Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

[Rtychynski]

I am considering spending $2500 to rebuild powerhead on 1985 Johnson 90 hp
I am told there would only be a 30 day warrantee ( 60day from one )
That would hardly get me through the break in period
I would hate to spend that and then spend $10000 to repower
I hope to get more use out of unit than I have over the past 10 years

What are your opinions on these investment options

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

That's a tough one for sure. If it was me, I'd probably prefer to take a gamble on a $1000 used 90 (and then selling or parting out your existing motor to recoup some $).

 

[Maichip]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

I think $2500.000 would be better spent on a good used replacement unit or even towards a new unit. If you are replacing your power head, there is no telling what other repairs are waiting for you. Just my two cents worth.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

If you can do some, or all, of the work yourself, you can knock that total down considerably. I rebuilt my 1984 90 about 5 years ago for less than $1000... Only thing I farmed out was block boring...

 

[sschefer]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

Having done a few rebuilds both as a hobby and for profit I commend you for asking a very tough and wise question. In my opinion, you would be best served by putting that money towards a new motor. Most new motors are comming with 5 year warranties and that means a lot if you plan on using the boat more than in the past. Care and maintenance on new engines in the first 5 years is usually far less extensive/expensive than the older motors. A rebuilt powerhead won't change that. You also are facing the demise of the two strokes that could come at any time making your rebuilt motor unusable. We all hope and pray that doesn't happen but you have to know in the back of your mind that it will eventually. Etec is an option I'd look at but I'd really be looking hard at a new Yami or Merc 4 stroke. I have the 2011 60hp 4 stroke Merc on my Jetcraft now and I absolutely love that thing.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

I agree with most that has been posted but if your going to get a reman powerhead get it thru iBoats as they sell the OBR reman with a 1 year warranty with option to purchase additional year.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

There are a couple of questions that were not asked!

1) Has it been determined that this engine really needs a rebuild. There was no explanation of what happened and just because someone said it needed rebuilding, does not always mean it does. The potential for large sums of money in ones pocket often clouds ones judgement.

2) Rebuilding an engine does not generally fix the original problem. For example, if the engine died because of a lean carburetion issue, rebuilding the engine will likely need to be done again down the road due to the same failure UNLESS the original cause of the failure has been identified and corrected -- such as carburetor rebuilding.

3) iBoats power heads are $2200. iBoats 90 HP Yamaha are $8900 and Merc is $6900. See the link below

http://www.boatmotors.com/rebuilt_outboard_motors/#Current Inventory_90

So $2500 is a fraction of what a new/used 90 HP 4-stroke costs. If the rebuild is done by someone that knows what they are doing your existing engine will live a long life with proper care. I'm guessing, but I suspect the failure is due to dirty carbs causing a lean condition.

 

[Rtychynski]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

If you can do some, or all, of the work yourself, you can knock that total down considerably. I rebuilt my 1984 90 about 5 years ago for less than $1000... Only thing I farmed out was block boring...

I have priced out powerhead rebuild parts c/w gaskets
The best I have found ( US Prices) has been $ 929 plus freight
Boring would cost me $90-$100 per cylinder (I need them all done)

But then I still need to do the carbs and other related items such as timing etc

 

[Rtychynski]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

I am not sure what I could expect torecoup on parting out the engine
IT was all in good running order except for the piston wear problem

 

[Rtychynski]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

I had not yet put that ongoing maintenance cost into the equation. A very good point.
Perhaps I thought that maintenance would disappear. (Perhaps thats why I am currently looking at this problem now-not enough on going attention to detail)

 

[Rtychynski]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

It seems that I had been running with water in the fuel. I foolishly did not have a fuel water separator. I have not used this outfit much up untill the last few years and did not recognize the signs of this water problem
The pistons are all burned to some extent as are the bearings damaged from water
The crank appears to be good

 

[kbait]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

Silvertip speaks well. +confirm oil delivery and cooling.

 

[Mas]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

If the bearing are damaged, the crank is probably also. Is the motor torn apart for visual inspection??

Mas

 

[tpenfield]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

$2,500 for a powerhead rebuild . . . I'm in the wrong business.

Given the 30 day warranty, I'm taking it that these people do not stand behind their work. So, I think you answer is no.

If you were so inclined, you could take this on yourself, or just put the money towards a replacement.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

$2,500 for a powerhead rebuild . . . I'm in the wrong business.

This is close to what I charge for a complete rebuild and if it has the damage as posted $2500 for a reman is pretty good. When I rebuild a engine I bore,hone and camfer the cylinders,hot tank wash,bead blast & polish rods and crank,replace ALL bearings,pistons,gaskets,seals,rod bolts,o-rings,impeller and rebuild carbs and fuel pump if not VRO, break-in,set timing and its a turn key and go motor when you get it back with a 90 day warranty.. The only extra cost is if electrical caused failure and thats more testing time and parts. Prep and cleaning are the time consuming things on a rebuild as I can remove, strip and tear down a V-4 in about 1-1/2 hours and it takes about 16 hours to repair and assemble.
Machine work....$195
Parts...............$975
Labor..............$1200

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

I don't think I would do it - Too many decent, used powerheads to be had. Find a motor with a trashed gearcase or other problems - buy it for the powerhead and go to work doing the swap.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

Yea, I totally agree with Silvertip as well. What is the determining factor for a rebuild? Have you taken a compression test on this motor?

Also, like Chinewalker stated, you can save a bunch of money on this rebuild, if you do it yourself. It wouldn't be too hard to do the work yourself.

 

[bass890]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

I am in the same boat...:facepalm: I have an 84 140 that had a ring stuck and broke off. 100-80-100-0 were the compressions. There is a "nick" in one of the ports in the cylinder with compression on zero. I was looking at buying a reman powerhead for $2200. There is also the option of buying the parts, rings, bearings, pistons,and gaskets for $800. So ill need the cylinders bored. I could try and do the work myself, but I would not have time to get it completed in a weekend. I hear having it left open is not a good idea. So, could I do it myself? I dont really know. I do want it done right. I am also not looking at spending a ton on it.

 

[nphilbro]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

For what it's worth, this winter I purchased:
85hp motor with no ignition and mystery issues $250.00
115hp parts motor with blown head $300
Paint: $25
Gaskets $150
Carb kit: $25

Motors off Craigslist
It's not the easiest way to go but the results have been very good (should be finished in a week or two).

8 hours labor.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Wisdom of spending $2500 on rpowerhead rebuild on 1985 engine

jay_merrill makes a good point too. Find a good running motor with a trashed lower unit and swap out the powerhead. That seems to be a pretty cost effective way to get you back on the water and you won't have long to wait. In this current economic time, deals on boats and motors are to be had.