"It don't sound good."
"It don't sound good."
That's what the mechanic I am meeting tomorrow at my boat said. Wed. eve I was leaving the marina when my merc 50 siezed up. Oil showed okay, no warning alarms. It was doing about 4000 rpm, then went down a bit and then locked up. I know nothing about engines. Any ideas?
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Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
- Admiral
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 5:36 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Tampa, Florida 2000 Mercury BigFoot 50HP 4-Stroke on 26X hull# 3575.B000
Siezed up motors are usually not a good thing, especially if there was no overheating going on. May be a good idea to check your overheat and oil pressure sensors.
When I used to ride a lot of dirtbikes as a teenager, motors which siezed hard usually had a broken piston or a broken crankshaft. If it kind of ground down to a halt a bit slower than a total sieze, then I suppose it could be a problem with something less major, perhaps a broken timing belt for example which stopped the valve train (if it is a 4 stroke)..although you didn't mention if it was 2s or 4s.
With motorcycles, you knew a motor siezed since your rear wheel locked up and you came grinding to a halt. I suppose it is difficult to tell with an outboard, unless you were watching the flywheel at the time.
When I used to ride a lot of dirtbikes as a teenager, motors which siezed hard usually had a broken piston or a broken crankshaft. If it kind of ground down to a halt a bit slower than a total sieze, then I suppose it could be a problem with something less major, perhaps a broken timing belt for example which stopped the valve train (if it is a 4 stroke)..although you didn't mention if it was 2s or 4s.
With motorcycles, you knew a motor siezed since your rear wheel locked up and you came grinding to a halt. I suppose it is difficult to tell with an outboard, unless you were watching the flywheel at the time.
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argonaut
- Captain
- Posts: 531
- Joined: Sun Oct 24, 2004 8:23 pm
- Location: '97 26X, Yammy 40 4s, Central Fla.
Had that happen. Would've taken me twice as long to figure out I'd run over a crab trap had my mate not said "Wow,,, look at all those styrofoam bits floating all over the place. Wonder where -that- came from?also dont rule out prop tangled with something (does it run in neutral)
gears are they ok check fluid hope has some.
... uh oh..."
Even if it's a piston the powerhead is a replaceable assembly, kind of like a short block.Keep your lower unit, housing and accessories. Not cheap, but less than a new 50.
If you have go the new motor route I'd avoid carbs.
Well, the mechanic took about 3 minutes to tell me I had a siezed piston and a 400 lb. weight for the back on the boat. Most folks around here look the other way when you ask about rebuilding. I could be in for a new engine, and I haven't got the $$$. So, I guess my options are:
1) Sell the boat and take a hit.
2) Buy a new 50 and sell the boat.
3) Buy a used 50
4) Buy a new or used kicker to get her out of the slip and use the MAC as a sailboat. (Momma won't be happy, cause the grandkids come for the tube towing.)
Can you see any other options?
1) Sell the boat and take a hit.
2) Buy a new 50 and sell the boat.
3) Buy a used 50
4) Buy a new or used kicker to get her out of the slip and use the MAC as a sailboat. (Momma won't be happy, cause the grandkids come for the tube towing.)
Can you see any other options?
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Richard O'Brien
- Captain
- Posts: 653
- Joined: Fri May 14, 2004 8:20 am
- Location: Lakewood, CO. Mercury 60hp bigfoot M0427B404
I'm partially rebuilding a yamaha 70 myself. The rebuilt powerheads are about $1500-1800.00 usually. Take apart and reassemble adds about $400-600.00. $2500 is still cheaper than a new motor. It is possible to sleeve a piston, but the problem is you may also have a damaged crankshaft. The frozen rod is most certainly from lack of oil, and consequently all the bearing surfaces are damaged probably. 
Have you checked ebay? That one is a good day trip away, but its cheaper than a rebuild. If you do go that route, you might make sure they will run it for you, before you pay them a dime...
You might also just search for used boats on ebay. If you find one with a decent outboard, for the right price, then you just have to swap the motor over and scrap the rest...
You might also just search for used boats on ebay. If you find one with a decent outboard, for the right price, then you just have to swap the motor over and scrap the rest...
