catchersrock
Ensign
Posts: 548
Location: Maiden NC
Sea Pro model and year: 2020 Sea Pro 228
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Post by catchersrock on Aug 21, 2018 8:58:19 GMT -6
So, My 2008 Mercury Optimax 150 was showing symptoms of a slipping prop hub, so, I took it into the shop. I told them to check this and go ahead with a new water pump and regular top to bottom check out and fluids.
The foot fluid was contaminated so they found braided fishing line around the prop shaft had destroyed this seal. They couldn't get it apart which led to ordering a new foot. (they said that salt water had seized everything up)
When trying to install the new foot they found that a bushing at the bottom of the power head was broken and needed to be replaced requiring the removal of the power head.
While removing the power head they found a hole corroded in the side of the motor allowing water leakage.
I took in a running motor, now I'm several thousand dollars in and have a pile of junk parts.
Advice? Similiar experiences? New Motor? New Power Head? JB Weld? Sell the boat?
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Post by gnrphil on Aug 21, 2018 11:11:52 GMT -6
Holy crap, seems like you would've noticed the hole in the block and having to replace the lower unit because they couldn't get the seal out is a tad suspicious to me.
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985crabs
Captain
2000 V1900 Bay Series, Yamaha 150 Carb. 2
Posts: 1,309
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Post by 985crabs on Aug 21, 2018 12:05:49 GMT -6
This sounds really fishy. They couldn't get the seal out? If this is an annual service things should not have deteriorated to the point where the patient is inoperable. There are ways to manipulate seals and metal. Did you authorize the purchase of a new foot? That seems to be outside the scope of what you told them to do. I'd tell them they bought themselves a nice foot and that you would have taken it somewhere for a second opinion before going that route. The nimrod who pulled your foot off to get to the water pump likely destroyed that bushing in the process.
Hole in the motor leaking? Really?
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catchersrock
Ensign
Posts: 548
Location: Maiden NC
Sea Pro model and year: 2020 Sea Pro 228
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Post by catchersrock on Aug 21, 2018 15:01:35 GMT -6
So, I went and looked at the motor. Once they removed all the cowling and other stuff to get to removing the power head, they noticed a trail of water leakage on the side of the block. I looked at it. It does look like there is a few pin holes that have leaking water out of the block for a while.
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Post by Juan on Aug 21, 2018 15:50:34 GMT -6
Sorry to hear about your motor issues. Sounds like my kind of luck. I tend to agree with what Crabs already said... sounds fishy to me too. I know line, especially braid can destroy a prop seal and cause the oil to become contaminated in the lower unit, but I've never heard of not being able to replace the seal.. it's actually something you can do yourself. If you can change a water pump impeller, you can change a prop seal. BUT with a bad lower unit, a hole in the block and having to remove the power head to replace a bushing, IMO you've reached the point of no return and they've got you by the short hairs. It's probably going to cost more to patch it up than it's worth. I'd trade it in on a new one and take what ever I could get for it.. You can probably get a brand new one with a 6 year warranty for a little more than it's going to cost to fix that one. BOAT Break Out Another Thousand.
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Post by freezerfiller on Aug 21, 2018 16:30:22 GMT -6
Wow, talk about a chain of events. And unfortunately they didn't find all of the problems before they ordered the foot. I guess you have to decide how far in you are vs. what it takes to be right. I would definitely repower if I was in for less than 2k, but it sounds like you are deeper than that.
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catchersrock
Ensign
Posts: 548
Location: Maiden NC
Sea Pro model and year: 2020 Sea Pro 228
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Post by catchersrock on Aug 31, 2018 11:51:59 GMT -6
Update:
I had full coverage insurance on the boat, so, Nationwide is paying me for the foot replacement. I am putting that towards a new motor. That makes the math more since to go ahead with the repower. I found a marina that bought a surpluss of Mercury 2 strokes when they announced that they were going to stop making them. So, I am going with a new 2017 150 Mercury Pro XS. The wait time for a new 2018 4 stroke Mercury motor is 6 months, I cant wait that long! I am scheduled to have it installed next weekend. I will post numbers as soon as I can.
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Post by Juan on Aug 31, 2018 13:14:17 GMT -6
I think you're making the right decision by not trying to get the old one fixed and repowering. Keep us posted on how she does after you get her broke in.
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