Evinrude E-Tech

[Texasmark]

I was watching Dish Channel 193 a couple of nights ago and the program title was "How It's Done" or "How It's Built", or something like that and the subject was a tour of an E-Tech assembly line. No brand loyalty or anything else but I was amazed at the precision maintained in the manufacturing process. Measurements weren't in the thousandths of an inch, but ten thousandths of an inch and it was like no big deal in the engine and lower units especially.

When finished with the assy, they hooked the engines up to a computer and in a test tank ran them for 15 minutes before they completed the finishing details and crated them up. Very impressive.

I've heard about new manufacturing processes, including road vehicles, having really tight specs now-a-days and this must be another example of today's technology. Helps to explain why my Dodge Hemi "Hot Dog Truck" (second or third childhood thing I bought several years ago and have since sold) didn't recommend but stated that you'd have problems if you didn't run 5w-20 engine oil. It also said that the oil pump was especially designed for the light oil. For a high performance, heavy duty engine I was amazed.

Mark

 

[woody66912]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

When i went to BRP tech school in 2000 my class was the first to take the factory tour. The one thing impressed my was the tested room, they run every engine in a tank shaped like a oval race track, they don't use test wheels they run each one with a 17 in prop so they get as close to real world operation as possible. then they go to a degassing station where they pump nitrogen gas trough the fuel system.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

they don't use test wheels they run each one with a 17 in prop so they get as close to real world operation as possible. then they go to a degassing station where they pump nitrogen gas trough the fuel system.

On the wheel, sounds like a plan. On the N2 that answers a question I had about running the engine with gasoline and shipping it later without shipping hazard problems.

Mark

 

[KD4UPL]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

I've never owned an outboard but maintaining and winterizing my aging sterndrive has me considering one. From what I've read, if I did get an outboard, it would be an E-TEC for sure.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

When i went to BRP tech school in 2000 my class was the first to take the factory tour.

When Bombardier resurrected Evinrude and Johnson from the bankruptcy court in March of 2001, they built a new state of the art plant in Sturtevant, Wisconsin that would blow your mind compared to the production facilities that OMC had back in 2000 when you were there.

The new plant is clean, relatively quiet, and all high-tech.

 

[woody66912]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

Sturtevant, Wisconsin. That's the plant I went to. heck, it might have been 2001.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

It's amazing how precise they can get with all the C&C machines and fancy robo-tools. The more I learn about the E-techs the more I want one. They really do seem to be the best of both the 2 and 4 stroke worlds. A little, pricey perhaps, but you get what you pay for. I also like that they're one of the few major builders that still seems offers motors in white, rather than Darth Vader black.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

I also like that they're one of the few major builders that still seems offers motors in white, rather than Darth Vader black.

Sir, it's Mercury Marine Phantom Black Lacquer to be exact...........grin. Sorry, couldn't help myself. Having had white engines in the past, I found that it was harder to keep looking pristeen, but it did look nice and fresh and aqua like, like the white spray you get from zipping along in salt water.

Mark

 

[V153]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

The more I learn about the E-techs the more I want one

You'n me both! They had a few bugs early on, s'pecially in the bigger motors. But they got em running purty good now.

Have a buddy who runs a water taxi down 'round Boca Grande. Has a 150 ETEC on a 20' Wellcraft that he runs, well, like a taxi. Got a gazillion hours on it, never had a major problem.

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

My son is a civilian tech for the marine corps MFE E tech engines and swears by them. I went through their study course and the technology blew my mind. You have to forget everything you know about engines and learn a completely new technology. I would not dare attempt to troubleshoot one without my son being there. Unless you work on them day in and day out, you cannot stay proficient.

 

[woody66912]

Re: Evinrude E-Tech

You know they pay $33 grand for those MFEs.