PHP Warning: Use of undefined constant VBA_SCRIPT - assumed 'VBA_SCRIPT' (this will throw an Error in a future version of PHP) in ..../includes/functions_navigation.php(802) : eval()'d code on line 1 $1K for a service or buy a new motor?
25HP Brown Band Mercury Outboard with electric start.
Took it in for a service yesterday as it was intermittently working (hasn't been used for over a year as I have been interstate). I don't know the specifics as of yet as they are getting quotes for several parts that they need. Ill update the post when the information comes to hand but what should I do?
If I get it serviced what are the chances of something massive like this happening again say in 6 months or 12 months?
Comments appreciated as I'm stuck on the fence with this one.
a service is not exactly a repair, it is preventative maintenance, it would appear to me that your motor is broken and needs repairs, is this correct? was it going OK before it was not used for a year? and $1,000 for repairs on a 25 would need to be a fair old repair.
Find out what parts are needed and what is actually happening as you need to decide how servicable and reliable the motor will be when work is completed.
Things like pulling off heads and cleaning galleries are fiddly and time consuming so can get expensive by the time parts , thermostat and gaskest are added in and you still have all the normal service parts to do as well, plugs, water pump, gear lube which can easily go a couple of hundred at a dealer. Some are just costs for once every 5-10 years..
Some electrical components are also pricey along with some carby kits.
The bottom line is if the crank , bearings, compression and bore are in excellent condition just about everything else is bolt on. Electrics good and trim and lower unit there isn't much to worry about that general maintaiance won't solve and you should have a long lasting reliable motor.
Can't say it enough times quality oils, fresh fuel without ethanol ( get the bloke to replace petrol hoses on the motor) , fuel filter
New or more modern second hand 2 strokes are not that expensive as it is a competitive area with all manufacturers haveing a model.
Your motor may be worth more in parts for the leg , propand good powerhead than it is worth as a whole. Depends on overall condition.
I'm no expert, but considering the age of the motor, and the fact that u could probably get another similar 25 2 stroke for around $3K (maybe even less), I know what I'd be doing!
OOOPs missed the electric start bit so perhaps a little more than $3K
Most engines are worth more than the boat aren't they? I know if I was to upgrade my 25merc it would be worth more than my 3.75 ally. Tough call I would go with a newer engine.
If you have the cash, flog the old one on ebay(be honest about the repairs required) and update to a newer one. The new motor will always be worth what it's worth regardless of the hull it's on or sold separately.
happening again? depend how you treat it, if you fog the powerhead one way or another with oil for a layup then pretty low, the lower unit must have had some water in it when it was laid up last.
Brown band?? make sure you nail them on what is actually needed in the repair, if for instance it happens to blow out another 30-50% your only choice will be to walk away from it or pay up. By definition neither would actually be a choice.
The boat has had a regular service every year and has always been flushed.
(Ive had the boat for approximately 7 years)
Gearbox has taken some salt water and needs to be opened up and cleaned. The seals are shot so they need to be swapped out. The top seal needs to be drilled out.
The motor seems ok and hasn't been exposed to water but is down on compression in the lower cylinder. He says the compression gaskets (head gaskets?) have never been changed so that could be the reason.
I asked if it's going to need a full ground up rebuild and he said no because they think the compression is just down due to an aged gasket, but it needs the motor to come off the drive and the exhaust stacks taken off etc. hence labour. Lower crank seal is gone too.
yeah ok well the gasket is par for the course on any older engine so the compression reading as they say could simply be this, or it may not be, how did they ascertain the lower crank seal problem...ie did they do only a standard compression test?
yeah, cut your losses picolo. chances are that it'll end up costing more than initially thought to fix it. flog it off for parts, add $1500 and you'd probably get a good 2nd hand motor that's a lot younger and in a lot better condition.
you really dont get much for a Grand these days, so if price is any indication the job may not be that big......8hr labour at (geussing) $50 an hour leaves $600 fo parts, which really doesnt buy a helluva lot these days. Then again if you really want to upgrade/modernise, and you want someone to give you a push ......go for it.
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missed the electric start bit 
