I have a 2004 225 Ficht I bought 3 years ago “ not running. Full of carbon, 1 bad injector and the wrong EMM. Replaced all injectors and EMM. Took care of quite a few other maintenance and repair issues. Engine now runs very strong with over 130 PSI on all 6 cylinders. Unknown hours but perfect example of a poorly maintained engine vs proper maintenance.
Something cold ported and small, like an Elgin, would be a candidate for castor oil, and cleaner than oil. Run on glow fuel and pour it back at the end of the day. Small thick high quality castings are better than some of your careless die castings.
I’m been a automotive technician/mechanic for a long time and I can say I have never replaced anything that had good oil and been maintained properly. There has been some special cases but 99.99% of the time it all started with not following the maintenance schedule.
I have 1500hrs on my 2003 mercaha. Mercury motor with a 115hp yamaha power head. When i got it with 1000hrs everything was still perfect valve lash etc. I have worked at a marina for the last 20 years. Most people here don't put 20hrs on a season. Ficht and e tecs are junk in my opinion. Have to program ecms, injectors. Index spark plugs. Capacitor for the 55volt injectors. The electric oil injection. To much specialized specific parts. I do like yamaha because they don't reinvent the wheel every year.
Viewer from Ireland, I have a 2006 Mariner 100 EFI, I believe it's an old Yamaha, it would be great if you could cover a small bit about VST's in your next video, I recently replaced both low and high pressure pumps. Only had an issue with the Low Pressure but replaced both as I had it apart. I found a brown flakes in the filter cap. Needed to clean out the VST as well
@OutboardDad I've heard that some motors require the electrode on the spark plug to be facing a specific direction (perhaps for the direct injection) I'm waiting for my service manual to arrive and that's all I could gather so far from the internet
I appreciate your advice. I think you always have to do maintenance on your motor. My 2014 Mercury optimax Pro XS is a wonderful little engine. Constantly checking the compressor because I hear there has been problems with them. So far everything is been running well. I know that the bigger Optimax (130,150,200 etc) have 2 tracker valves. I wanted to change mine. But I can't see a Tracker valve listed on Mercury parts site for the 115h Opti. Do you know if the 115 Opti has a Tracker valve. Thanks for a very interesting videos
@@dd8426 Your welcome, not sure I have heard the term tracker valve? Are you talking about the valves inside the aire pump? Replacing the o rings in that pump is key to longevity for these motors. I do have a video where I am replacing this so rings.
Hmmm. I dunno. I went from 2- to 4-stroke snowmobiles and hated it. It was a rocket-fast Yamaha Sidewinder…..fastest thing on snow. It was ‘lifeless’….and sounded more akin to a Chinese generator low on oil. Crack the whip by accident, and prepare to eat some bark. I still didn’t like the machine, and got out of sledding. To scratch the itch, I want a pair of 2.4 Bridgeports hanging off the back. A minivan’s 4-stroke V6 in a modern 250hp can’t ever feel like that. But 98% of the time, a new Suzuki 40hp would be perfect for me. No timing belts to service make it even better, IMHO.
Pretty much anything WELL MAINTAINED will last a long time. Also, pretty much no one does the maintenance to get to a long time. How can you say that smoke when you first fire up a two-stroke stinks? That's the best smell in the world. Someone even made a candle to smell like it
Great information, thank you Keith.
@@timenfinger41 Glad to help! Have a blessed day!
I have a 2004 225 Ficht I bought 3 years ago “ not running. Full of carbon, 1 bad injector and the wrong EMM. Replaced all injectors and EMM. Took care of quite a few other maintenance and repair issues. Engine now runs very strong with over 130 PSI on all 6 cylinders. Unknown hours but perfect example of a poorly maintained engine vs proper maintenance.
@@davidwatson1460 You’re speaking my language!
Something cold ported and small, like an Elgin, would be a candidate for castor oil, and cleaner than oil. Run on glow fuel and pour it back at the end of the day. Small thick high quality castings are better than some of your careless die castings.
