Lower Unit replacement

My motor started "ticking" yesterday after lunch. The faster I went, the faster the tick. I thought it was surely something in the top end but when I was loading the boat I thought to run the motor in neutral with the fast idle lever and there was no ticking. When I got the boat out of the water, when I'd turn the prop by hand, it sounds like a bad bearing in the lower unit.

When I bought this boat last year, the output shaft was slightly bent. I got that fixed and told the mechanic to make sure there was no damage inside the foot where the bearing seat. Not wallowed out. He said everything looked good. I don't specifically remember asking him if he replaced the bearings but I think he did. At any rate, I'm not happy that I have a failure in the lower unit after putting less than 30 hours on the boat after I had it repaired.

So, my question is, given that there was some lower unit damage (bent prop shaft) and that it's been repaired recently but didn't "hold" depending on what I see, should I consider replacing the lower? I don't want a motor that has to be worked on every few months.

I just looked and I can buy a complete lower from $895-$1750. That's a whole lot of difference. Are the cheaper remaned lowers any good? Likely Chinese components, IMO.

https://www.obparts.com/yamaha/four-...ke-lower-unit/

After reading about Marine Parts Warehouse and what they do -- For me it would be an easy choice --- shop mechanics are good at what they do but most do not have what it takes to insure the highest standards .... these lower units have new factory OEM parts that meet the same standards of a new unit with a three year warranty

Says it has a 3 year no fault warranty. I'd read that real good but sounds like a pretty good deal verses parts and labor to rebuild. Recently read a post on some forum where a guy had bought one similar and it went bad about 2 years into the warranty and they shipped him a brand new one. You might also Google reviews on the company.

I read that too and it plainly states ... aftermarket parts. The old saying....you get what you pay for is usually true. My self....i would want OEM parts. But thats just me.

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That's the kicker.... What to do? It's a 98 model 2 stroke motor..... I could swap the lower unit myself.

$900 or $1900... I don't want to, but don't really mind spending the extra $1000 if there is really a difference.

All I read on Marine Parts Warehouse was a one year warranty. I didn't see a new lower for my motor. Only a refurbished unit. Their new and used both carry a one year warranty from what I saw. Refurb or new are both $1840 plus shipping. It seems sort of strange to me that a rebuild and a new one would be the same price...

I'd take Japanese OEM over Chinese any day of the week. If the motor was 10 years newer there would be no decision to make..

Anybody got a good 115-130 HP 4 stroke they want to sell? I've got a good Yamaha to trade in. Disregard that clicking sound, it's likely nothing. :)

EDIT: I wonder if this has anything to do with that stainless prop I put on a couple weeks ago....? Rebuilt prop from a prop shop in TX....

Several years ago I had a Johnson 150 on a sea pro 190 fish and ski. I found enough fishing line in the lake to ruin the seal and let water in and blow up the lower unit. I bought one of the new units off of eBay. It had a one year warranty. After one month it blew up they replaced it another month it blew up replaced it. They all had soft gears and would not last over a couple trips. The company would not check the gears just send a new one. I put 4 lower units on it before I sold the motor. After I sold it that one blew up to so beware what you are buying. New does not always mean better

I had a 30 hp Mariner, think it was a 2k model. Hit a stump just under water and did a number on the prop shaft. Carried it back to dealer and they replaced with new shaft and bearings. Checked all tolerances on everything else. Never had a minutes problem since. Sold it in 08' and see it on water all time. Old friend bought it, seen him other day, said still running strong. Never turned a tap on it. Just sayin a good mechanic should be able to replace oem parts and should be fine. 1900.00 is a good chunk of change for me.


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The lower unit comes with a three-year fault-free warranty. For further details, please see the complete warranty at https://www.obparts.com/sei-marine-p...rranty-policy/.

