** Labor Rates **

[scottsnyder]

What are the typical labor rates for a mobile marine mechanic?? I am in Annapolis MD, and have a 1998 Johnson 225 Ocean Runner. I may need to have a new head gasket, and was wondering what I may be looking at to have that work done. Thanks!!

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Why don't you get a manual and dive in, it's not all that complicated or hard. What makes you think you need a head gasket, is one or both?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

a head gasket on that motor is very simple.<br /><br />you have no valves or anything that can get in your way .<br /><br />its quite basic. spend the 35 bucks and get the manual. iboats.com sells them, but west marine and boa us and boatersworld also do to, as does any big book store.

 

[scottsnyder]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Well, I was told that the compression in the engine was probably low (at 80 or 85 across - when tested cold by an auto mechanic, and the motor hadnt been run in over 3months)... I am going to have a mechanic look over everything here in a few days, and after talking to him yesterday, he mentioned to me that replacing a head gasket is one way to deal with low compression....

 

[CATransplant]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Good advice, except that not everyone wants to work on engines. And if you're not already involved in this kind of repair, investing in the necessary tools, manuals, etc., can get expensive.<br /><br />Myself, I do my own work, but I've been working on things with pistons all my life, and have all the tools already.<br /><br />Price a decent inch-pounds torque wrench for this head replacement, a manual, whatever sockets you need, plust the parts, and hauling the boat in for a head gasket starts to look OK.<br /><br />Then, if something goes wrong...an inexperienced hand twisting off a head bolt...and it gets more expensive.<br /><br />Replacing a head gasket seems like an easy job to those of us who do such things as a matter of course. For a beginner at turning wrenches, though, it's an anxiety-producing thing.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Are you saying that all of the cylinders tested at 80-85 psi, if that is the case, it is a little low, but since they are all pretty equal, within 5psi of each other, it's not that bad, you may just need a decarb.

 

[scottsnyder]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

CA Transplant... Yeah, I have not had very much experience at all turning wrenches, and it would give me more piece of mind to have a professional do the work.<br /><br />mmcpeck... Gotcha, well I will have him check the carbs as well... The mechanic said he is a licensed Johnson/OMC MasterTech, so I am sure he will know what to look for, and how to make it right. <br /><br />Thanks for all of your info - like I said, I am new to all of this, and am not very handy, and was just trying to get a ballbark as to how much this may end up costing me.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

I don't know what his hourly rate might be. It varies a lot across the country. Figure it's going to be in the ballpark of what auto mechanics are getting, though.<br /><br />As for the compression, if they're all about equal, I wouldn't sweat it too much at this point. Once you get things going and run this engine for a while, the readings might just go up. It happens quite often.<br /><br />Good luck to you with your motor!

 

[ddaigle]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

newto, please dont be offended but you seem to know next to nothing about mechanics,and a boat is an enormous hole in the water that you poor money into, especially if you dont know what you are doing. Replacing head gaskets or other parts since an auto mechanic suggested it might help is going to run you broke in a hurry as are mobile marine mechanics. You very much need to buy a manual and study it and read and do research on this forum or owning a boat is going to be a very unpleasant and expensive experience. From a 40+ year owner of too many boats too count.

 

[scottsnyder]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

ddaigle: I did buy the clymers shop manual for the motor, but I can say that it seems to cover things for a lot of different size motors, etc. etc.. and the pictures dont really seem to match what I am looking at. Is there a better book that I should get, that would be more specific?? I am also reading as much as I can on this forum to educate myself.

