Blown Power-Head

[bipr8]

So, the marina looked at my boat and came back and told me I had a blown power head and 0 compression and some other things that I zoned out for on my ERude 150. Very bad news.

So, how do you blow a power-head? Was it my fault? Something I did or does that just happen? The motor is a 1993, but was re-built in 2003.

They told me I had 4 options- you guys know how much it would likely cost for option 2 and 4?

1. Re-built power head- $4-6K

2. New Power head- Price????

3. New motor- $13-14 K

4. Refurbished motor. Price????

With a motor, the boat is only worth $7-8K I would guess.

Any suggestion? Any pointers? What would you do?

[along99999]

If you're patient, you can usually pick up a used motor in the 150-hp range for $1500 - $2000 and get it put on for a couple hundred more. Just keep scouring the internet. You may have to bring home the boat that's attached to it, too, but you can sell that out on ebay for a few hundred to some poor schmo who put a tree through his boat.

Blown power heads usually result from repeated long full-throttle runs combined with poor cooling - either a bad impeller, clogged inlets, motor too high on jack plate, etc., which may not always trigger a pressure alarm until it's too late. 95% of blown motors are operator error either in maintenance or just running it harder than necessary. Not making judgments on you, but that's been my experience.

I would probably avoid rebuilding as it usually ends up in countless trips back to the shop for adjustments, etc. Just ask the shop where is a good place in your area to start looking for motors and start hitting the net.

[Hot Rod]

$13K for a new motor seems high to me.  I have seen dealers advertising new 150's for $10K. 

I'd do some shopping.

[jenga]

I feel your pain man.  I had my motor sieze up due to lack of oil because the oil injector broke.  2 months after I bought it.  I put in a brand new power head and disabled the oil injection.  I spent 6k to fix but now it runs perfectly and it is like a brand new motor.  I also thought about buying a used motor but decided against cuz then you still don't know what you are getting.  I would also look into seeing if your insurance would cover it mine did.  If I were you I would replace but try to use some of the parts off broken motor.  Like the regulators.  Also if you pay cash many times you can get it cheaper.  I am sorry this happened to you I know what it feels like.  Try to find a great mechanic.

Jenga

[burleytog]

$13K for a new motor seems high to me. I have seen dealers advertising new 150's for $10K.

I'd do some shopping.

Figure approx. $100 / 1 HP.

That said, the prices I've seen lately aren't bad.  Discounts are good as the dealers are trying to move what they can.

But, if $15K for a 150 includes rigging, etc., that isn't a bad price.

[=Matt 5.0=]

It also depends on brand, 2 stroke/4 stroke etc.

[jenga]

Why would anyone pay 15k for a new motor on a 93 boat that is only worth 5k.  Replace power head for 5k and save extra the 10 you would of spent.

Jenga

[cart7t]

Why would anyone pay 15k for a new motor on a 93 boat that is only worth 5k. Replace power head for 5k and save extra the 10 you would of spent.

Jenga

Why?

Unlike a car or truck where the engine is integral to the vehicle, an OB can be taken off when you want to and transferred to a different boat fairly easily.

Depends on his finances.  If he can't afford a new complete rig now he but can a new OB he could buy the motor and transfer it to another, newer boat down the road when finances allow.  Since the OB is the far bigger part of the boat motor equation, as far as mechanical reliability, getting as new a motor as possible isn't such a bad idea. 

[Way2slow]

The major problem with the carburated 60 degree V-6's (150) is about half of the blocks crack where the voltage regulator mounts and lets water in either #1 or #2 cylinder.  This blows the engine because it melts a hole in the piston.

They also have some problems with the O-rings loosing seal and letting water into cylinders, again, the creats a melted piston.

What caused it to blow? could have been one of the above problems.  Could have been as simple as a dirty carb that leaned it out and melted it.   OMC's are also known to have powerpacks that go bad and start double firing.  This will melt a hole in the center of the piston also. 

Could have been the first builder didn't do everything he should have and it finally let go.  I pulled an X-flow motor apart once that I didn't think could have run a season the way someone resleeved one cylinder, (they actually put sealant around it and pushed it in).  The guy that owned the motor bought if from the shop that repaired it and said it had been running seven years like that.