Here is what it says under the link you posted. Now I didn't go into the explanation.

just call BRM get you a new 4 stroke and you be done with it! :biggrin

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Slabprowler

just call BRM get you a new 4 stroke and you be done with it! :biggrin

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PM me your credit card # :)

Ralo, $1900 is a good chunk of change to me too. Only issue is that a "certified" mechanic has already been in this one, last fall. I may give him one more shot, but...

Cray, yes the aftermarket one has a 3 year warranty. Fish on Line posted that the Marine Parts Warehouse lower built with OEM parts has a 3 year warranty but I couldn't find that info. All I could find on that one is that it had a one year warranty.

So I called the mechanic today after I removed the plug on the lower and it was covered in metal shavings. First thing he said was, that's not got anything to do with what I did to it. I have a semi trailer shop and we deal with lots of hydraulics and gear boxes too. If somebody has trouble with something we've worked on, I get them to bring it back, I go through it and I honestly determine whether we messed up something or not. If we did, I fix it on my dime. I guess I'm foolish expecting the same thing from others. I don't have an hour gauge on my boat but I'd estimate that I have put less than 10 hours on the boat since he repaired the bent prop shaft and was supposed to go through the lower and check it out.

Maybe it's his fault, maybe it's not, but he handled it in a very unbusinesslike manner and could have at least looked at it before he declared it wasn't his fault. Between two boats, last fall, I spent between $1500-$2000 at his shop. I'll never spend another dime there.

This is what I found when I removed the drain plug on the lower unit:

https://s26.postimg.cc/8pk99bcgp/IMG_3725.jpg

OUCH !!:yikes

From reading over the years on many forums concerning the aftermarket lower units (The brand is SEI) the general consensus was that the units generally worked great for the smaller motors under about 150-175 hp and a lot more questionable for the larger motors.

One thing that was agreed upon across the board was that to not have problems that following the break in procedure included with the aftermarket lower unit was not optional but a very critical and important requirement. It was speculated that the metals used needed some type of "work hardening" and the proper break in procedure allowed this to be done correctly. Doing the break in for a bit but not completing it and saying good enough was a recipe for lower unit failures.

Also the consensus is that the aftermarket units were NOT recommended for use in salt water due to a much lower corrosion resistance as compared to OEM.

The company was supposed to be very good at honoring warranty claims as well.


What I have written here is from reading multiple threads on multiple forums concerning the aftermarket lower units and should be taken as such.

If this motor in this thread was mine I would probably go the aftermarket lower route, get my boat back on the water quickly and follow all break in procedures to the "T" and then later have the failed OEM unit pulled down and inspected and if reasonable repaired and kept for a spare.

That is just my opinion and everyone looks at things in a different way.

Further thinking about the situation this motor owner is in and the available options to repair his motor one thing that has not really brought up is the possibility of finding a good lower unit unit off of a damaged engine to purchase.

Then he gets OEM quality at probably a much more attractive price than even the aftermarket lower and will not have the break in to deal with. Granted a warranty may be only 30-90 days from a reputable salvage yard but dealing with a place that has a good reputation can lessen the concerns if there was a problem.

With the amount of extreme weather that has hit our nation over the last few years and major flooding in many parts of the country I am sure the market has a lot of insurance claimed motors that were damaged in the storms or totally submerged in the floods ruining the powerhead and electronics but as long as it was fresh water the lower unit would be fine. It lives its life in an underwater environment.

Just wanted to throw out another option for the OP to consider. This may be by a long shot in dollars required the least expensive and best option overall depending on being able to find a good used lower off a damaged powerhead motor.

Thanks for all for replies. I ordered a remanned lower from OBR marine through my local dealer. From what I read they do a large portion of the rebuilding for thousands of marine dealers and shops. I talked to them and felt comfortable with their product. So I’m getting a rebuilt Yamaha lower at basically the same price as an SEI. They don’t rebuild the lowers with all OEM parts but use a mix of OEM and aftermarket.

When I find someone competent to do it, I’m going to get my lower checked and rebuilt if the housing is good. That way I’ll have a spare. I will use all OEM parts if I go that route.