90 Hp Mariner

[kdogger]

I just bought my father inlaws old (1982) procraft with a 90 hp Mariner.

I started it up, and noticed that the water wasn't discharging. It was also hard starting.

I took it to Wilson Marine, and was told that it looks like it was overheated, and the "cylinders are stuffed".

They also said that it would be $500 for labor to tell me if it is repairable or not.

What should I do here? I only paid $2500 for the boat...my father in law will probably buy it back from me if I make him, but I would really like to get the boat running.

Options? Is this a reasonable charge by Wilson to just let me know if it is repairable?

It seems to me as a layman that it can't be all that bad, since it does start up....or am I dreaming?

[Jason Adam]

You're impeller is probably shot, which is why no water was flowing, which caused it to overheat. That is the easy and cheap part. As for the long term damage from the overheating, I would say fix the impeller and see if it runs good. Other than that, you'd have to have somebody pull it apart and look at the internals.

[motcityman]

You're impeller is probably shot, which is why no water was flowing, which caused it to overheat. That is the easy and cheap part. As for the long term damage from the overheating, I would say fix the impeller and see if it runs good. Other than that, you'd have to have somebody pull it apart and look at the internals.


change the water pump and run it till it dies..it is a Merc in more then one way and in time it will die..but run it till it does..then take it to a good dealer or some one that can fix..plenty out there waiting for work..the dealer you took it tooo..well lets just sayyyyyyyyyy...BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[TONGA]

what kind of compression numbers did they get when they checked her out?
Also keep in mind if you give them the 500 they are going to take that thing part way down, so when they are done you will no longer have a running motor!
What is your location? if you are near me I would be happy to have a look and give you my opinion.

[kdogger]

I went to pick up the boat today, and the engine was in box in the boat....they figured there was no point in putting it back together.


They agreed to put it back together and I'm just being charged for 2 hours of labor total...although I feel kind of stupid now.. I could have taken off the exhaust port and said "looks overheated"....

I'd really like to know if it is repairable or not, but they estimate that it will be about $500 worth of labor to figure out if the powerhead is shot or repairable. Is it really that many hours of work to determine?

While I'm not a mechanic, I'm not totally out of it, as I did lots of work on my old 1968 Evinrude myself. I was kind of intimidated by this engine, though, as it was not as simple as my 18 hp eninrude.

I agree that I'm not getting a very clear picture of exactly what is wrong with this engine. It seems if it overheated, then we have some warped parts in the cylinder....isn't a new piston like 100 bucks?

When exactly is an engine shot beyond repair?

[double trouble]

you take a running motor to a dealer and they want $500 to take it apart and tell you its shot. a simple compression test would do that.what kind of crooks are they? call dave at performance marine for an honest opinion.2488823736

stuffed cylinder. what does that mean? is this trash talk from the honest mechanic.i have been involved in motors got 30 years and never heard that term . enlighten me!

[kdogger]

Well, I just picked it up.

Cost me $183 for them to tell me that it would take another $500 to tell me what it would cost to fix if it is fixable at all.

Here's the info I paid for:

Compression numbers: 135, 135, 140, 140, 140, 140.

#1 cylinder: aluminum debris on plug. Scoffed cylinder (not stuffed!) Warped piston.

[kdogger]

I just looked at the plugs:
#1 has melted aluminum debris and looks like the plug cap got hot.
#2 is a bit dirty but dosen't look like it got hot enough to scorch the cap.
#3-6 clean as a whistle.

[TONGA]

looks like pretty good compression numbers to me,it's the little balls of aluminum that scare me..
You could stuff an impeller in her hand see if she holds together,if she dose you are way ahead and if she dose not you might trash her beyond a rebuild. but then again for the price of a rebuild you can buy a real nice running motor.
Or you can just haul into a different shop and have her rebuilt.
I guess you just need to decide what number on the roulette table you want to put your chips on.