Official 280 Sundancer Thread

Thank you for help. The problem is the sliding screen. How does it open? I try to pull them apart but no go. There must be a trick to getting past the screen.
 
On my 280 I have both Smartcraft gauges telling me I have no Water PSI. The temps are staying in the normal range (about 155) both on the digital and needle gauges. I am assuming the sensors are shot? The boat has been sitting in brackish water on the Manatee river for over a year with barely any start ups. I bought it 3 weeks ago and have been running it up to temp at least 1x per week if not 2. Engines sound great. Bottome was covered with large scallop type barnacles and pros were covered. First time I took it out there were lots of vibrations though the engines sound and look good. I assumed it was barnacles. Had bottom cleaned and props cleaned and took it out a bit and it seemed smooth. I don't know the water and the seller hasn't found his chart plotter/depth finder yet so I'm being careful while I get it cleaned up. I have run the engines up to 3000 for a bit to check gauges and temp stays constant. Oil pressure is good on both and engines sound and run consistent and smooth. By the way, they have started right up easily since the first time I tried them. I'm going to pull boat here soon to change out zinks and I'm wondering if there is a way to check the impellors without taking off the outdrives?? I've got the genset apart (22 hours) and I'm going to flush it all out and change fluids, plugs, impellor, even though they look good, (except impellor which was shot). So, the questions are.......1. Water pressure? 2. outdrive impellors? 3. How do I move the screen out of the way to open the hatch over the vberth?
4.3 mpi's, 2004 70 hours. Alpha 1 drives. Kohler 5.0 gas genset.
Also, the windlass is not working......there are threads about this somewhere but I can't find them. The solenoid is making a loud click sound so I know it's getting power. The motor does nothing. It's 12 years old, but it's probably never been used. I'm guessing it's frozen??
Thank you for any help
 
Curtiss said:
Thank you for help. The problem is the sliding screen. How does it open? I try to pull them apart but no go. There must be a trick to getting past the screen.
Click to expand...

Look closely at the plastic "handle" you use to slide the screen/sunshade back and forth. It's actually made up of two handles that click together (one for the screen, one for the shade). Push in the center to separate them. It'll make sense once you try it.
 
Thank you Dennis. I thought that was the solution but I couldn't get them apart any way I tried. I was afraid I'd pull them apart too hard and break them. I'll try pushing in the center. Now that I know how it's supposed to work, it'll be easier. Thanks again.
 
Curtiss said:
Thank you Dennis. I thought that was the solution but I couldn't get them apart any way I tried. I was afraid I'd pull them apart too hard and break them. I'll try pushing in the center. Now that I know how it's supposed to work, it'll be easier. Thanks again.
Click to expand...

Dennis has it. You really have to slightly bend them and they come unhooked. Not real intuitive, but once you get it, it's simple.
 
Curtiss said:
On my 280 I have both Smartcraft gauges telling me I have no Water PSI. The temps are staying in the normal range (about 155) both on the digital and needle gauges. I am assuming the sensors are shot? The boat has been sitting in brackish water on the Manatee river for over a year with barely any start ups. I bought it 3 weeks ago and have been running it up to temp at least 1x per week if not 2. Engines sound great. Bottome was covered with large scallop type barnacles and pros were covered. First time I took it out there were lots of vibrations though the engines sound and look good. I assumed it was barnacles. Had bottom cleaned and props cleaned and took it out a bit and it seemed smooth. I don't know the water and the seller hasn't found his chart plotter/depth finder yet so I'm being careful while I get it cleaned up. I have run the engines up to 3000 for a bit to check gauges and temp stays constant. Oil pressure is good on both and engines sound and run consistent and smooth. By the way, they have started right up easily since the first time I tried them. I'm going to pull boat here soon to change out zinks and I'm wondering if there is a way to check the impellors without taking off the outdrives?? I've got the genset apart (22 hours) and I'm going to flush it all out and change fluids, plugs, impellor, even though they look good, (except impellor which was shot). So, the questions are.......1. Water pressure? 2. outdrive impellors? 3. How do I move the screen out of the way to open the hatch over the vberth?
4.3 mpi's, 2004 70 hours. Alpha 1 drives. Kohler 5.0 gas genset.
Also, the windlass is not working......there are threads about this somewhere but I can't find them. The solenoid is making a loud click sound so I know it's getting power. The motor does nothing. It's 12 years old, but it's probably never been used. I'm guessing it's frozen??
Thank you for any help
Click to expand...

