Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

[onebohemian]

I'm looking for a good evinrude motor mechanic in the Minneapolis / St. Paul area. If anyone can recommend someone, I'd appreciate it. Was hoping to find someone not at a dealer if possible. Have finally come to the realization that I don't have the time (or enough wherewithall) to do what all might need to be done to get my motor going.<br /><br />Here's a long story to explain how I've gotten to this point. Fished most of the weekend but my '87 Evinrude 90 V4 gave me trouble the entire time. Hard starting in that the starter motor can't seem to turn her over sometimes. Replaced the starter and tried two different new and fully charged batteries and sometimes she takes right off, and other times, the starter just can't turn the fly wheel. When I moved the flywheel a little bit back and forth by hand and then hit the ignition, she'd usually take off. We'd then move to another spot on the lake, fish for a while with the electric trolling, and then when I'd want to start the motor to move somewhere else, she just wouldn't go again. She seemed to start first thing in the morning with no problems.<br /><br />I started to think that maybe the alternator wasn't charging enough. I think there should be at close to 14 volts showing when the motor is running, but my in dash guage only shows just below 12 volts. I didn't have a tester to run across the battery terminals, and now that I'm home I can't because I can't get her started.<br /><br />Yesterday when I was about to load her up, the very last run to the dock, I started her up and took off. Got her on plane and started to feel some vibration in the back and could hear some rattling. Thought I may have picked up some weeds from closer to shore so I slowed down and put the motor in reverse to free up any weeds. Put her back in forward gear and gave her some throttle but the vibration and sound were still there. Idled her down and she died out. Starter won't turn the flywheel at all now, and I can't budge it by hand or with a rope either.<br /><br />Now I may not konw a whole hell of a lot about boats, but I'm a pretty good do it yourselfer. When the flywheel doesn't budge, my first thought is "Oh sh*t!" because I know this isn't going to be pretty. But, trying to keep an openmind about exactly how bad it might be, I loaded her up and headed for home. When I got home, I pulled the new plugs and they all looked good. Still can't budge the flywheel though.<br /><br />By chance, I grabbed the prop and she's really sluggish. Before I left, she'd spin a few times around easily, but now not. I'm now thinking that I may have more than one problem. I probably still have a charging problem which would explain the above hard starting (I hope that's what it is), but I'm also thinking that I may have a lower unit problem now. If some gear broke in the the lower unit and thereby not letting the unit go completely into neutral, maybe the motor is remaining engaged and that could be why I'm not able to turn the flywheel?<br /><br />I'm completely frustrated and don't want to drop the lower unit to fiddle around anymore. The guy I got the boat from neglected the motor and as is usually the case, I'm now experiencing the results of that neglect. For example, when I first got it, I decided to flush and drain the lower unit, but there was barely any oil in there and a lot of metal filings mixed in the putrid sludge that came out and even some small pieces. Made me sick to my stomach to see that. Got the boat and motor for a song though and I was expecting there to be things needing repair, but I was also kind of hoping for a break here or there. So far I haven't gotten one. <br /><br />Plan is to find a good local mechanic that has an outboard evinrude shop who I can take the motor to and have it checked out and fixed. Any recommendations?<br /><br />Thanks in advance. Sorry this got so long.<br /><br />Mark<br />Minneapolis, MN

 

[DJ]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

Mark,<br /><br />You can just about bet that your starting problem is the nagative battery cable. It is corroded where it attaches to the engine block. Don't trust your eyes, remove it and clean the connection up.<br /><br />I know it's a dealer, but I always had good luck with Maplewood Marine. Some of the best John/Rude guys in Twin.

 

[onebohemian]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

Here's the update on my 87 Evinrude 90 horse with the starting and lower unit problems.<br /><br />Finally got it in this morning to a local evinrude motor shop. Pulled the lower unit and found a huge mess. Upper bearing seized, which led to gears crunching, etc., etc. Parts and labor to repair will be $1250.00 (figuring over $800.00 for parts alone). They think this was also why the motor seemed so hard for the starter to turn over as the bearing was providing too much resistance even when the gear box was in neutral. <br /><br />Anybody want to offer any advice about diagnosis, price to fix, or whatever else just to make me feel a little better? It's getting harder and harder to justify to my wife having this first boat. (She's the sensible one of the two of us.)<br /><br />Mark<br />Minneapolis, MN

 

[mrc]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

For others benefit, for older Johnson/Evinrude Robbinsdale Marine seems to the specialist. As far as the cost for fixing your motor, I would suggest keeping an eye out on Ebay for lower units off of parted out motors, they are relatively comment, usually in good shape, and much less expensive that 1,250$<br /><br />Good luck, <br />Mike

 

[boating brad]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

be carful on ebay! lots of misrepresented junk there that will make your wife madder. in your area there should be plenty of good ol boys that just work on outboards & collect lots of parts. that may be the guy to see for a $200 or $300 lower unit.<br /><br />my wife hates my boats! but i dont care.

 

[Bogie1]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

Ask your boating buddies or a guy at the boat ramp who does the best work for the most reasonable cost. No one forgets where they've gotten bad service, and I'll tell everyone when I've found a good deal.

 

[onebohemian]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

Don't get me wrong because the $1200 bucks is alot for me to pay on a motor that's not worth a whole heck of alot more, but at the same time, I've been looking online for rebuilt lower units or just for the prices of the parts I was quoted and the place that's doing the work for me is on the low end on all of it. I'm really surprised on the parts end of it because I can usually find stuff online cheaper than I could buy it locally, but not in this case. And I could probably find a used lower unit in a salvage yard or on ebay if I waited for one to come up for auction, but I'll still have to have that unit inspected and possibly partially rebuilt (e.g., bearings and seals) when it arrives. There's no way to know that I'm getting anything better than the one that I bought with the motor in the first place. People always claim their used stuff is in better shape than it actually is upon more detailed inspection. (Can you tell I'm slowly convincing myself that I'm getting a good deal here????).<br /><br />Anyway, thanks for the support and input, <br /><br />Mark<br />Minneapolis, MN

 

[Chris P]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

Mark:<br /><br />Hopefully you've tried Twin City Outboard down in Shakopee/Savage (not far from Canterbury downs). They've got buildings full of used parts, plenty of knowhow, treated me right when I needed parts for a '65 Merc.

 

[Gep]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

Mark,<br />I second the Twin City Outboard suggestion if you want to work on it yourself.<br />If you want someone else to work on it, I would suggest Highland Marine on Snelling in St Paul.<br />Nice guy, good work, been in the business quite a while.<br />Mike

 

[TELMANMN]

Re: Looking for Evinrude motor mechanic in Minneapolis, MN

www.Twincityoutboard.com is the website. It gives an email address if you need specific parts. Also gives history and other things. If need parts they can help. LOL.