How do you find a reliable mechanic

[Blackstorm]

I have tried to fix my 1968 Evinrude 3cyl 55hp outboad motor to no avail. I am looking for a mechanic who will diagnose the problem and be able to fix it in a reasonable time and at a reasonable price. I went to the local marine service center that was recommended and they won't look at it for 2 weeks and they want their charge of $84 per hr ( I'm ok with this) to diagnose 1-2 hours (also Ok), . but before they start they want me to Ok several hundred $ in other services that they say I need or that I should buy one of their reconditioned units for over a thousand.

I am looking for recommendations and questions that i should ask the mechanic. I have automotive experience as I have raced cars for over 25 years and can work on just about any v8 out there but these 2 cycle jobs are killing me.
My location is north of Syracuse just off of Oneida lake
thanks
Glynn

 

[Daviet]

Re: How do you find a reliable mechanic

Sorry, but I am way out of your territory, so I can't help you much.
What type of problems are you having with your engine.

 

[Blackstorm]

Re: How do you find a reliable mechanic

The problem is the motor starts ok, but may cut out at idle a few rpm and she goes ok. This both on the muffs or in the water next to the dock. she shifts ok and gets onto plane with power pretty good. after running 10 - 15 min she starts to bog and reducing the rpms seems to help for a minute or so. she then quits and may or may not start again. This goes on for about an hour or more depending on the outside temp. when I duck hunt in january she starts up faster say after 40 minutes or so. But the last month or so it was a good hour and a half. i have replaced plugs, wires, fuel line from the tank, new tank, starter and relay. i have checked compression when this first started and all 3 cyl were with 5 lbs of each other. I think the compression was around 90 psi but I would have to check. The pee hole pumps out what looks to be a good steady stream & the overheat alarm has not lit up. but with that said the restarts are slower than the intial starts. I have a useless Seloc manual and have attempted to tune up the motor under the assumption that it is not over heating but is running too rich and is flooding but to no avail. Spark seem strong and the plugs don't look too bad (compared to 4cycle motors). i have also visually checked all the linkages to see if air is getting in and changing the mixture. this is the extent of what i am comfortable doing and would like to hand it off to another for them to resove but what should i ask them and what should their response be to specific questions.
Glynn

 

[jbjennings]

Re: How do you find a reliable mechanic

The problem is the motor starts ok, but may cut out at idle a few rpm and she goes ok. This both on the muffs or in the water next to the dock. she shifts ok and gets onto plane with power pretty good. after running 10 - 15 min she starts to bog and reducing the rpms seems to help for a minute or so. she then quits and may or may not start again. This goes on for about an hour or more depending on the outside temp. when I duck hunt in january she starts up faster say after 40 minutes or so. But the last month or so it was a good hour and a half. i have replaced plugs, wires, fuel line from the tank, new tank, starter and relay. i have checked compression when this first started and all 3 cyl were with 5 lbs of each other. I think the compression was around 90 psi but I would have to check. The pee hole pumps out what looks to be a good steady stream & the overheat alarm has not lit up. but with that said the restarts are slower than the intial starts. I have a useless Seloc manual and have attempted to tune up the motor under the assumption that it is not over heating but is running too rich and is flooding but to no avail. Spark seem strong and the plugs don't look too bad (compared to 4cycle motors). i have also visually checked all the linkages to see if air is getting in and changing the mixture. this is the extent of what i am comfortable doing and would like to hand it off to another for them to resove but what should i ask them and what should their response be to specific questions.
Glynn

I'm no expert but from what you describe, you have a coil that is going out after it warms up a bit, and you are getting weak/nonexistant spark on one cylinder. I'd also get a cheapo infrared thermometer and check your head temps. after running it for a while to be sure it's not overheating.
Finding a good mechanic is really hard, and word of mouth is the best way I've found.
Last of all, you could buy a $6 spark tester at autozone and check spark when it starts bogging on you and see if you're getting weak/bad spark. Good spark on an outboard means that the spark will jump at least a 1/4" air gap.
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[jonesg]

Re: How do you find a reliable mechanic

Just follow the directions you get here, it will get you back on the water long before the marina can get to you, they can't afford to do low priced repair work this time of year, come january they'd welcome you with coffee and donuts though.

Bogging after a normal start/run can be a few things, as stated above, elec component failure triggered by engine heat, aging coils can do that, a timing light will help show if its dropping spark when it bogs down.

An adjustable spark tester is the best way to test spark. A sparkplug against the block will not work at all. The gap needs to be a lot bigger.

Pumping the bulb might show something too, the vent hose for the tank might be blocked, engine runs a short ways then vacuum in the tank stops the fuel flow and it starves until tank vac normalizes again.
Your description sounds like starvation to me. Hitting the choke and pumping the bulb when it bogs might help show if it is. Run it on a 6 gal deck tank to eliminate the fuel system, if it goes good, theres your problem.