Re: Pistons for Model 2003 S/N 5792
My motor overheated twice after a 1 hour trip to the channels in the Atlantic. I finally took it to a mechanic and we found this overheating was due to a grommet in the water pump line that came loose starving the motor of cooling water and leading to its untimely overheating and "4 pt seize". <br /><br />The second time the motor overheated 2 weeks ago, it scratched cylinders #1 and #2. Cylinder #2 sustained the worst part. Compression is now 100 psi on #1 and 95 psi on #2. It should be according to the workshop manual at 125 to 115 psi. One mechanic at a motor's forum has sentenced that the motor's performance will degrade as time goes by and that a ring will probably break leaving me stranded at the mercy of the Pirates of the Caribbean (we were taught that we bordered with the Atlantic to the East now it's the Caribbean) and since we are in the Caribbean I know about these pirates! <br /><br />So my options at this time are to invest in a brand new Mercury 25 Classic at $2,500 electric start and controls included, a 1998 Mercury 25 Sea Pro with less than 25 hours at $1,100 plus controls $300, plus electric start $300 (it already has an alternator), or, I am still exploring the possibility to hone the sleeves of my Chrysler 20, replace the rings with new ones, and I am waiting on the quote of the parts, if there are any parts in Missouri or Canada left. Finally the option is doing nothing and this is repairing my Chrysler back, no honing of the cylinder sleeves and enjoying boating with others just in case I have to burry my beloved Chrysler at sea. This would be a $100 option since I will be adding this much labor to get it pumping water back again but I will loose the controls, propeller, and other parts I have accumulated. By the way, the motor starts great on the first pull...the mechanic says to use it and play by ear, I want to turn back time! <br /><br />I feel that putting a $2,500 motor in my beloved boat will make the loss when I trade in huge. Putting the $1,100 motor (a lottery if it was mistreated, the leg is polished by sand and the propeller hit something, it was owned by a club of friends that used the boat, no single owner) plus controls $300 puts it very close to a brand new Classic 25 with controls but without alternator at $1,700 and this one comes with a 1 year warranty. Other brands are discarded as these are more expensive to buy.