@@stanleybest8833 Thank you
I’m been a automotive technician/mechanic for a long time and I can say I have never replaced anything that had good oil and been maintained properly. There has been some special cases but 99.99% of the time it all started with not following the maintenance schedule.
@@herbertlandrum382 You’re speaking my language!
Another great video. Keep up the good work.
@@dentalnovember Thanks buddy!
I have 1500hrs on my 2003 mercaha. Mercury motor with a 115hp yamaha power head. When i got it with 1000hrs everything was still perfect valve lash etc. I have worked at a marina for the last 20 years. Most people here don't put 20hrs on a season. Ficht and e tecs are junk in my opinion. Have to program ecms, injectors. Index spark plugs. Capacitor for the 55volt injectors. The electric oil injection. To much specialized specific parts. I do like yamaha because they don't reinvent the wheel every year.
@@stevejones9832 Thanks for your input!
Viewer from Ireland, I have a 2006 Mariner 100 EFI, I believe it's an old Yamaha, it would be great if you could cover a small bit about VST's in your next video, I recently replaced both low and high pressure pumps. Only had an issue with the Low Pressure but replaced both as I had it apart. I found a brown flakes in the filter cap. Needed to clean out the VST as well
@@davidosullivan6351 I will do that soon! Thank you for the input my fellow Irishman!
Great content, recently purchased a 99 115hp ficht. Yet to put it on the boat but saw it running. Pray for me 😅
@@Bilal_El-Hassan Praying! May God keep you and family safe on the water!
@@OutboardDad are you able to touch on indexing the spark plugs. Thanks
@@Bilal_El-Hassan Indexing? You mean setting the gap?
@OutboardDad I've heard that some motors require the electrode on the spark plug to be facing a specific direction (perhaps for the direct injection) I'm waiting for my service manual to arrive and that's all I could gather so far from the internet
@@Bilal_El-Hassan Interesting, I have not heard that before. The only option I have seen is the no interference plugs
I appreciate your advice. I think you always have to do maintenance on your motor. My 2014 Mercury optimax Pro XS is a wonderful little engine. Constantly checking the compressor because I hear there has been problems with them. So far everything is been running well. I know that the bigger Optimax (130,150,200 etc) have 2 tracker valves. I wanted to change mine. But I can't see a Tracker valve listed on Mercury parts site for the 115h Opti. Do you know if the 115 Opti has a Tracker valve. Thanks for a very interesting videos
@@dd8426 Your welcome, not sure I have heard the term tracker valve? Are you talking about the valves inside the aire pump? Replacing the o rings in that pump is key to longevity for these motors. I do have a video where I am replacing this so rings.
@@dd8426 Are you talking about the small diaphragm on each fuel injector?
Hmmm. I dunno. I went from 2- to 4-stroke snowmobiles and hated it. It was a rocket-fast Yamaha Sidewinder…..fastest thing on snow. It was ‘lifeless’….and sounded more akin to a Chinese generator low on oil. Crack the whip by accident, and prepare to eat some bark. I still didn’t like the machine, and got out of sledding.
To scratch the itch, I want a pair of 2.4 Bridgeports hanging off the back. A minivan’s 4-stroke V6 in a modern 250hp can’t ever feel like that.
But 98% of the time, a new Suzuki 40hp would be perfect for me. No timing belts to service make it even better, IMHO.
@@daveward9953 Thanks for the comment!
Pretty much anything WELL MAINTAINED will last a long time. Also, pretty much no one does the maintenance to get to a long time. How can you say that smoke when you first fire up a two-stroke stinks? That's the best smell in the world. Someone even made a candle to smell like it
@@pdlegend6829 Love the smell of a two stroke in the morning!
What is the name of your book and your name as author..
@@richardknott2021 Used Outboard Motor Buying Guide Keith McGowan. Not in Amazon yet should be available next week
Im gonna say never buy a 2stroke that has its thermostat removed. Its a precursor to many problems, and a sign of bad maintenance.
I learned this the hard way lol , nice video!
thanks, most of what learn ends up being the hard way as well