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
Replaceing the motor is not as bad as it sounds, Like DLT said ebay has many to choose from and in one afternoon you could be back on the water. By buying a motor that has been used lightly with a couple years on it, and installing it yourself would be the least exp. way out.
all your cables and wires will match up if you get same kind as you have.
It would be a simple bolt on plug in wires and attach cables your good to go.
Then you can sell or keep your old engine. You would be able to recoup
almost half from selling your engine as is.
your post sounds like you gave up and thats what is going to cost you
later. There are many options for you. This board will be there for support every step of the way if you decide to fix the problem.
First get a grip and decide what you want to do
do you use the boat much?
is it a big part of your life?
there are ways to get the money to fix it, have you thought of the options?
like take it out of the slip and bring it home for 10 months would be one.
now lets think of what to do
find out why the motor froze? if your going to put a new power head on
or rebuild your old motor. If its a 2 stroke (you never said) it would be
within your capability to pull the power head and do most of the rebuild yourself. Trust me on this. You would have to have a good service manual
and a machine shop near by. Most likely you can bore the motor out to
60hp specs. replace the pistons and rings. but you have to find out why
it froze. oil injection went bad?
if its a 4 stroke then I would think about replaceing the whole motor.
with a good used one.
If money is tight then forget about a mechanic. You need to do this yourself.
outboard motors in the world of engines are real easy to replace. its no way as complicated as a car, everything needed to run the motor is self contained. so taking off the old one and putting the new one on is straight forward.
If you want to go this route then we will all be here every step of the way
for support.
decide what you want to do, let us know and I for one will be there for you.
if I dont know something Im sure there is many here that will.
If it were me I would repower depending on the cash I have to do it.
not much money I would buy a used good condition motor in the 60hp range. Then I would sell the old engine as is on ebay.
If I had the cash I would go with a new motor of my choice
also install it myself or if I got a good deal on the motor with instalation have it done. But I would be at the shop everyday making sure they installed it the way I wanted it done.
If it was a 2 stroke I would pull the power head off and take it apart
take the block to a machine shop and have it sized for the 60hp and rebuild it. But make damn sure that I knew what caused the problem in the first place.
Hang in there this is a setback not the end
Mike
all your cables and wires will match up if you get same kind as you have.
It would be a simple bolt on plug in wires and attach cables your good to go.
Then you can sell or keep your old engine. You would be able to recoup
almost half from selling your engine as is.
your post sounds like you gave up and thats what is going to cost you
later. There are many options for you. This board will be there for support every step of the way if you decide to fix the problem.
First get a grip and decide what you want to do
do you use the boat much?
is it a big part of your life?
there are ways to get the money to fix it, have you thought of the options?
like take it out of the slip and bring it home for 10 months would be one.
now lets think of what to do
find out why the motor froze? if your going to put a new power head on
or rebuild your old motor. If its a 2 stroke (you never said) it would be
within your capability to pull the power head and do most of the rebuild yourself. Trust me on this. You would have to have a good service manual
and a machine shop near by. Most likely you can bore the motor out to
60hp specs. replace the pistons and rings. but you have to find out why
it froze. oil injection went bad?
if its a 4 stroke then I would think about replaceing the whole motor.
with a good used one.
If money is tight then forget about a mechanic. You need to do this yourself.
outboard motors in the world of engines are real easy to replace. its no way as complicated as a car, everything needed to run the motor is self contained. so taking off the old one and putting the new one on is straight forward.
If you want to go this route then we will all be here every step of the way
for support.
decide what you want to do, let us know and I for one will be there for you.
if I dont know something Im sure there is many here that will.
If it were me I would repower depending on the cash I have to do it.
not much money I would buy a used good condition motor in the 60hp range. Then I would sell the old engine as is on ebay.
If I had the cash I would go with a new motor of my choice
also install it myself or if I got a good deal on the motor with instalation have it done. But I would be at the shop everyday making sure they installed it the way I wanted it done.
If it was a 2 stroke I would pull the power head off and take it apart
take the block to a machine shop and have it sized for the 60hp and rebuild it. But make damn sure that I knew what caused the problem in the first place.
