Wingnut

For a 2008 256 SSX with the 425 HP Merc 496 HO with Bravo III-X drive. RPM SPEED GPH MPG 2150 17 6.7 2.537 2600 26 8.7 2.989 2650 26.8 9.5 2.821 2700 27 9.8 2.755 2750 28 10.2 2.745 2800 29 9.9 2.929 2850 30 9.9 3.03 2900 30.5 10.4 2.933 2950 31 10.4 2.981 3000 32 10.8 2.963 3050 33 11.4 2.895 3100 33 11.7 2.821 3150 34 11.5 2.957 3200 35 12 2.917 3250 36 12.6 2.857 3300 36.5 13 2.808 3400 37.7 14 2.693 3500 39 15 2.6 3550 40 15.5 2.581 3600 43 18 2.389 3700 46 21 2.19 3800 49 24 2.042 3900 52 27 1.926 4000 55 30 1.833 4500 56 33 1.697 4950 57.3 35.5 1.614 RPM SPEED GPH MPG 2150 17 6.7 2.537 2600 26 8.7 2.989 2650 26.8 9.5 2.821 2700 27 9.8 2.755 2750 28 10.2 2.745 2800 29 9.9 2.929 2850 30 9.9 3.03 2900 30.5 10.4 2.933 2950 31 10.4 2.981 3000 32 10.8 2.963 3050 33 11.4 2.895 3100 33 11.7 2.821 3150 34 11.5 2.957 3200 35 12 2.917 3250 36 12.6 2.857 3300 36.5 13 2.808 3400 37.7 14 2.693 3500 39 15 2.6 3550 40 15.5 2.581 3600 43 18 2.389 3700 46 21 2.19 3800 49 24 2.042 3900 52 27 1.926 4000 55 30 1.833 4500 56 33 1.697 4950 57.3 35.5 1.614

You will have it to do others too and will become the Fleet Commadore.

Yea, they are on the list too. I was amazed to learn how backward Florida is relative to environmental laws. The Agriculture and Phosphate Mining industry lobbies have such a strangle hold on state politics and so much power generation is from coal. Natural gas conversions underway in some areas but $.015 K/H for electric is over double what I pay now. Burning off the sugar cane fields in mass, and lake Okeechobee has become a bottled up nightmare. New construction in the Cape Coral area needs to be seen to be believed, and they can't sell the places that were already built. The land locked fresh water canal system is half empty, and now they approved a multi-million dollar project to build a pipeline from a local utility to keep it filled. This in an area that is on water use restrictions. Yikes... I think they forgot that even the sacred tourists still need something to drink. W

Don't forget that the Diacom "more expensive" scan tool is nothing more than software. It's pretty all inclusive but you need your own laptop and an additional interface cable so your USB port can talk to the ECM. W

Looks like our search next trip will concentrate on the east coast, and if we can find a rental unit with a boat hoist, I'll drag the Chap down and see how the Indian River stacks up from Jensen Beach up to Melbourne. Be nice to find a place to rent mid-point, but on that coast those situations are hard to come by. On the west coast they are all over the place but the more I learn about the target areas and their environmental challenges, the more I understand why such beautiful homes are not moving regardless of how much the current owners discount them. Looked into installing a pier and boat lift at an existing place here only to learn that first you need a dock permit, and none were available for that parcel as the developer had sold your to a neighbor as he needed two. You can buy dock credits on the open market, and then apply them to that lot and once that happens you can start the installation permitting process. Army Corp of Engineers, City, EPA, Wild Life, Coast Guard, Electrical Inspector, Marine Facilities Inspector, Registered Design Engineer, and at least a two year waiting period. Then the vendor want's to sell you a #10,000 pound capacity unit as he has them in surplus and can't get #8,000 units right now. Existing bulkhead had 220VAC/20 Amp service which would need to be upgraded. All in it looked to be a $38,000 endeavor and a 28 month process as long as all permits got approved without issues/delays. Burrowing Owl impact evaluation waiver was my favorite. Told me that you better have what you want because even adding a cover to an existing framework was a permitting nightmare. Something else I noticed especially in the Punta Gorda area is the HOA regulations. Too much mold on your driveway? Violation. Taxes twice what your neighbor down the street is paying? Oh, your section needs a new sea wall and the county won't help pay for it. And don't even think about bringing your boat back to the house on a trailer even for a minute or two. I take care of my property, but don't think I would do so well with neighbor/spies watching my every move. Found another place in Port Charlotte that had 2 boat lifts, direct access to Charlotte Harbor, a new high bay drive through garage that landed you right in front of your new private boat ramp and another 3 car garage attached to the house via breezeway. Beautiful pool with outside cooking area, 3 bedrooms, and all the usual bells and whistles. Price history shows a 35% decrease since initial listing and it's been for sale forever. A little too remote for our likes, and I keep looking for the razor blade in the apple as this guy has dumped a ton of money in this place and is now bailing out. We have looked at 140 places so far and by Saturday we will have covered over 3,000 miles but still have much to learn. No rush as Maryland does not hit the market until Spring. W

If you buy the Rinda hand held you will also need to buy the patch cable for your model ECM harness.

