My new boat

I'm thinking about my options... Ebay is the SORRIEST business in the world for resolving troubled transactions... they basically tell you to work it out yourselves... you can't get ahold of a real person there... I've replied to their "automailer" with really stupid stuff that doesn't make any sense at all to experiment and you get the same answer no matter what you write. I bought a marine radio from a guy on Ebay. He took money for HUNDREDS of radios he never had... I figure about 16,000$ worth... Ebay did NOTHING.... PayPal refunded my money AFTER I contacted the FBI Internet FRAUD division and explained what happened... two weeks later, I get a call from the Sheriff in the town where the guy lived... he went to prison recently... I Don't know if I'll follow up on this in the same way. His mechanic would probably testify that "crankshafts break sometimes" and my case would be shot in the hips... I need them to decide it is in their best interest to help me. I just have to figure out how to accomplish my objective without making anyone mad... How do you get people to do the right thing, when the very fiber of their being is telling them that they have nothing left to do for you?

I'll figure it out... anyone know someone with a Merc upper half for sale? Or a complete motor 90-115 HP for sale? Let me know... I want to FISH with my kids

It's possible that a crank will be enough to fix what's wrong with it. I do not have the time, tools or patience (right now) to replace the crankshaft. There's a guy a few miles from me who works on motors at home, as well as for his job. I hear he's good, and works reasonably... I'll phone him if I get time tomorrow... He replaced a powerhead for a friend of mine two years ago... a couple of weeks later, the lower unit went out in the motor... he tooks it back and the guy replaced the lower unit.... total cost for powerhead and lower unit... $1500.00 The motor's running fine... that was an 85 hp Merc... so maybe he can replace the crank in my motor for a decent price. I don't need a NEW one, I just need one that isn't broke in two...

Let me know what you can do. Anything is appreciated... if it isn't a merc, I'll need controls too.... that's why I'm shopping mercs... I already have the controls... I'd put anything on there right now.. even a Chinese motor, if it runs... I'll also consider a small tiller motor, maybe 20 horse, to get me out and back until I get another "main" motor.... I can always use a trolling motor for stripers and walleyes...

Thank you sir.....

Mudd_cat,
You can "wobble" the flywheel all around, like it's mounted to rubber or something... I'm pretty well convinced the crank's broken... the outboard guy never even hesitated when he said it was broken... My good friend Jerry, who works on engines all day long told me it was broken without even looking at it... just from the way I described it to him... and no, I don't really feel up to a ride to MS... No offense
I've spent more quality time alone in the car the past two weeks picking up and going back up to the mountains for this boat than I care to repeat right now... I may change my mind tomorrow, but for now I'm brousing the classifieds in the paper... checking our "Trading Post" (a local classifieds rag that comes out once a week, full of anything you want under the sun for sale) and checking with a few friends that have "connections" locally...
The boat is rated for 115 horsepower... it was greatly overpowered with the 175 on it, but it doesn't sit too low in the back, nor is the transom showing any sign of weakness as a result of having a mega-motor on it... I'll probably get a smaller motor if I don't fix this one... I don't know what I'm doing right now other than waiting and exploring options.... nothing concrete in the works as of yet...

mudd_catt said:

Hawkeye, got some insight from my man with the plan. He gave me a couple of things to do and try. The best news of all is that the probability is greater that the crankshaft is NOT broke, than it is. More likely, without him looking at it of course, is that the bearings have gone out. Especially since it will run at idle (you did say it would idle didn't you?)
There are a couple of things try before tearing it apart.

1. Take the spark plugs out. With someone turnin the flywheel BY HAND, use a long rod or screwdriver to feel each piston and see if it is moving in and out. Be careful not to get the screwdriver on the side of the cylinder walls.

2. Take the flywheel off, take the stator off, and inspect the bearings at the top of the motor, move the shaft side to side, up and down. There should be virtually no play any way.

Also, What horsepower is your boat rated for?
Do you feel like driving to MS?

Click to expand...

SOmething I have never considered in this, and I don't think it was possible for me to think about in my previous anger-clouded state of mind, was pointed out to me by a friend this afternoon.... Maybe the same thing your mechanic friend was getting at... Yeah, I can wobble the FLYWHEEL around like the crankshaft is broken, but it doesn't make any sense that I can still start the boat if the crank is broke... he suggested that the flywheel may have come partially loose and the noise/vibration from the loose flywheel is the source of the problem... It won't cost me a dime to pull it and check, so I'm heading home to think about it. One of the members of our church passed away Sunday, and the visitation (wake for Yankees) is tonight. I have to attend, so I probably won't get the boat looked at this evening. This could be extremely good news.

Mudd_cat.... my sincerst apology for blowing you off like I did last night on the suggestion the crank might not be broken... I am VERY sorry I didn't pay closer attention to what you wrote... I'm thinking the mechanic I took it to might have known all along the crank wasn't broke... if it isn't of course... he might have been trying to hit me for another $1000... they could have left the dern flywheel loose KNOWING this would happen... who knows.