Outboards.....Had it!

[Hooper]

This is an open topic....On my 23' c/c I have a 1997 Mariner 225hp EFI with 850 +or- on it. I am having some annoying problems occur as this new season gets started. It seems that the engine is running too rich and just dumping oil onto the plugs thus it shuts down at low speeds such as trolling. Once we fire it up, I put the coals to it and it runs OK until we get to the river and it shakes coughs and spits oil/fuel until we get to the slip and shut it down. Could this be a VRO that has gone KA-PUTT??? If I was just half a mechanic, I may have an idea, but alas, I am not. I am forced to suck up to the boatyards who won't take your money for four weeks!!! Need to put a good mechanic on retainer I think. Do I have any options to my outboard!!!!!!!!

The sensless ramblings of a frustrated fisherman, all for now, Hooper

[BacDoc]

Unfortunately this is one of those good news/bad news situations. The good news is the new 4-stroke motors by Honda and Yamaha are dependable and bullet proof - the bad news is the price of repowering. Good luck!

[Miles Offshore]

Hooper , have you tried asking Dunk on the WMI board, Him Sal and Seahorse are some resident o/b guru's??? Somebody over there should be able to clue you in on whats wrong. (Hope so)
Craig

http://www.wmi.org/www/boating/boatboard/index.html

[firetaz]

Try www.boatered.com they helped me out quite a bit. Hope it helps......

[Billybob]

Hooper - I'm not a merc expert, but a couple things to check are your gas line connections are you sucking any air before the fuel pump, do you notice more oil consumption than you used to, are you running the right plugs ?
I agree O/B's are a pain, and even though mine is running good it is an old loud smokey thing.I disconnected the VRO in mine just for piece of mind.
I'm not really sold on the 4 strokes yet, when it's time to repower the jury might be in on Bombardier, and Ficht could be the way to go,
Good Luck

[FOR-ROCH]

My friend owns a 25 with twin brand new 2002 rudes and charter fishes now and again to make boat payments . Here is a sad story . He's flying out to the fishing grounds with two customers doing about 40 . They all heard a loud bang and then all hell broke loose . The piston shot right out thrue the top of the motor and into outer space . My brother got second degree burns putting out the motor fire ! He doesn't think much of the Ficht motor design . He's repowering with Yamaha's. I thought I would pass this along - Just an opinion .

[Hooper]

Holy S***!!!!!

What a story! Well that settles it, I am convinced that there is no perfect O/B and machines are made by man and will fail us.

To anyone, who is making the best two - stoke today for the money and WHY?????

Mecr Optimax? Evinrude Ficht? Yami (soon to be discontinued for 2003) Suziki 225efi's? Or id four the only way to fly? the time has come to bid my Mariner Good-Bye...

All for now, Hooper