I'm looking for some help in regards to avoiding future problems with a Johnson 2000 225 Ficht outboard. I run it on a 22' Grady-White cuddy. <br />My problems began when I bought a new 1999 model Johnson ficht outboard three years ago. My best friend was a dealer here in town, and we broke this motor and eventually each sucessive motor in carefully over a 30-40 hour period. <br /> The first motor lasted only 50-55 hours and scalded a piston. We sent it to the Johnson factory and the Johnson people felt that there was a computer malfunction-- the computer was fixed and the engine rebuilt, only to scald the same piston again within 25 hours of use.<br /> At that time, my buddy was having problems in his dealership with all his new ficht motors in the 225 range, and finally, when OMC went bankrupt, unfortunately, his business went under as well. He had 5 johnson 2000 ficht motors left that he felt he couldn't in good conscience sell because of all the problems, so he kept them to try to use as replacements for us and for his extended family and friends in the immediate future. OMC, of course, washed their hands of me and my 1999 motor when they went out of business. <br /> We replaced my 1999 with a 2000 that had supposedly been broken in for over 50 hours with no problems. We scalded a piston (it seems always the same one-- left lower bank, port side) within 40 hours of use. <br /> We kept the foot of this motor, and replaced the engine with one of the spares.<br /> So now I'm essentially on my 4th motor in under 3 years, and as you might guess, I'm antsy each time we go out. The last time we used the engine, the engine warning light went on only when we put it in neutral- my friend's mechanic felt it might have been that we weren't firmly pushing the motor into neutral each time we came up to the dock, and this caused the light to go on because he felt we might have eased the motor into neutral. He'll be connecting it up to his computer to evaluate the situation next week. He also has noted that Bombardier has updated at least once or twice the uplift pump on their 2003 models as compared to the one on mine, and he's suggested putting in a new one to see if it will prevent running the motor too lean, and possibly avoid another scalding.<br /> I'm ready to throw up my hands and buy a Yammie-- I actually would, but my friend has been standing by me with these remaining motors.<br /> I know it's almost comical-- be gentle-- any suggestions? Has this been a common problem with this vintage of motor? Thanks for any help/advise! -jockdoc
