Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

[Jimmy310]

What is the going rate or a fair price to pay an outboard mechanic for a complete outboard diagnostic check/test?

I had a problem I think is overheating and wanted to make sure I dont get taken for a ride.

Second problem is the throttle control makes the boat go forward in Neutral.

Third I have no reverse. I throttle back and the boat goes forward.

Help me out with suggestions or PM me.
Thank you,
Jimmy310

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

The bottom end has been taken off, and not put back on correctly. The shifting Dog is upside down, the bottom end needs to come off, and realign the shifter. Up here in Canada the cost would be about 150.00 bucks including a new water pump impeller at a dealer, maybe 75.00 at a private shop.

 

[Ydnar84]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

What is the going rate or a fair price to pay an outboard mechanic for a complete outboard diagnostic check/test?

I had a problem I think is overheating and wanted to make sure I dont get taken for a ride.

Second problem is the throttle control makes the boat go forward in Neutral.

Third I have no reverse. I throttle back and the boat goes forward.

Help me out with suggestions or PM me.
Thank you,
Jimmy310

Not sure on a price for a diagonstics, some shops will do one for free for good buisness and get you for the work to get done and some will just flat out try and get you for 50$ just for them to look at it.

Onto your clutch thing, If seems that you need to re-align your cluch throttle cable on your engine (The bottom one of the two cables). I know on Mercury Optimax, you have to adjust a bolt until it is perfect alinged with a "N" (as in Neutral) it seems as if the nut got lose and and your clutch cable shifted to "F" (Forward) and is why your boat is going forward when it should be in neutral and also explains no reverse since your reverse is now going to be Neutral most likly. Check that out before anything.

Over heating things can be anything, find a friend with a DDT (Digital Diagnostic Tool) and run an automatic test, good chance it will be either a Thermostat (most common) or the water pump. Main question is when you run it on the hose is if you get a good discharge or not. IF you run hot and have good water discharge it's like 80% chance of being the Thermostat.

 

[ENSIGN]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

Here in baltimore your looking at $80.00 an hour,unless YOU WORKED ON IT FIRST!!!!

 

[Fuzzytbay]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

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Onto your clutch thing, If seems that you need to re-align your cluch throttle cable on your engine (The bottom one of the two cables). I know on Mercury Optimax, you have to adjust a bolt until it is perfect alinged with a "N" (as in Neutral) it seems as if the nut got lose and and your clutch cable shifted to "F" (Forward) and is why your boat is going forward when it should be in neutral and also explains no reverse since your reverse is now going to be Neutral most likly. Check that out before anything.

.

The motor is I think a 1967, 850, not even close to new models. Its the clutch dog, very common bottom end symptom issue for those old inline six's.

 

[KurtG]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

$75 an hour here, most have 1, but some have 2 hour minimum charges.

 

[Ydnar84]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

The motor is I think a 1967, 850, not even close to new models. Its the clutch dog, very common bottom end symptom issue for those old inline six's.

I didn't see any specs on his post so i rendered help for the newer motors which that's what i know.

 

[Jimmy310]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

I didn't see any specs on his post so i rendered help for the newer motors which that's what i know.

Here are the specs for the outboard.
1967 Mercury 650 SL 4 cylinder, 65 HP

 

[dkonrai]

Re: Going rates for mechanical diagnostic

here in norcal, the going rate is 125.00 hour.