Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

Globug

Cadet
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
16
New (posting) to the forum, but have been lurking for a while..<br /><br />I have a 95 Cajun 19’ Fish and Ski.. It has a 94 Johnson Faststrike 150 V6…with less than 160 hrs..<br /><br />The last time I took it out, a pulsing alarm began to go off, every time I started to accelerate from an idle.. Three times, I returned to the pier, checked everything over, squeezed the “oil” bulb etc…<br /><br />The 3rd time, the sound went away, and I figured it was a faulty sensor..<br /><br />I was wrong to assume, because 15 minutes later, 3 miles into the lake, the motor lost power, began a rough idle, and a rattling sound.<br /><br />I was towed in..<br /><br />Compression was checked, and the bottom left cylinder had “0” compression.<br /><br />Disassembly today shows the piston damaged, rings too, and some scoring on the cylinder walls..<br /><br />PHOTOS FOLLOW:<br /><br />I’ll assume this was a VRO oiling system failure…<br /><br />What is my best option to get this repaired?<br /><br />My boating buddies, say to send the block to Tribble Machine, who charge $595 labor +parts for rebuilding.<br /><br />I see on iboats.com, that 3 different vendors offer 3 different prices, options and packages..<br /><br />I’m not a wealthy man, and want to get this fixed as cheap as possible, but I also want it fixed right.<br /><br />My plan is to disable the VRO oil system and “hand-mix”the oil, once I get the motor fixed.<br /><br />Opinions needed…<br /><br />Where to get it rebuilt?<br /><br />Options?<br /><br />Rebuild 1 cylinder and leave the rest alone, or rebuild all?<br /><br />Recommended rebuilders?<br /><br />Any other pertinent advice or opinions?<br /><br />Thanks a million guys…<br /><br />PHOTOS FOLLOW:<br /><br />The only piston/bore with “visible” damage is the lower left, and the piston is very movable with hand pressure.. (maybe this was the rattling sound I heard)<br /><br />
boat1.jpg
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boat2.jpg
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boat3.jpg
<br /><br />Left lower cylinder damage….<br />
boatleftbottomcylinder.jpg
<br /><br />Right lower cylinder<br /><br />
boatrightbottomcylinder.jpg
 

Globug

Cadet
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
16
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

No one?<br /><br />No replies, advice or opinions??
 

sikpnter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
137
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

I'm sure if your VRO was the culprit you would have fried every cylinder, not just #6. Nice looking boat by the way.
 

Globug

Cadet
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
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Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

Thanks...<br /><br />So, what could it be?<br /><br />Carburetor??
 

sikpnter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
137
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

What was your compression on the other cyls? If they look fine then it could be carb or stuck ring. but the fact that you got a no oil alarm and only lost one cylinder, is what is wierd I have this same motor only its a 96 and my vro did go out and I lost all six so I feel your pain..
 

Globug

Cadet
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
16
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

When the motor went bad on me, I immediately drug it out of the water, and hauled it a few miles down the road to the most knowledgeable shop in Del Rio, TX ("2 Brothers" I think) and the master mechanic checked compression right there on the spot.<br /><br />If I remember correctly, he started at the top cylinder checking compression, and got a reading of about 110 on all cylinders, until he got to the bottom left, and told me it had "zero" compression, and I thought he said the bottom right had zero compression as well..but could me wrong.. <br /><br />Looking at the cylinders with the head off however, the bottom right doesn't look like it has any damage...so I don't know.<br /><br />So..what could cause the stuck ring?<br /><br />Carbon flaking off?<br /><br />I've been wondering if the shop I just had it serviced in put some de carbonizer (or whatever you call it) and it caused some carbon to come off and get stuck..
 

sikpnter

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 21, 2003
Messages
137
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

Carbon will cause rings to stick and can cause ring failure. If they de carbed it they should have taken the boat out or told you to take it out after it sat for 24 hours and run it like you stole it. Maybe you got super super lucky and only lost that one cylinder and your vro is bad.. Youll have to have a mechanic you trust check that out before you do anything, find out what went WRONG then go from there. I didnt have a choice but a full rebuild but you can get away with just boring that one cylinder and replacing that one piston, Its ok to go oversize on cylinders and leave the rest alone. I would replace vro and rebuild ALL carbs. Just doing one cylinder will save you a 1000 bucks just in pistons. Mine cost me 3800 bucks out the door.
 

Globug

Cadet
Joined
Aug 12, 2005
Messages
16
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

Thanks for all the great advice...<br /><br />I am now torn between sending the powerhead to a machine shop, (powerhead rebuilder), or just taking the boat my local OMC dealer/shop.<br /><br />If I just send the powerhead off, I've still got to have the carbs sorted out, the VRO replaced, and the motor just tuned in general..<br /><br />I'm thinking it may just be better (even if it costs a bit more) to have the local shop do it all, and get it running and in tune for me..<br /><br />I'd probably end up having them sort out whatever my troubles were in the first place..
 

Dhadley

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 4, 2001
Messages
16,978
Re: Help...advice?..opinions? Johnson Faststrike Dead...

If youre hooked up with Tribble, stay with him. He's one of the best rebuilders in the country. If youre close enough to him to tow the boat there after the rebuild he may even mount it and get it running correctly. Just ask him. Pauls a nice guy and very knowledgable.<br /><br />The piston looks like its flaking right by the exhaust port. Thats the hottest place in the cylinder. When it happens there it indicates abnormal combustion temps. It could be something as simple as wrong spark plugs, old fuel, non-87 octane, plugged carbs etc.
 
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