Can you help this SUCKER?

[mnwild_mntwins]

Just bougth a Nitro with a 150 Tracker/Johnson GT. Model year 1991. Before buying it we took it for a 1 hour ride and it ran great. Got it home, took it out, now the VRO horn started sounding. It would sound than shut off then sound, no consistancy. Water was coming out, Oil tank was full. It was shooting out of the hole and onto plane nicely and topped at about 55mph. Idle was a little rough, althoug would stay running.

Took it to a marine mechanic to check out the horn. He opened the cover, inspected things and said "not good". Two bolts were sheared off the head (right at the head of the bolt). They showed wear so it looks like that had happened a while ago. He started it up and we saw a little water leaking out where the broken bolt-head were. He then checked compression and it was 80-105 all around. He also thinks that cyclindder #5 wasn't firing, but didn't confirm that.

Initially he said I shoudl start looking for a new motor (oh and he just happened to have some for sale). I told him I would pay for his time up to that point and take my boat home. he then said "well I'll open the head up and see if it's fixable if you leave it here". I left it there because I am NOT mechanically inclined and feel like I have no other choice.

What would you do? Repower or fix?
He said this motor was junk from day 1, because it was the first year Johnson built a 6 cyclinder. Is that true?

By the way, in the subject line, the word SUCKER is refering to ME. The rookie boat buyer that shoulld've had a mechanic check the motor first.

 

[mnwild_mntwins]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

rebuild?
repower?

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

Personally, I'd look for another mechanic to obtain a 2nd opinion. A vote of repower/rebuild would require that I, or anyone else, would need to personally inspect the engine.

 

[OBJ]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

Whoa partner....before we get excited about rebuild, repower and punt.....take the rig to another wrench and get a second opinion.

The first six cylinder OMC produced showed up somewhere in 76' so your wrench otta' get some history lessons.

Let's take a little closer look at what you experienced.

The alarm came and went.....was it a tone that sounded every 20sec's or so or a very urgent 1/2 sec tone every 1/2 sec.

I would bet the low compression was on the cylinders with the broken bolt heads. Was the comprssion taken with the engine cold or warm?

The engine ain't dead yet.....least ways it ain't been proved to me yet. Yes, you should have taken it to a wrench for check out....but nothing can be done about that now.

Like I posted....take it to another wrench at a different dealership and get a second opinion.

 

[mnwild_mntwins]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

Thanks for the advice. Sounds like my mechanic has a some history lesson issues.

I'll see what happens and take it to a 2nd for an opinion

 

[mnwild_mntwins]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

Yes it was the more urgent 1/2 second or so horn. From What I've read the constant horn is heat and the intermitent is VRO related. But I also heard the the modules f the sound the horn can go bad. Near the end of running it, the horn started to sound like it was dying. Not very strong and varied in pitch. So I was HOPING it was just a bad module.

Not sure if the compression was taken warm or cold. I will ask. For the record, when SHOULD it be taken?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

I like to get it running and warm....clear the holes out if you will. What your looking for is even compression across all the cylinders...of course the higher the better. General rule of thumb is all compressions should be within 10 > 15% of each other. True, yours read a 20psi difference....but that can be cause by a couple different things, like a blown head gasket or a lose head and doesn't mean the engine automatially needs an overhaul.

The alarm could be restricted or no oil flow to the pump. Only way to find out is have the rig checked out by competent wrench.

 

[mnwild_mntwins]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

bump

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

If you think that possibly the horn itself is going bad, while it's sounding, remove the TAN wire from the horn. If the sounding continues with that TAN wire removed, replace the horn.

Also, that TAN wire should be installed on the horn terminal closest to the build in black ground wire. If it's attached to the other terminal, weird things will take place.

 

[dsinger]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

Sounds Like You Went to Travis Boating in Claremore Oklahoma or at least sounds like the service they give anyways. I am not no expert but you need a second opinon far from any of that guys friends..... Get a manual and use this forum and they will get you through it...

 

[mnwild_mntwins]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

Thanks for the good advice. I feel much better knowing there is HOPE that I won't have to fork out the big dough for a new motor.

The one thing that I wasn't clear on. What does it mean when I saw water coming out of the head? Not good, i know, but where does that water come from?

 

[OBJ]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

The heads have water circulating through them for cooling....around the outside shell. The water comes from the water pump on top of the lower unit. Broke head bolts will leak water. But it don't mean, again, that the engine is wasted.

 

[dsinger]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

mnwild_mntwins

You have to let us know what you find out because this one has got me interested !!!!

 

[mnwild_mntwins]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

I'll let you know what I find out. Thanks again for the lesson on motors. Have a good and safe 4th of July.

 

[John Persall]

Re: Can you help this SUCKER?

I feel your pain. I also have a 150 FICHT. That I purchased from a Travis Dealer. It has been nothing but a PAIN in the----. There is no-one in this area that will even give any hope of a successful repair. The last response was about a trade for something else was that they would trade with me as if I had nothing. This is the response I have recieved from at least 3 dealers. It skips , cuts off, won't idle, leaves you in the middle of the Lake and loves gas during the short period of time it runs to get you to a remote place to quit. Boy am I happy.