Camshaft offset angle. Don't know of. a cheaper scan tool that will read that value. Dealership models start at $700 but will work on most vehicles and will also read ABS and Transmission codes.

The fuse is located on the starter positive battery terminal as a matter of convenience, but has nothing to do with starter function. The secondary side of the fuse feeds up to the engine power distribution harness that would provide primary power feed for ignition, injector coils, and electric fuel pumps. W

Any local garage can set it for you if they are willing to climb up into your boat. Many will also tell you that if it does not set an error code, then it's close enough but in my experience if it's not close to perfect then you will fail caps way too often, especially on engines with some hours who have begun to develop some slop in their timing chains as that alone add variation in the relationship between cam and crankshaft. W

Hard for me to get a real handle on how much of those waters are no wake speed. The Indian River looks to be pretty wide open and easy ocean access. We are meeting with friends in Saint Augustine on Friday and also looking at two homes there. They have boated in that area for years so I hope to learn a few things.

No Rinda tool required as this setting is for all GM engines with a similar ignition system and can be set by any automotive garage that has a generic bidirectional scan tool. Line up the marks as shown in the video, and the engine should start. The tool is used to dial in the distributor base as you indicated. Many don't take the time to preform this step and suffer down the road with repeated cap failures due to sustained cross-fire. In an automotive application this failure can happen in as little as 20 miles. W

Sebastian Inlet looks to be worrisome at times, but the Indian River looks to have plenty of recreational opportunities without needing to head into the big pond. Still looking to go with a Cobia 277 CC, better suited for offshore. Looking up near Saint Augustine too but it appears like you need to get as far south as the Halifax river before you can really enjoy boating as I have become accustomed to. All conjecture at this point until I get the Maryland house sold. If summer was a bit longer there I would likely put in a pool and stay put but it's time to let the next family enjoy the place as much as we have. W

Coils are fired in relation to crank position sensor, and timing map is controlled by computer. Distributor positioning has no effect on timing but placement is critical as rotor needs to be phased in relation to cap. Dose no good to fire the coil at the precise moment if the rotor is not aligned with the proper distributor cap terminal post. Even more critical with the "Crab" style cap as they are prone to cross fire and carbon tracking. It's know as cam sensor offset angle, and can be set close by hand but a scan tool is needed to get to the +/- 2 degree factory spec. Otherwise you will be failing distributor caps in short order. W

Bravo III's are factory delivered with the trim cylinder trailing end eccentric bushing installed in the position which increases available trim up, while limiting total trim down. This is done to prevent a novice boater from running at WOT in the full trim down attitude which would cause severe bow steer. By rotating the bushings to the Bravo I full in position, you will gain approximately 1-1/4" full trim in which will quicken plane out times. This is a 5 minute fix requiring two 5/8" box wrenches and can be done either in water or on land. Secondly, as you throttle back and wish to maintain a minimum planing speed, it all becomes a function of balance. I'll assume that you go full trim in as you decrease throttle below say 2,950, then you add trim tab to maintain desired attitude. Bow angle of attack is the key and at the extreme you will find as you near full trim and tab in, your minimum planing speed will be quite low, especially if you rotate the bushings. I recommend that you try that simple fix anyway as it only takes a few minutes, and can be reversed just as easily if you decide you liked it better in factory form. Dealers do this change routinely to counter customer concerns. All I will say is I have never encountered anyone who went back. Now all that said, as you increase wetted surface in order to achieve a lower minimum planing speed, at some point efficiency will suffer so it's all a matter of balance and preference. On a less than perfect day you should always be able to find a sweet spot that allows for a smooth and dry ride, but it comes at a cost relative to economy. W

Start with checking for a loose or failed ground cable

Ga. Shows some value too. Lake house https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/7136-Lullwater-Rd-Columbus-GA-31904/76535613_zpid/?utm_source=Yahoo&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=addresssearch

As I've stated before, I run mine down, and then pump what remains into my car/truck/welder/mower, cans, until she is empty. Fresh 80 gallons in the spring. That said, I am the only one in our group that does so and as long as the fuel is still good, load it up with Marine Sta-Bil 360 and run it until the engine sees that mixture, then put her away and forget about her. If you insist on pumping her down, go buy an electric fuel pump at the auto parts store, and two 6' propane grille fuel hoses from Home Depot as they have proper end fitting to connect directly to you Chap's fuel tank connection fitting. By placing the pump between the two hoses, you are keeping the running pump and electrical connections well away from any accumulating vapors. The pump listed will overcome the NPSH pressure requirement created by the anti-siphon valve so no need to remove it every year. W https://s526.photobucket.com/user/wingnutmfs/media/Winterization Merc 496256 SSX/6removefuellineattank.jpg.html https://www.google.com/search?q=Carter+P4389+In-Line+Electric+Fuel+Pump&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-1 https://www.campingworld.com/6-propane-hose-assembly?CAWELAID=120030630000006535&gclid=EAIaIQobChMI0omr54CO3wIVxMDICh1yWAFPEAQYASABEgLQTfD_BwE

