BigBendFishing.Net

Went back out today. Left Shields around 11:30 am. Fished around the power plant with no luck. Decided to go up the river to the oyster bars around the east river. Boat ran good for about 5-10 minutes and had the same problem again. I had fresh gas and I have been running the fuel out while cranking the boat in the back yard during this cold weather.

I think it is the thermastat, but I am taking it to Bellflower and call it a day.

Oh, let me add...the motor didn't sound right even at the slower speed and I had difficulty getting it to go forward without it cutting off....Matter of fact I couldn't even drive it on the trailer to load it up.

Big:

Hard to tell without more details, but sounds like it could be water in the gas or clogged low speed jets in the carbo. Next time it bogs down, try giving it a shot from the choke. This bypasses the low speed jets and gives the engine enough gas to go faster, where the high speed jets kick in. If this works, this is a pretty sure sign of clogged low speed jets.

If so, clean the carb, install a racor filter, drain the gas.

All of the above, applied to my motor. Now O.K.

EJ

Good info to know! Thanks!

Certainly sounds like a carb problem.

What a way to start the weekend! I have been informed that I have a blown motor. Apparently, the #3 cylinder is damaged (scarred all around the circumference). I haven't seen it. I don't have the courage.

Chris at Bellflower feels the lack of use may have been a contibutor to the problem. It is a '96 with less than 30 hours. I am perplexed at this point and am not sure if I should rebuild it or sell it as is and cut my losses.

Can anyone vouch to the quality of a rebuilt engine? I know I am not interested in putting a new one on. Any guidance, oh wise ones? I am hurting!

Tough news Big. I've never owned a rebuild, so I couldn't tell ya about them.

Dang, less than 30 hours "I put more than that on mine in the first month" A rebuilt can be just as good or beter than a new one "if done correctly" I would get a cost estimate and warranty info before doing it though

The only sure way to solve the problem is to have that cylindar re-sleeved, and replace the bad piston and rings. To do that requires a complete teardown. New seals and gaskets, and possibly bearings. The OMC 3 cylindars seem to do fairly well after a rebuild. I would compare cost between a proper rebuild and a new power head.

Before I proceeded I would want to know, for sure, what caused that cylindar to go bad. Could have been the bottom carb stopped up. Could have been an overheat problem. Could have been a broke ring, or 15 other possibilities. If the original problem is not resolved, you'll be back in the same mess.

If you decide to rebuild that motor, and keep it, I would strongly suggest you disconnect the oil injection. If there's oil in the gas, you know it's getting to the engine.

Sorry to hear about your problem, BIG.

When my motor messed up I was heart broken, just sick, got sicker when I checked into a rebuilt powerhead, also checked into remanufactured powerheads, cost more but at the time, neither fit my budget...I found distributors on line of outboard motor parts and lots of phone numbers,,,ended up I had one cylinder bad, number one, broke ring, gouged a long groove in the cylinder...I tore it down, not as bad as I thought it would be,, put the garage off limited and took the block to the machine shop, they bored it 30 over, took the grove out, had the other three honed, evinrude says doing it this way is fine, cost me 75 dollars, bought new rings, all the gaskets, and seals, bearings in mine were like new, left them alone, total bill ran about 375.00 as compared to 2000.00 for a remanufactured one..now that was about 50 or so hours ago, I learned alot, there is alot to it, if you have the ability and time and place...
Need to know more, email me.
Don

I don't have the ability, time or place to make such repairs. I feel completely vunerable. So, my main concern is not getting price gouged by a mechanic. Bellflower service department has been very helpful. The boat was originally bought from them.

I probably should get a second opinion. Does anyone have a recommendation for a good, fair and reasonable mechanic in Tallahassee that has experience with Johnson motors?

Not in Tally but Jerry's Marine in Panacea is about as honest and good a marine mechanic as you will find and his specialty is Johnson/Evinrude 984-4800

Finally got the boat fixed. It appears it overheated. I took it to Gus at The Shop. Cost me $1,420 but was less than what I expected. He said I caught it just in time. He replaced the scarred cyclinder, water pump, plugs, thermostat, and disconnected the oil injection system.

It is amazing how accurate the information that was exchanged concerning this posts. I thank all who replied for their assistance. I'm baaaack!