What would ya'll do?
 

I blew the rings out of a cylinder on my '90 225 Evinrude a couple days ago. I just put on a new voltage regulator, stator, and had the carbs rebuilt. Here are what I see as my potential options:

-Put on a rebuilt power head./$$$

-Buy another 200-225 johnnyrude in the same year range and have my old motor laying around for parts./$$

-Switch to darkmeat and put on a 150 fuel injected Merc with a new lower unit a mechanic friend has sitting around./$$

-Shoot my load on an ETEC/$$$$$$$$$$$$$$

Buy a used motor with low hours and good compression. Sell your old motor on craigslist. Thats' what I did, has worked out well.

comes down to the depth of your pocket book, three years ago when I retired from the PD I bought by 17 foot G3 for freshwater use. First time in my life I had a new motor (yammie 60 hp 4stroke) and I love having something new, warrantied, start first and everytime and I know everything that has been done to it.
It is nice

If you have the money and will use it, ETEC! :beer:

I don't have alot of spare time, so the V is my release when I get a chance to use her. I really want to get this fixed so I don't sit out another season. I don't splurge on myself for anything else really. I'm always shopping for a deal, cutting corners here and there trying to save an extra buck. But what I hate the most is throwing good money after bad. An etec would be great, but to me isn't worth the money considering the age and condition of my V. The problem I'm starting to see coming is that these old 88-91 johnny rudes are 20+ years old and its hard to trust what kind of condition they are in after having usually at least a couple of owners. I wouldn't mind having something smaller in the 150hp range, but hate thinking I just spent all that money on my 225 that I won't even be able to use for parts. I'm just thinking out loud and appreciate everyone's opinions.

What exactly did yours do? Have you pulled the heads to check it yet? I know you can still find 200-225 JOHNNY-RUDES in the 86-94 range for around $1-2K with good compression.

Rings are gone on the second cylinder on the starboard side. Had some water in the cylinder. My mechanic thinks it probably blew the head gasket.

Hate to leave but gotta be some where at 7. To be continued....

need more info on the damage, if it blew a head gasket, put anotehr one on and keep riding, if it scored a cylinder, then we'll haev to rethink. Get some pics of the offending cylinder

If it's just one cylinder then chances are you can get her back up and going for under $500 in parts. Most shops charge about $250 IIRC for a sleeve installed, and a piston is usually less than a $100. Another $150 for agasket set and you're back in business.

I haven't heard anything yet that makes it sound unfixable...

Is your friend gonna give you the Merc? If so, free is always best.

If you listen to these guys they will get you going again!! If you have the cash go with new, I will tell you since I have started boating (20 years) I have had all old stuff and have gone thur a lot of stress trying to keep going every season!
I just bought a new to me 2004 Yamaha 4 stroke 225 with 200 hours, for the Ox and I am so horny to get it on the boat next month and have a season with no issues!! I am even going on a slip this year!!

I am really going to try to enjoy this year as much as I can and making everything as simple as I can should help!!

Good Luck

Bottom edge of the piston is pretty well jacked up as well as a chip in the face of the piston. Ring material is smushed/welded to the cylinder wall, as well as scoring. Light scoring on the top cylinder on the port side as well. All of the plugs except for one were cleaner than usual, almost like they had been cleaned with carb cleaner. Compression on the bad cylinder registered 0 psi while the others were 95+/-psi cold.

Motor sure won't be free, it belongs to a friend of his. Probably will be somewhat inexpensive--initially.

Did you do the carbs yourself or have a shop do them? What you described sounds like damage from running lean as a looper should NEVER have a clean looking plug in it at ANY time.

Thought that was odd as they usually look oily/greasy. Shop did them almost a year ago. I've run the boat in the water lightly three times since.

Sounds like I might have my answer huh?

yep :clap:

those motors are forgiving just split the case take that piston out hone the cylinder back to shape and the put in a new piston and rings on that cylinder and you'll be good to go just check the reeds and carbs before you run it again. you could fix that for under $200

skools, would he have to split the block, could he just take intake off to get to rod cap and push piston out the head? i've never worked on omc, just wonderin...?

bradford, sorry I'm no help but call this guy and see if he has one laying around ( he does a lot of refit/upgrades) or if he might be interested in repairing it.
Burns Outboard Service Ph:912.826.4512. Serving Rincon, Savannah, Statesboro, Richmond Hill,. Chatham County and Coastal Georgia for years.

I've done that a time or two myself. If it is just aluminum smeared then you can take some muratic acid and get the aluminum off then lightly de glaze the cylinder with a hone and slap a new piston in it. Don't even have to pull the powerhead as there is more than enough room to get the rod cap off with just pulling the intake.