OMG ! We Already Trashed the Dinghy Motor !

[Tori]

Yes a specific answer which I strongly suspect is correct after hubby dismantled motor he decided it was a job for his friend who is a mechanic so our friend has the motor now should be fixed soon

[SkiprJohn]

I hope your husband tells the mech what you've found out about cooling problem before it is reassembled.
kind regards,

[Dkdoyle]

I am with Woodsy. Have forgotten to open the tank vent and had to skull back in. You don't tend to repeat that one.

[Tori]

SkiprJohn we printed and will give him your post when we take the motor to him this weekend. He worked at Everglades with Joe building boats so he is well qualified.

[mjwarner]

Been there, done that, recorded it for the masses here:
not a smooth operator | S/V Journey
Better to tell on myself first than let others have the last laugh! lol

[sctpc]

Originally Posted by mjwarner

Been there, done that, recorded it for the masses here:
not a smooth operator | S/V Journey
Better to tell on myself first than let others have the last laugh! lol

Just letting you know I found that so hard to read, from all the crying from laughter your story was a crackup.

[SkiprJohn]

Credit should go to mjwarner.
kind regards,

[Tori]

Well the mechanic working on the motor says the lower unit is cracked so the motor is shot. He said it will cost more to replace it than the motor is worth

[Kettlewell]

Tons of small motors like that around for sale used--everybody always seems to be moving up. I personally like the Tohatsu/Nissan/Mercury/almost every other brand 2.5-3.5 HP 2-stroke motor with no gears--it is just start and go, and turn it around to get reverse. It is completely stone age so can be repaired on the back deck with a screw driver and a pair of pliers, but it isn't the best runner to begin with. They all have a particular unique starting sequence that takes some experimentation to find, but in general I find that most people pull too many times with the choke on and flood the little beasts. The way to start them then is to put it on full throttle (the little rabbit on the scale), no choke, and then pull over with vigor three or four times, at which point they often start right up at full throttle, and since there is no gear other than forward you rocket off around the anchorage and usually collide with something. In any case, you can't kill those motors. There are other small motors that are probably better, but these are available cheap and everywhere.

[SkiprJohn]

Sorry to hear the bad news. There might be someone around who needs it for spare parts.
kind regards,

[Florida Mike]

Have it welded. Mike

[Tori]

The mechanic said welding wasn't an option due to location of the crack

[SabreKai]

Turns out the Chrysler engine I got with Kona Winds was a pile of junk. I took it to an old gent who specializes in 2 strokes and he laughed when I unloaded it. Turns out it was part of 2 different engines, a 9.9hp power head, a 15hp lower end and the cover from a flippin Johnston. I told him what I wanted and he thought about it for a while then told me he could do all I wanted, but it would cost me $400 and I'd still never get it to run on the boat. Too finicky and too odd ball to even bother with. So, I ended up parking it against the wall at my apartment, (gone in 12 hours) and bought a used Honda 9.9 from S/V Alchemy. He advised me that there might be some problems with it, and to have it checked out, oil change, gunked up carb etc. So I took it to the local shop. Heres the report I got back

Hi Peter,

Thank you for bringing your motor to XXXXXXXX for inspection and repair.

We have performed a preliminary engine service:

• Drained lower gearcase oil, no water present, refilled with new oil and replaced drain screw washers
• Performed spark and compression tests – spark present in both cylinders, compression 120 psi per cylinder x2
• Changed engine oil, spark plugs and fuel filter
• Removed carburetor, disassembled and inspected—internally corroded, lever at top of carburetor is broken
• Found good used carburetor in back, disassembled, cleaned out and overhauled, reassembled with new inlet needle and float bowl gasket and reinstalled onto motor with new gasket
• Fuel sample taken from tank, fuel sour; disposed
• Installed motor into test tank and test ran – motor starts and runs, however water output is weak at idle
• Removed lower gearcase and inspected – impeller has two blades cut off and requires replacement

Here is a breakdown of costs – PRICES INCLUDE PARTS AND LABOUR HOWEVER HST IS EXTRA:

1. Engine service – spark and compression tests, change engine oil, spark plugs, fuel filter - $175.35
2. Locate a good used carburetor, disassemble it, overhaul it with new needle, reassemble with new gaskets as required and reinstall onto motor $243.62 (includes $50.00 for a used carburetor)
3. Dispose fuel in tank $9.00
4. Install new water pump impeller and grommet $121.12
5. Supply a new fuel hose $49.95
6. Supply a Honda connector for the fuel line at the engine end $39.95
7. Supply a fuel connector for the fuel line at the tank end $19.95
8. Final test run – included in above price
9. TOTAL $658.94 - ONE YEAR PARTS AND LABOUR WARRANTY

Would you like me to proceed?

The one Honda fuel connector is on back order until next week. Is that okay?


All things considered I'm glad I took it in and didn't just do the oil change and what not myself. It always pays to have a professional check it over. Aside from the DOA carb, which was somewhat expected, I would have missed the water pump impeller because I don't know what to look for or what amount of water to expect. So by middle of next week KW should have a bullet proof RELIABLE motor again, and we can get on with sailing.



Always get a professional to check it out of you aren't qualified.



Sabre

[evm1024]

Back to the OP and knowing that the motor is cracked.... And just to be sure that this is not a problem for anyone else new to the game and hoping that it was not part of the original problem.....

I did not see anyone say if there was oil in the gas. This engine (most likely) was a 2 stroke and needs oil pre mixed into the fuel.

Regards, Ethan

[Tori]

Yes there was the correct oil fuel mixture but the impeller was bad. It is likely we cracked the block by over heating the motor in our ignorance and by not being observant