it is going to be that hard installing the stuff.



Any tips on getting the steering wheel off the column without a steering wheel puller?



I will let you know how the project turns out.



Bryan

 

[Jim B]

Bryan,

The pro trim should go pretty easy, if you look in the grab bag i put a article on it a couple of months ago. you will need to get a puller for sure, theres really no other way to get it off with out breaking something. Any autozone should have the tools for loan and i think they do it for free. as far as wireing goes look for a bundle under the dash that has a red,green and blue wire. that should be the trim and there should be a connector on it that goes to the front of the boat. connect it there and dont use the crappy butt connectors they give you, solder and shrinkwrap them. as for the hot foot its not that hard on the carb models. all i did was i took the throttle cable off at the motor end(lower cable) and pulled it back into the boat so i wouldnt have to take the control box apart then i tied it up. after that i routed the new cable into the motor and hooked everything up. Where i put the foot i was able to screw it into he floow without going into the hull, be very carefull and make sure you are drilling in to the subfloor not the hull. also when i ran the cable i had to drill a hole on the wall under the cup holder to route the cable thru so it wouldnt have a big bend in it, after i out the cable in i colvered it with a clamshell vent cover, it looks great. i can take a pict if you want. as far as the adjustments go its pretty easy, for idle you need to make sure the butterfiles on the carbs are all the way closed, there is also an idle stop on the lever that the throttle cable attaches too, make sure its against that stop with the cable installed in its normal position, theres a threaded adjustment on the cable to do this. also on the hoot foot you will need to adjust the idle stop so that the pedal just rests on it when at idle. for wot there is a screw on the back of the foot, just adjust it so that the butterfiles on the carbs open 90 degrees when push the foot all the way open. form there adjust the spring so that the pedal will return to idle smoothly from wide open. thats all there is too it really, take a good look at the motor end before you start so you know what your dealing with, its really not that hard, just make sure thers no radical bends in the cable and everything will work smooth.

 

[Donnie Matney]

Bryan, I changed my steering wheel last month with out a puller. I don't know if it will work on yours but you may wanna give it a shot. I started by looseing the nut on the shaft that holds the steering wheel on. Back it off just a little (cover most of the threads if you can to protect them). Use a hammer and tap the shaft while pulling on the wheel. After a few taps it should come loose. Hope this helps. By the way mine is a PT 175. Not sure if this helps, thought I would pass it along.



Donnie

 

[Bryan Fary]

Jim I did finally find your pro trim post in the grab bag. Couldn't remember where it was on the website, but after a quick email to rich, he told me where it was. Weather permitting, I am going to install it tonight. I may have to back the boat in the garage so I can work on it tonight as I am ready to put it to use.



Thanks,

bryan

 

[Jim B]

Dont do the hammer method, you could crack and or shatter the bushings in the helm doing that. For the cost of a $10 dollar puller its not worth ruining a $100 dollar helm. its also not worth mabye having the helm lock on you at over 60mph. Like i said above auto zone rents that stuff, if you dont have one near you any sears or an auto parts store will have a puller you can buy, you dont need a fancy one a cheapo will do.

 

[Bryan Fary]

Jim is there any special cable required other than one for a mercury 150 xr6 that is 14' long? I assume there are standard connectors on the engine end but what about the hot foot end? any special things I need to look for?



bryan

 

[Jim B]

you just need a standard mercury style throttle cable. the hot foot is designed so it will take the standard cable, nothing special needed.

 

[Bryan Fary]

Cable is in the truck. Project will start tonight....and hopefully finish tonight rain or shine. I am so eager to get it done that I will pull the boat in the garage if I have to.



Will let you know how it turns out.



Bryan