2004 evinrude 115 looking to purchase, what common problems with this year?

snowseeker

snowseeker

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
93
There is a 2004 115 for sale locally that we could use for one of our boats. I know some years of 115's were more prone to some problems than others. What are the common problems for the 04 115's? Any major problems to avoid this year? Thanks for any input!
 
D

DJ

Guest
Re: 2004 evinrude 115 looking to purchase, what common problems with this year?

None that I know of.

Do your due diligence. Check; compression, lower unit lube.
 
snowseeker

snowseeker

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
93
Re: 2004 evinrude 115 looking to purchase, what common problems with this year?

The owner said there is only 10 hours on the motor so I am expecting everything to be like new but will take it out on the water (still on the boat) to test it out and run it threw the paces.
 
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bob johnson

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Re: 2004 evinrude 115 looking to purchase, what common problems with this year?

snowseeker said:
The owner said there is only 10 hours on the motor so I am expecting everything to be like new but will take it out on the water (still on the boat) to test it out and run it threw the paces.
Click to expand...

I d think you will be looking at rebuilding the carbs...because th1t "10 hours" statement if true means it hasnt run lately I bet.... and the gas has congeiled in the bowls...and might be varnish now...


actually now that i see its an EVINRUDE, it might not have carbs and MIGHT be a FICHT motor.....then you got a more complicated motor for sure...

FICHT engines have a bad rap, but i think the consensus is it is the early V6 motors not the V4 motors that had lots of problems...

it might also be a DI motor, which i dont know anythign about....

due dilligence, they say!!!!!


good luck

bob
 
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hidef

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snowseeker

snowseeker

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Nov 1, 2004
Messages
93
Re: 2004 evinrude 115 looking to purchase, what common problems with this year?

Thanks much for the inputs! We will be buying the whole boat with motor if we get it. The motor will get swapped with our current 70hp and the boat will most likely get sold again. I am near certain it is the fitch engine but I have yet to see it in person. I remember lots of people complaining about ignition problems around the 04 years so that is why I am a little concerned about it. Our work boats cannot be breaking down, the 70hp that we are looking to replace has been in service for a good 10+ years now and must have just oodles of hours on it. It has never left us stranded while at work not once! Sure we have tore up prop shafts, water pumps, lower housings, etc. But we always made it back to the landing even when over 20 miles down river. If we have a break down that far away from the landing with any kind of load in the boat it can turn out to be a very very bad day.

Besides ignition I have also heard of lots of 115 owners having the power heads replaced or rebuilt because of either overheat or no oil problems. We can use the extra power for sure but if it comes with potential problems we would rather keep the 70.
 
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