I had my '94 115 Ocean Pro power head rebuilt after saltwater intrusion (manufacturing defect, long story) destroyed the #2 cyl after ten years good service.
The rebuild went well, the manufacturing flaw rectified at the machine shop, and the engine ran fine for the first 15 hours of the required 20 hours 'break-in'. Aside the VRO doing it's thing, I premixed the fuel in the tank 50:1 for these first 15 hours.
During the course of the rebuild (disassembly) the tech broke the fuel line inlet @ the VRO pump. Without consulting me he installed a 'used' pump he had at his shop and charged me $165, for what is a $398 part. Fair but after a rebuild, I was kind of chapped he went ahead with that plan without discussing the matter. Putting 'used' parts on anything is not my way of doing things 'right'. The rebuild was $2,200. So, what the hell? Was he trying to save me money? Red flag.
Anyhoo after, 15 hours the performance started to go away. Stalling on start and under load at low rpms, 'missing' coming up on plane, and then after break-in scheduled higher rpm runs, 2-stroke oil flowed down the bracket and shaft in a pretty good stream. I kept an eye on the oil level in the VRO tank all through break-in to check the pump function. The oil side of the VRO pump had failed, not drawing from the remote reservoir (under console) . Good thing I was double oiling.
I brought the boat back to the tech ahead of the 20 hour schedule for the head retorque and to address the oil and performance problems. I presumed, and he agreed, that the 'used' pump had failed, and was leaking. He ordered a new unit.
Upon receiving the new pump, and disassembly of the 'used' one, the tech said he noticed a 'hair-line' crack in a part, behind the pump, that he described as a 'staging reservoir' (?????) or somesuch. I asked if that was indeed the source of the leak and he said ; "Yes, probably". So, the 'used' pump hadn't failed? He stated that it must have as it had indeed stopped drawing oil from the reservoir. Red flag 2. I'm not trained in the field, but, I do know the VRO system works on a vacuum principle. If you break the vacuum (the hair-line crack) wouldn't the system shut down? He said he was going to source the part (the small reservoir) from another tech who had stock. When I finally went pick up the boat he stated no charge for the part as it was yet ANOTHER used part off a '94 V-6 150 Ocean Pro. YIKES!!!!
The first time out, the boat ran horribly, loading up and stalling running like it was on three cylinders. Bumping the electric choke I got it up on plane where it ran well @ high rpms. But again ran poorly when I throttled down. The oil leak was worse.
Any thoughts would be greatly appreciated!
A1 if you have a tech in the area (I live in the Port Orange/Daytona Beach area), I believe Mike Sr. stated you do, I would appreciate getting in touch!
Doug
That is the end of the technical side of my post, the rest is a rant.......................
I'm frustrated beyond words at this point. I can not, I WILL not go back to the same tech to give him opportunity to rectify the situation. He does not deserve that kind of consideration. He has my money, he can fargin' choke on it, but certainly not my endorsement nor respect.
He came highly recommended in the area and is actually contracted to the State of Florida to turn wrenches on the FWC marine equipment. As stated, I live in the Port Orange/Daytona Beach/New Smyrna Beach area. When a 'deposit' was laid out for the costly rebuild, the tech was extremely attentive, calling me with updates and progress. When problems came up on the 'backside' of the deal, after he was paid in full, remanding 'cash' for personal reasons, I was shoved to the back burner. I brought my boat back after the first fifteen hours on Labor Day. I got it back ten days before Christmas. In all that time I was waylayed, lied to, and largely ignored. I heard every excuse in the book. Most of it laughable; "The dog ate my homework" level. In all those months my boat sat in his shop yard getting trashed by the elements. Installing a VRO pump is a day's work. I got no offer of allowance from the $165 I laid out for the 'used' pump toward the $400 new one and the tech wanted to charge me 'labor' to install the new pump. I already paid labor to remove/replace "a" pump with the rebuild!!!! When I took possession of the boat after the rebuild the trim guage was inop. I stated so when I returned the boat and figured a wire from the sender was left disengaged. He handed me a bill for a 'sender kit' and wanted labor for insatlling that. I OKed NO such repair, to the contrary I said if it were more than a simple 'wire' to leave it alone as I would prefer a cyl head temp or water pressure guage in that spot of the instrument cluster. He was obviously 'making work' to line his pockets. More money to him and I'm back at square 2 looking for a tech to fix my dang boat!
I'm not so sure how ethical and fair it is outing him by name publicly here. My story is just that, my story, my side, things happen in people's lives that are beyond their control. But all I know is I'm flippin' down $3000 and I can't go boatin'. If anyone lives in my area and are reading this, send me a personal message before your next engine repair and I'll supply his name and business name. Caveat Emptor. You can take this story with a grain of salt, and make up your own good mind.
'94 Ocean Pro 115 2 stroke oil leak after rebuild..................... 