 

[angus63]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Just another point, I believe your motor has an oring and not a gasket. If all of your cyls are the same (within 5%), then there is no issue with the head gasket. If one cyl was off, it would be worth the peak inside. Why not buy a factory service manual (~$35)at The OUTBOARD WIZARD and you'll be able to become intimate with the workin's of your motor. Then spend $25 bucks on a compression gage and $10 on a can of decarb. Read up on decarb in the FAQ section and the search section of this forum. For 1 hr of a techs time you'll be spending more than everything above and learning little. Any questions or if you get stuck, post a question here and you'll have your answer quickly. Beats dumpin' your wallet on a service counter.<br />Good luck.<br />Edit: If you decide to try it yourself, post back and we'll talk you thru the decarb and compression readings before you turn it over to a "professional". BTW, did the mech know the comp readings were all similar when he suggested the head gasket? If so, I would ask your boating buddies for a recommendation for another mech.<br />Just my opinion.....<br />EDIT by moderator1; No direct links please...

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

newto....If you feel more comfortable having a professional look at the motor, than that is fine, I mean that's why there are people who make a living at it, because there are people who can't or don't want to fix there own stuff. But if you want a truly honest and professional opinion you should post on this site, people here have nothing to gain. I would see what the guy says about the motor and then tell him you'll think about it all and then post what he says and people here will be able to tell you if he's pulling your chain. Just the fact that he told you that it has bad compression because it's 80-85 all around, and that it could be a head gasket, tells me that he either has no idea what he is talking about, which he should if he really is an OMC Tech, or he sees $$ signs when you come walking in and he thinks he can just tell you anything. Just so you know my dealership charges about $75-$85 an hour for labor depending on the repair, and that is also for diagnostics, so you don't get anything checked out for free, he'll be charging you a couple of hours of labor just to look it over, and then who knows what he's gonna come back to you with. Let us know what he says.

 

[dajohnson53]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Just want to echo a couple of things.<br /><br />First, the compression is probably not bad, if it's equal. I'd look at how it starts, idles and runs. My understanding is that those engines don't have really high compression.<br /><br />Second, for a non mechanic (like me), none of these "easy" jobs are easy or cheap DIY's. They generally take 4-5 X the normal time required when you do them for the first time. You need tools. You need more understanding than the factory manual can give you (the OEM manual is no magic guide, in my experience - it usually assumes that you have diagnostic skills and just need the manual to figure out how to do what you know needs to be done!). You'll need extra trips into town to get parts and supplies. You'll mess things up and have to re-do. etc. etc. Unless you want to develop a mechanical hobby (which is a good hobby, and one I'm starting to get into), find a trusted professional and let him do the job. As you go along, you will probably want to build up your repertiore of skills, but I often find my time is better spent working at my earning job, and/or with the family.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

80 to 85 PSI is about right for a 90* looper. <br /> is there a problem with the engine running ?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Originally posted by rodbolt:<br /> 80 to 85 PSI is about right for a 90* looper. <br /> is there a problem with the engine running ?

then is it bad for my 1991 225 looper to have 130 accross the board. it was done by the dealer. is this too much?

 

[rodbolt]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

myoutbopards<br /> never saw a 90* 225 looper with numbers that high. but if they are all even and you have not detonated anything yet I would say its ok.

 

[ledgefinder]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

I agree with rodbolt, I usually see in the neighborhood 90psi on the 1990s loopers. If they are all in between 80 and 85 psi, I wouldn't be concerned. Just for reference, my gauge will read 125-130 on 1970s-1990s V4 crossflows (before the lowered compression heads).<br /><br />Any evidence of overheating on the motor (blistered paint) or other reason to believe the cylinders may have been scored? What prompted you to have the compression checked?<br /><br />I would have the motor checked out by a marine (not auto) mechanic, if you yourself are unfamiliar with outboards. Just ask him/her to give a good lookover, do the water pump, check the compression & lower unit, carbs, etc..

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

130 psi on a 90* looper!! Wow, I have two 2000 200 loopers and I get 100 psi across all 6 on both and I thought that was a little high. My 1975 70 I get 130 on all 3, guess that's about right.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

myoutboards, 130 is pretty high for that...<br />Have ya checked with another gauge???

 

[sycamore]

Re: ** Labor Rates **

Back to the original question, here in southern Indiana the dealers are asking for $65-$85/hour. Try to get references, a buddy or someone who has dealt with a particular dealer/mechanic.