Yammie to Opti re-powering. Spark plug Q and battery observation.

Posts here recommend .040 spark plug gap. Are they installed at the factory this way or should I pull and check them?

Doing research for the change, I read of the Opti's battery sensitivity. The Yammie setup had starting, sonars, accessories (pumps, lights, etc) on a dedicated deep cycle battery. Worked great. The Opti setup is a Merc spec starter battery with two color sonars connected - we'll see how a long day's use affects starting potential. Accessories are on a TM deep cycle - a no-brainer change, just moving one pair of wires to a different battery.

The sensitivity was brought home yesterday. I hadn't plugged in the charger for a couple of days and due (I believe) to Lowrance drain, the starter voltage was down to 11.9 V. When I turned the starter key, the engine barely turned over and the warning buzzer chirped continuously as the motor spun. It did start, and after a twenty minute run, the voltage was up & the engine started easily the rest of the day. I've since put a manual on/off in the sonar circuit (always knew one was needed, but, well, you know. . . . . .).

When I got the new battery, info available to me about high $ high tech starter batteries was so anecdotal and inconsistent that I went with a standard lead acid. The next starting battery I get will be one of those on the Merc R&D list posted by Don.


Merry Christmas, all!


cb

(edited for an afterthought)


Modified by taeheel2az at 9:38 AM 12/23/2008


Modified by taeheel2az at 10:42 AM 12/23/2008

Check the gap on your plugs next time they are out. Primary reason for the new gap is "an improvement in idle quality". http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

You'll want to get that battery situation resolved NOW. Low battery voltage can (and will) result in a MULTITUDE of problems... some temporary, and some NOT. http://www.bassboatcentral.com/smileys/wink.gif

http://xs-s.com/zf/images/smile/emthup.gif Since the original post, I've moved all accessories off the starter battery & its potential stays where it's s'posed to.

Thanks,

cb

I made the same engine switch a month ago.

All of my livewell pumps, electronics, VHF radio, and more are wired to my crank battery. At the time of swapping motors I installed a new Odyssey 1700 as the crank. I also wired in the troller battery that serves as the ground to the trolling motor as battery #2 on a new battery switch. The Odyssey is battery #1. I leave it on position #1 and have yet to need extra juice from a second battery.

That new Odyssey is a beast!