Hang in there this is a setback not the end
Mike
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aya16
- Admiral
- Posts: 1362
- Joined: Fri Feb 18, 2005 6:29 am
- Location: LONG BEACH CALIF Mac M 04 WHITE
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1993-Mer ... 0459QQrdZ1
see just a couple min. on ebay and found this
see just a couple min. on ebay and found this
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Chip Hindes
- Admiral
- Posts: 2166
- Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:13 am
- Location: West Sand Lake, NY '01X, "Nextboat" 50HP Tohatsu
Reading between the lines, if it's indeed 400 pounds as stated it must be a Bigfoot 4-stroke.
What year is it and how many hours?
As background, in late '00 when I bought my boat, I opted for the Tohatsu 2S to save nearly $2500 over the cost of the Bigfoot 4S, which was the only 4S offered by my dealer.
As I recall there was a lot of trouble with the Merc 4S motors of this vintage, and I believe several brand new, low hour ones seized and left the also brand new boats out of commission for months while the owners argued with Mercury. As I also recall eventually there was a general recall of these motors. I remember in those days congratulating myself for not buying the Merc, though I've had second thoughts since.
I suppose it would be too much to hope that yours or any other which would now be going on seven years old would fall under some kind of extended warranty, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to contact Mercury.
What year is it and how many hours?
As background, in late '00 when I bought my boat, I opted for the Tohatsu 2S to save nearly $2500 over the cost of the Bigfoot 4S, which was the only 4S offered by my dealer.
As I recall there was a lot of trouble with the Merc 4S motors of this vintage, and I believe several brand new, low hour ones seized and left the also brand new boats out of commission for months while the owners argued with Mercury. As I also recall eventually there was a general recall of these motors. I remember in those days congratulating myself for not buying the Merc, though I've had second thoughts since.
I suppose it would be too much to hope that yours or any other which would now be going on seven years old would fall under some kind of extended warranty, but it certainly wouldn't hurt to contact Mercury.
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Dimitri-2000X-Tampa
- Admiral
- Posts: 2043
- Joined: Fri Jan 02, 2004 5:36 am
- Sailboat: MacGregor 26X
- Location: Tampa, Florida 2000 Mercury BigFoot 50HP 4-Stroke on 26X hull# 3575.B000
I recall the recall in 2001. This was the first year of EFI after my 2000 which was the last year of carbs. I gotta say, my BF 50 really purrs most of the time. It is a great engine and has kept me from going the upgrade route.
I only had two problems with it, the first one being caused by dirty gas (clogged carb), but once I fixed that, and sealed the adjustment screws into a perfect adjustment, it has run great ever since, idles as smooth as my cars. Except for my overheating problem which was likely exacerbated by large scale salt water useage. Hopefully, it will run well for a few more years...or maybe I should sell it now while its running good. It does have a tiny bit of cosmetic damage on the cowl (stickers peeling, etc.) but very mechanicly sound. How much could I get for it on Ebay, 3 grand?
I only had two problems with it, the first one being caused by dirty gas (clogged carb), but once I fixed that, and sealed the adjustment screws into a perfect adjustment, it has run great ever since, idles as smooth as my cars. Except for my overheating problem which was likely exacerbated by large scale salt water useage. Hopefully, it will run well for a few more years...or maybe I should sell it now while its running good. It does have a tiny bit of cosmetic damage on the cowl (stickers peeling, etc.) but very mechanicly sound. How much could I get for it on Ebay, 3 grand?
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Jeff S
- First Officer
- Posts: 371
- Joined: Tue Jun 08, 2004 2:13 pm
- Location: Cherry Point, NC 2000 26X Tohatsu 50
Second thoughts on the Tohatsu!? Come on Chip! It is the motor that will not quit. I thought mine finally did after it would die at high RPM under load, turns out the impeller was over 3 years old and my beaching events (sand) wore out the impeller. It now runs better than it did when I purchased the boat!Chip Hindes wrote: I remember in those days congratulating myself for not buying the Merc, though I've had second thoughts since.
If my motor catastrophically failed I would seriously consider the 90hp upgrade, but if that were not an option try the ebay route. A decent used motor (especially 2 stroke) is relatively cheap and could provide good service.
Aya pretty much summed it up- depends on how much you use your boat. It sound like that motor you have is not worth rebuilding (as it may have probs again) and the cost of a used motor would be a little better unless you can do most of the work yourself.