Re: "Authorized Dealers?" - Think Twice
What an interesting thread, especially as I am currently going thru a "BUBBA" experience myself at present. This forum is an excellent place to come and learn from those more experienced thatn myself and for that I thank the lot of you for all your input.<br />I bought a Haines Hunter V133 with a 75 Mariner 1984 model for around 5000 recently and the boat / trailer was in immaculate condition. I met the owner and he seemed to be a genuine guy, motor had good compression and on the test run went fine. had plenty of power ( 45 miles / hour on the speedo, don't know how accurate ).<br />The seller told he had only had the motor for a couple of months and couldn't guaruntee the history but which made me hesitant, but as it had performed well on the test, it all seemed to be fine.<br />He advised me to get the carbies checked and the timing which I did when I returned home . The carbies were missing a few parts and needed an overhaul which I was happy to pay. Also had the comp test done again and asked the mechanic to check over the motor. Without going into every little detail, he checked it over, said I don't know who has been working on this but he's cut a few corners. It should be OK to use but to be safe, run a tank at 25/1 and be nice to the motor. I also booked it in as he had found various things not right, such as a misaligned starter motor and he needed it for around 3 hrs to right the wrongs.<br />This thing would never start for me when hot with out seriously screwing around and cycling between choke on/ choke off, throttle on/off.<br />It aslo coughed a few times when out on water so I was using the boat, but never stopping the motor till I returned to the ramp. One day it lost all power over about 4 knots and the motor was exhibiting behaviour similiar to a dirty fuel filter. Took the filter out, yep, it had some crap in it so put on a new one, and only able to get about 20 mph out of boat. Here's where it gets interesting :<br />I put the boat in.<br />3 days later and I call and no, they haven't got to it yet, but it's 1st cab off the rank in the am. I call around 3pm and find out the mechanic is sick and won't be back till Monday. BTW, there's only 1 employed where 6 months ago there were 2 and the boss still books the workshop like mechanic number 2 was still clocking on. hehehe.<br />Anyway, the mech come in on Sat, changes impellor as per request and checks oput general condition below...no worries. Says" gee I'm having alot of trouble starting this .... and I've changed the carbs and same problem. Also have you noticed this ( mechanic grabs flywheel and can move it from side to side ) and it runs very rough when it fires. I'm thinking it was fine ( well sort of ) when it was last going BEFORE it broke down !) but ask how much to pull it apart ? Another $200.<br />Mechanic advises me that he doesn't want to do anymore on the motor as he can't guarantee I won't be back next week/month with another problem. Too many things smell a lil funny and he'd rather pull it apart so we both know exactly where we stand and the cost to make it a safe, reliable motor for my new pride and joy.He thinks whoever has worked on the motor is a backyard mechanic and has cut too many corners.<br /><br />2 days later he calls and it ain't good. Bearings, crank, 2 scalloped pistons, a lil scarring and lots of worn parts , mixed in with a few new bearings which are not the right ones for the motor and one piston different from the other 3 ( 2 rings versus 3 on the others). Quote is 2200 t0 2500 for a rebuild with a 6month warranty. I'm saying a few rude words and generally feeling like a complete idiot at this point. Not at the mechanic, just at my bad luck.<br />Then you say, " Do I trust this guy or is he ripping me off ? the previous owner still maintains that he thinks I'm being taken for a ride ( he won't admit it but I'm sure he's the culprit ) and get a second opinion. I can't see the point, the mechanic has been nice, he's said from the start that he thinks it's been worked on by a non skilled tradesman and he has gone thru my options with me in regards to the motor. he had no second hand motor at that time to suit what I was after, but if he did I could expect to pat aropund 4500 - 5000 for a second hand 75 - 90, anywhere from 5 - 10 years old with a 3 month warranty. OR I could get a 70 hp Yamaha oil mix for about 7800 fitted ranging to about 10000 for a new 4 stroke such as a Honda .<br />What do you do ???????<br />Too much for the dream solution, a 90hp 4 stoke.<br />I'm not comfortable with spend 5000 on ANOTHER second hand motor with even less warranty and no attached service history.<br /><br />SO as NMPlayer said, the cheapest solution for me was the rebuild, regardless of the market price of the motor. If I get 4 years out of it, it'll be money well spent and I can then look into the dream. <br /><br />Iagree to rebuild and drop in a week later to see how it's going. He shows me all the worn parts, says the powerhead is ok ( norebore needed) and that he was right, the motor had been pulled down and rebuilt, with some incorrect parts and the majority with major wear but not replaced.<br />I'm shocked and ask, " So why did it go OK at test drive time and he replies each time I have used it, the motor has slowly but surely failed as it was incorrectly rebuilt".<br />BUGGER!<br />He tried to have it finished for me this Friday so I had it for the weekend but it now looks like I'll have my toy back on Monday. He has it going , but he still needs to do a lil fine tuning, test it and fit a rev counter.Thanks iboats, this forum has cost me 200 bucks for the tacho as I have learnt how much I need one !hehehehehe<br />In for apenny, in for a pound.<br />As i said, this thread has my eyes popping out of my head as I wonder, " Did i waste my money ? Did i do the right thing? Should I have got a second opinion ? Am i a total idiot and of course, ALL OF THE ABOVE. hehehehehehehehehehehe<br /><br />BTW, sorry for the long winded reply.
