Hey all, need expert opinion / advice on my 97 Johnson Ocean Runner for background see this post: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=576947
Short and sweet: Hole in crankcase, likely connecting rod issue maybe piston skirt.
I found a guy around me that rebuilds outboards: http://www.oneoutboard.com/
Plan A: My plan was to yank the power head and pull the crank case to try to determine the cause of the hole in the crank case and proceed from there. If it's just a con rod pulled out of the piston, and there is no severe damage, I believe I could fix it - if I can find someone to weld the crank case correctly. If it's toast in there, then I will have to find someone to clean up my mess for me: Total cost: no idea- I could get off cheap - new con rod, new piston maybe, some gaskets, weld the crank case, prob another $1K I didn't account for LOL!
Plan B: Understandably, this shop wants the boat and motor intact so he can yank the power head himself and rebuild it, reassemble, break it in, warrant the motor. He says it takes 6 hours to do the whole rebuild (?). They offer a 1 year warranty standard, 5 year for extra $$. Total cost is $3650 with core charge.
Alternative: I guess I could sell this motor or part it out and buy another used motor and hope this doesn't happen again, or buy something rebuilt which will easily be twice as much as rebuilding this motor.
What would you do in my shoes with limited outboard mechanical experience? I do know cars, motorcycles, tractors, but not outboards.
Short and sweet: Hole in crankcase, likely connecting rod issue maybe piston skirt.
I found a guy around me that rebuilds outboards: http://www.oneoutboard.com/
Plan A: My plan was to yank the power head and pull the crank case to try to determine the cause of the hole in the crank case and proceed from there. If it's just a con rod pulled out of the piston, and there is no severe damage, I believe I could fix it - if I can find someone to weld the crank case correctly. If it's toast in there, then I will have to find someone to clean up my mess for me: Total cost: no idea- I could get off cheap - new con rod, new piston maybe, some gaskets, weld the crank case, prob another $1K I didn't account for LOL!
Plan B: Understandably, this shop wants the boat and motor intact so he can yank the power head himself and rebuild it, reassemble, break it in, warrant the motor. He says it takes 6 hours to do the whole rebuild (?). They offer a 1 year warranty standard, 5 year for extra $$. Total cost is $3650 with core charge.
Alternative: I guess I could sell this motor or part it out and buy another used motor and hope this doesn't happen again, or buy something rebuilt which will easily be twice as much as rebuilding this motor.
What would you do in my shoes with limited outboard mechanical experience? I do know cars, motorcycles, tractors, but not outboards.