99 175 FICHT

[Peter3708]

We are currently looking at purchasing a boat with a 99 175 ficht on it. The dealer informed me that all of the service work performed on the is motor was done at their shop and the motor had no problems from new. According to the "laptop" the motor has 134hrs on it. Would it be safe to say that if the bugger ran problem free for 134hrs this may not be one of the horrid OMC jobs?

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 99 175 FICHT

The '98 and '99 150 and 175's were the problem motors for OMC. The factory update kits made them a lot better, but many times internal problems already started before the kits were put on. You can tell the new style by looking at the spark plug hole to see if there is an allen head screw right by the sparkplug hole recess. The silver EPA tag by the serial number plate should also say to use Champion XC12PEP sparkplugs.<br /><br />If you do buy it, make sure to use FICHT Ram oil and prop it so it runs at least 5800 rpm at full throttle. Decarbon it every 50 hours and get a back issue of Trailer Boats magazine from a few months ago that tells how to service your FICHT.

 

[Peter3708]

Re: 99 175 FICHT

Thanks Mr. Seahorse,<br />Would the computer inform me if the updates have been performed and would you know what the up dates were? We really like the boat but if the big motor costs me big bucks we'll be in a bad way big time! What would a new 175 cost? And what might the old one be worth on a trade?

 

[aero320]

Re: 99 175 FICHT

The old Ficht 175 will get you $2000 on a trade if you can find a dealer that will trade for it. That is, if the block is rebuildable. I wouldn't wish that engine off on my worst enemy. I have owned a 1998, 1999, and 2000 model year Ficht 175's all with the latest upgrades, etc. The engine started as a new 1998 175 Ficht and the model year changes were new powerheads. The 2000 was a fully dressed powerhead. It finally dropped a cylinder again and go traded off about a month ago for a 2003 Johnson 140 4 stroke.<br /><br />I think the 2003 Fichts are OK. If you cannot afford anew one, they either get a used Johnson carbed engine or Merc or Yamaha efi engine.<br /><br />Incidentally, a new Ficht 175 is about $12K.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 99 175 FICHT

The updates include the new cylinder head with the allen screw near the plug hole, as described in my previous post.<br /><br />A trained tech with a laptop computer can tell by the software version in the ECU if it has the latest upgraded program. Ask for a printout of the report, it give running hours, rpm's, highest temps, etc.

 

[Peter3708]

Re: 99 175 FICHT

Mr. Seahorse<br />The upgrades to the '99 175hp ficht were performed before any problems were detected and the computer upgrade was also completed. Do you know what issue of Boat Trailer Mag. I to not subscribe so it's time to search. Also there is a one year aftermarket warrenty on the motor?

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 99 175 FICHT

Trailer Boats had the FICHT article in the Oct. 2002 edition, it was also in Bass and Walleye Boats in Aug. of last year.