Dead Motor

[kocomo]

Motor is a 94 Johnson 125 running premix.

Motor was running fine. Pre-trip startup was fine with ample water out the pee hole.

While under way at a good cruising speed the engine lost power and shut off. Smoke was pouring out of the engine cover. After removal of the cover found paint and plastic bubbling on the left bank of cylinders. Good thing for Sea Tow. Was only about 2 miles from the dock.

Once home I pulled the plugs on the left bank. They were loose and dark brown. The motor turns over and tries to start but will not stay running. Left bank is weeping water out the head gasket. No water out the pee hole.

Sounds bad. How bad is it. $2-3k? Better to buy a used motor? Apparantly the temp alarm had been disconnected from a previous owner. Hull is in fair to good shape.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Dead Motor

you will not know anything until, you pull the head on that bank. you know there is water in there, and salt water at that. get that head off now.

when were the impeller and tstats last serviced?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Dead Motor

What TD said.
Get the head off NOW and start spraying WD-40 in there to take care of the water. It may not be totally trashed, but certainly will be if saltwater sits in there.

 

[kocomo]

Re: Dead Motor

Heads are off. The pistons and the heads look ok. The top right cylinder looks scored. Material up on the side walls more than gouges in.

The water lines give a clue that the right side was starved of water. Water jackets look knarly but not plugged.

Suspect the thermostats got stuck or plugged. Suspect the heads are now warped.

Path forward? Doesn't sound too bad. Will probably take somewhere to get the work done. What can I expect, hundreds or thousands?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Dead Motor

Post pictures of the "dead hole" so we can get a better idea.
You can check the head for flatness by putting it on a piece of glass and looking for clearances.
If somebody else does the work, removing the powerhead, boring the hole, replacing the piston (that's where the material in the cylinder came from...) will be in the 1000's.

 

[tootallofwa]

Re: Dead Motor

Heads are off. The pistons and the heads look ok. The top right cylinder looks scored. Material up on the side walls more than gouges in.

The water lines give a clue that the right side was starved of water. Water jackets look knarly but not plugged.

Suspect the thermostats got stuck or plugged. Suspect the heads are now warped.

Path forward? Doesn't sound too bad. Will probably take somewhere to get the work done. What can I expect, hundreds or thousands?

Sounds like the impeller went south and you blew a head gasket. Temp alarm could have saved you. Doubt it is a bad thermostat.

 

[jonesg]

Re: Dead Motor

DIY for about $600.

Previous owner was not a good boater, disconnecting the temp alarm.

 

[kocomo]

Re: Dead Motor

I have the Seloc manual. Even pulling the power head looks like a *****. Was thinking I could at least do that to save some cost.