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

[taeheel2az]

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

[EuropeanAM]

Check the gap on your plugs next time they are out. Primary reason for the new gap is "an improvement in idle quality".

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.

[taeheel2az]

Since the original post, I've moved all accessories off the starter battery & its potential stays where it's s'posed to.

Thanks,

cb

[FishinMcNut]

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!