Curtiss,

Hope you got a really good deal, sounds like it needs a lot of work.

First thing I'd do is make sure you're getting good indications. Solve the water PSI. (I don't know where you see water pressure, I don't have that on my 2003) Let me know.

Second I'd get the owners manual and a service manual. Go to page 11.2 and 11.3 in the owners manual and go thru EVERY inspection, from Before use to 50, 100 hour and annually and do everything, unless you can prove it's been done. A lot of work, but none really hard. Oil, fluids, filters, grease things that move, pull the drives, inspect, change impellers, pull props replace the sleeve, grease etc. If older than 3 years, do all the manifolds, risers, elbows, and plugs.

You want to have a "known quantity". Once you get this done, and you'll probably replace a few things...

And this could get expensive... like 5 to 10 thousand. But if you want reliable boating you'll need to do this.

Unless I'm missing something, sounds like a boat with unknown history and little to no maintenance for awhile.

Once you get it up to speed, it's a great economical and capable boat for running around the bay area, and inter coastal from Tarpon to Ft Myers and a few overnites... very comfy for two.
 
Thanks for your help.. I've started that process. The good news is that the seller put about 10k in to the boat a year ago including manifold risers etc.
The water psi is on the smart gauges.
 
Access to tighten cleats? I was going to check them and was wondering if it's even possible to tighten them if needed without pulling interior apart


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Dennis,
I've tried everything besides breaking the handle to get it split apart. It actually made me bleed last night trying to get it open. I can see where the two come together but I can't see how to separate them..
 
Hmmmm.... Strange.

They click together in the middle and you just have to loosen that connection. Let me see if I can explain it a different way (this would literally take 2 seconds in person to show you, but it's a bit harder with just words). Make the hand sign language for "C" with both hands. Now. with elbows out, bring the two of them together in front of your chest with one hand palm down, the other palm up -- ignore your thumbs for this demonstration :) . See how they "click" together? That's pretty much the same way the two pieces come together.

If you look at the plastic pieces from the side, you may be able to see which one is up and which one is down (palm up, palm down). If you push up on the "palm down" close to where the two pieces come together, and counter-push the other one (push up on the back side of the palm up clip to rotate the "finger part" down), they should just pop apart. It doesn't take much force.

Unless of course someone has glued them together!!!
 
I don't see any glue but I also can't get them open. 3 people have tried now. It can't be this hard can it?
 
I can't locate a thread that is specific to my next question, so I'll start here. Please feel to direct me elsewhere.
I have twin 4.3's with Alpha I's. The outdrive's will trim down but not up. The trailer switch works fine to bring them up so I know the pump is working. It would seem that since BOTH outdrives do the same thing it's probably not the two solenoids on the two pumps. There is a great how to sheet at http://www.*******.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C1R3.PDF but it doesn't seem to address the same issue because the trailer mode works for bringing it up.
Both reservoirs are nearly full. I don't hear clicking when I push the trim buttons up. When I push them down both work immediately and well. When I push the separate trailer switch it goes up well. I Know I can't use this when the engines are running and shouldn't use it in the water at all.
Any ideas?
 
Trim pump solenoid probably. Common failure.
 
The only common thread is the switch, even though perhaps separate contacts. That would be first choice.

How could it be the solenoids on the pumps unless both failed at the same time? And the down is working.
 
Curtiss said:
I can't locate a thread that is specific to my next question, so I'll start here. Please feel to direct me elsewhere.
I have twin 4.3's with Alpha I's. The outdrive's will trim down but not up. The trailer switch works fine to bring them up so I know the pump is working. It would seem that since BOTH outdrives do the same thing it's probably not the two solenoids on the two pumps. There is a great how to sheet at http://www.*******.com/merc/Servmanl/6/6C1R3.PDF but it doesn't seem to address the same issue because the trailer mode works for bringing it up.
Both reservoirs are nearly full. I don't hear clicking when I push the trim buttons up. When I push them down both work immediately and well. When I push the separate trailer switch it goes up well. I Know I can't use this when the engines are running and shouldn't use it in the water at all.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...

Trim limit may be bad. Black "hockey puck" on the port side of your ODs about the size of a silver dollar. That was exactly what mine was doing. I ran it that way for a season, just don't trim them too high.

Bennett
 
Do you mean "just don't trim them too high" with the trailer up button, or when I change them out?
 
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