I'd like to get some opinions on this. A non-boat savy friend bought my 17ft 60hp aluminum boat back in Sept 2007. I advised when she bought it to get the carbs rebuilt and impeller replaced as precautionary measure. I struck up a conversation with an outboard repair shop owner last year and the guy really impressed me, so I reccomended the shop to my friend. The work was done back in April; and when I talked with the shop owner he said the engine was running great, he ran it in the test tank for an hour, compression was fine, everything was good as far as he could see. My friend said she put the boat in the water July 4th and couldn't get it to run. I ran over the following weekend and found a clogged vent cap, removed and it started right up. But was only firing on two cylinders. Determined it wasn't the spark pulg, but that was all I had time for. She took it back to the shop, and he told her no compression on one cylinder. When she asked what could have caused it, he replied "Nothing that I touched could have caused it." The problem I have with that statement is he rebuilt and adjusted the carbs. A lean cylinder is exactly what would cause that. And I'm thinking the compression check was done inside before he ran it in the test tank. I need to call this guy tomorrow morning, any comment or opinions on the situation would be appreciated.