We spent a day there and for the most part, available properties are drive under, and walk up's which we are trying to avoid. A few around Englewood are street level entry, and basement walk-out to pool and boat dock, and the few ranchers in the area are incredibly hard to obtain insurance for. Rates range from 450/year to over 9 grand so you have to really look at the flood maps. So far we have looked at 140 properties and I'm liking a few on the upper eastern side near Sebastian Inlet on the Indian River. Big area with protected waters but the inlet is said to be one of the worse on the east coast at times. That Cobia 277 CC is looking pretty good right about now. Will likely rent for a few seasons to get better perspective and to discover where the bodies are burred. Found a keeper in Punta Gorda only to find the real estate taxes just jumped to over 14 grand because that neighborhood needs a new section of sea wall and the county won't fund it. You have to do your research. PG is extremely restrictive relative to HOA rules and regulations too. I try to be a really good neighbor to have, but they have people out looking for too much mold on driveways, and it's sad to see the 75 year olds out there with their under-powered pressure washers on ODD water days due to water use restrictions. Electrical rates are about double what I am used to also as coal is being replaced with natural gas. Nuclear is a small percentage with only 3 plants and 5 total reactors. Food is outrageous as Publix has such an monopoly, and Winn Dixie stores are limited and pretty sad. W

We did Jupiter to Merritt Island yesterday. 22 houses and 15 hours later we returned to Cape Coral with a better understanding of the area. Hobe Sound, and Merritt Island showed some promise and I'm researching recreational boating on the Indian River. Being on the Upper Chesapeake we are a bit spoiled, but would like to lengthen our season. We may even end up renting in Fla. for 3 or 4 months a year if the rental includes a boat lift. They are easy to find on the west coast but not too many on your side. W

Liked the neighborhood but that TECO plant was a deal breaker for us.

Englewood has me interested. Gulf access and short ride at speed to upper Charlotte Harbor. This place looks to fill most of our needs but outbuilding placement could be an issue. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/1415-Bayshore-Dr-Englewood-FL-34223/66751474_zpid/ I like this one too just south of Punta Gorda but it's a bit remote and I can't get a clear answer on whats in store for the adjacent lot. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/24350-Blackbeard-Blvd-Punta-Gorda-FL-33955/71032657_zpid/ This one is on a perfect lot with outbuilding but area is a bit sketchy. https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/3260-Peace-River-Dr-Punta-Gorda-FL-33983/43569775_zpid/ Now you know what I know. Found a beautiful place in Apollo Beach with pool, garage, boat lift, and quick access to Tampa Bay, surrounded by multi-million dollar houses. Went to the park at the end of the dead end street and was staring at a coal fired generating station. Yikes... East cost tour begins tomorrow. W

Mary and I are neighborhood shopping now and have been from Port Saint Rickie to Naples, and will start down the east coast this week. The owner of our rental house offered to rent us he "High Powered Sea Ray" as long as I could prove that I could handle her. At $2,900/week for a 26' bow rider with a single Merc 300 outboard, we passed. Gathered a whole bunch of local knowledge though to include recreational water quality which varies greatly area to area as dose flood insurance rates, traffic, utility costs, and ease of access to deep water. Viewed 130 homes to date and I will say that you can get a lot more house for the dollar here than in the northeast, but when you require a large garage, boat lift, pool, and single floor only the choices are greatly reduced. It's all conjecture at this point as we need to sell the Maryland home but we have been able to at least experience the lifestyle. THe daily swim 10' out the back door is my favorite, but the daily alligator I can do without. W

Funny how the Railroad Gene sticks with us. My Dad would ride his bike out to Overbrook Station in Phila. a few times a week to watch the trains, and dragged me there every time we visited Grammy on Felton Street. Vacations to the family farm house always included a side trip to Horseshoe Curve near Altoona and childhood Christmas required setting up the HO's. He did an extensive layout every year which could operate up to 6 full trains at once on the same track, and this was long before signals and fly by wire. Individual rheostats and different powered zones powered by a multi-tap transformer that his father hand wound. All this had to go by Jan. 15 as my sisters demanded their bedroom back. I still have the trains in the boxes. W

You may likely even break the old one getting it off, but that's ok too. For some reason that type really gets fused on there. W

They pull off hard and the reluctor plate come with. You then remove the tiny hex screws and switch the plate over to the new rotor. W