Re: "Black Max" reliability??
we've had an '82 (I think) V150 for about 15 years -maybe longer. It's been a good motor. We've had to do the power pack (I think it was that)... about 12 years ago.. and 2 years ago we twisted/broke the driveshaft. The power pack is something that just went (not particularly bad on these motors I don't think)... the driveshaft was probably caused by our maintenance practice. We keep the boat on a trolley in a boathouse. It didn't allow the motor to be lowered down 100% (only about 90-95%) when changing out the lower unit lube. So, I think that caused us to underfill the lower unit by about 100 ml for several years. Given that the driveshaft bearing is lube'd by oil spun up the driveshaft, I think we heated that bearing, which eventually took out the driveshaft (so I don't blame the motor for that). Now I've cut a hole in the floor, to allow proper filling of the LU. Hopefully, we won't have that problem again. It is true, that in later years (mid '80's somewhere) they did put a beefier driveshaft in them so maybe it is "the weakest link" in my motor (?).<br /><br />As for quirks, as with any engine, but particularly big 2 strokes, it can take a while to figure out the best way to start them. When cold, mine has to be trimmed completely down to start, it needs fast idle and the choke held, and then a couple bumps of the choke to keep it from stalling once if fires up. Doesn't sound tough eh? well my neighbor's got a very similar engine (200 hp 2 years newer), and he almost always comes close to killing his battery trying to cold start it. I don't think it's the motor, he's just never figured it out, and ends up either flooding it, or not giving it enough gas.<br /><br />Hope this helps.<br /><br />B
