I have had my 115 mercury outboard in the shop since early July. I took it in because it would not accelerate properly. Shop diagnosed an issue with water spitting into the exhaust through a leaky gasket. They pulled the exhaust gaskets and replaced. Installed new gasket on the outer housing and replaced the water jacket gasket also. They removed the lower unit and replaced the water pump impeller than lake tested the boat. The lower unit gear case failed during the lake test. Clutch dog came apart and blew a hole in the side of the casing. I found a used lower unit and they again changed the water pump impeller and installed the lower unit than lake tested. Total price $1,134.40.
Re: Help!! Cost To Repair 1981 Mercury 115 Outboard?
Almost $1000 labor seems a bit high for that job but it would depend on whether it was a fresh water motor where the bolts all came out nice and easy, or a salt motor where you had to fight every one of them to get the dang thing apart.
Working on Salt Motors can rack up a lot of labor. You have to be real careful or else you'll break bolts. Then it takes even longer to drill 'em all out and install Heli-Coils!
Also, whether they pulled the powerhead to replace the gaskets or just worked them in place.
The lower unit jobs of course would have labor X2, for the original work and then for replacement of the bad lower unit. Since the impeller was brand new from the first time with essentially Zero hours on it, they should have been able to use that in the replacement lower unit. If they charged you for another new impeller, I'd ask why and also ask to see the first new impeller.
BTW, don't think I've ever seen a Merc lower unit self-destruct as you've described. Were you there when they were running the boat? Did they show you the lower unit after it blew up? Seems pretty strange they take the boat out and the lower unit blows up. But stranger things have happened I reckon. Can you say, wind the motor up to Terminal Velocity and slam in gear??
Well, hopefully they did a good job and it's running well. It's irritating to have slow and expensive service, couple that with poor workmanship and it's a real Buzz Kill!!!
Re: Help!! Cost To Repair 1981 Mercury 115 Outboard?
Thanks for the information Ed.
I have been skeptical about the explaination for the blown lower unit. I was out of town and they called me after they lake tested it. Said they were about 50 yards away from the dock when the lower unit blew up. Sprayed the boat with oil and then had to be towed back to the ramp. When I got back to town I looked at the lower unit. It was on a rack and had no water in the case below the hole. It was full to the hole with gear lube. When I questioned why, I was told the gear lube must have drained down. That did not make sense to me. If the boat was towed it was in the water for a while and the gear lube should have floated out? It does not add up?
Help!! Cost To Repair 1981 Mercury 115 Outboard?
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