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Random Quote: I prayed the Serenity Prayer but never received the requested wisdom.
I have had numerous problems since purchase in April and I am bringing some questions here since I had my head up my @#$(&$ for the last 8 months. My first problem arose at about 40-50 hours, I had an exhaust valve replaced at the boat dealer from where it was purchased. This seemed to me at the time a major labor overhaul for a less than 2 month old motor. It included having the head sent to a machine shop and all related parts being purchased and replaced by the dealer and machine shop. The motor was down for about 6 weeks from the end of May until mid June. While the motor was being tested to find the problem, numerous fuel pumps,fuel injectors and other parts were replaced to attempt to find the problem in the first place. Everything with the motor seemed to be okay but my topend speed went from 50-52 mph to 44-46 mph.( The motor is on 23ft. Seapro Bay Boat) About a month later I had the boat in for its 100 hour service and told them of the problem about my topend for about the 5th time since they last worked on the motor and couldn't give me any answers. About a 2-3 weeks since I had the 100 hour service a different exhaust valve went down on a different cylinder and the same process took place just like the first time but by motor was only down 3 weeks. After getting it from the dealer, they informed me that the oil level was 2 quarts low and I needed to check the oil more often. Each time the motor was down I was charged for a new oil filter and plugs and 1 hr. labor which came to about $120 each valve incident. All other parts and labor were covered by warranty.
Sorry for the length of the post but there is more to the story.......
About 2 weeks before leaving for Biloxi to fish the SKA nationals I got my boat ready and went to run the fuel out for the trip (50 gallons) down to Biloxi. The motor still had only 44-46 mph topend and trimmed out and it had some power problems when you tried to open the motor up from about 3500 rpms to 4500 rpms. It would stutter and pause and but if I eased the throttle up to 4500 rpms it seemed to run okay. I took it back to the dealer and they river tested and charged me $125 to tell me there was nothing wrong with it. I made the trip down to Biloxi without much confidence in the motor.
We prefished the first 3 days down there and the motor acted how it did in Charleston the week before. When the Yamaha Support Team arrived I was first in line to talk to them about my problems. They couldn't believe the story of the motor and they couldn't tell my why my motor was 22 quarts low on oil unless it got 2 less quarts at the dealer. They told me that my motor should not burn any oil at high rmps as my dealer had suggested. They ended up working on my boat all day before the first day and replaced both fuel pumps,relays,shifter cable and other small components to have the boat ready to fish. If it wasn't for yamaha support I wouldn't have been able to participate in the tournament.
If you have read this much, please give me your opinions on my questions and add anything that may help. Thanks, Robert.
1. Should I have gotton a new powerhead the first time my motor went down since it was only 2 months old?
2. Was it the correct decision for my dealer to attempt to fix the problem without reccomend a new powerhead.
3. Should I have gotton a new powerhead the second time around?
4. I feel that the motor is about to have the same problem again. Is there anything I can do?
5. Can anyone give me Yamaha Support number, the guys that travel with the tornaments?
Yamaha F225 with problems???? Basphemy I say!!!! Seriously, I would demand that they replace the powerhead, especially on a motor with such low hours. If you feel like it is about to blow run the hell out of it.....let it grenade. Then make the demand for the new one. The truth is that good companies sometimes send out a single unit that for some unknown reason is plagued with problems. You may have that unit. Although I am a Merc guy I do know that Yamaha takes great pride in their product and will be more than accomodating. I would go to another dealer and have them run your warranty history. See if your dealer was paid by the factory for a new powerhead and had yours rebuilt so that he could pocket the parts credit......Hate to sound so cynical but these things happen. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_eek.gif[/img]
Well, since I posted this morning, I took my 2002 f225 for a ride and my topend was only 39 mph and 42 mph trimmed out. It is acting just like it has in the past-losing power,runs rough at low rpms 1500 to 2500 and is not even quit at idle. I am afraid to let the same dealer work on the motor again!!!
When running in the 50's what was the rpms, and now what is the rpms at wot. If you lost rpms then you have a problem. You may want to contact Yamaha tech support!
1-800-962-7926 and tell them the story, it obviously is not running right!
My rpms are the same at wot. I just talked to my dealer. He said he is doing only what yamaha has told him to do. He said after talking with yamaha a short while ago,(today) that a new powerhead will cure my problems and yamaha seemed agreeable after my dealer looks at my boat yet again.
Well, this shouldn't be too hard. Assuming Charleston, SC the Sea Pro dealer is Hanckel Marine. If he means Charleston, WV I dunno. He may be taking it to another dealer but probably not.
William
1900CC Key West W/ 115 Yammie 4 stroke
Biggest boat that would fit in my garage!
Am I missing something...How can RPMs be the same with a slower speed? Isn't the crank connected to the drive shaft, etc.? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_rolleyes.gif[/img] We're talking a direct drive from the motor to the propeller. Something different each time on the boat, or trim, or prop, or something? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_confused.gif[/img] [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_wink.gif[/img] KevinM asked the question? Are the RPMs really staying the same at WOT, even thought the speed is down? [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_frown.gif[/img]
The RPMs should drop with the speed; all things being equal. Is the dealer/mechanic aware of this?
[This message was edited by Mumblerone on 12-12-02 at 06:02 PM.]
[This message was edited by Mumblerone on 12-12-02 at 06:08 PM.]
Yes, you should have recieved a new power head the first time, and with out your request. When I had my Yamaha, and had it worked on at Texas Marine in Conroe Texas they replaced my plugs twice, one time while is was there to test a few things. When I whent to pick it up, I was surprised he told me I owed NOTHING. When I asked him about the plugs, he told me there is no charge on plugs in this shop, unless they are the only problem. We whant all our customers to be pleased and to return in the future, and we have found that charging for plugs when they are not the problem really CHAPS there A$$. This is how we are supposed to be treated.( and no I donot work for them ).
i have a hard time believing that miles or milo for that matter would treat someone like that.
i bought a pair of 250 yamahas this year from them and after they mad a 3500 dollar mistake on the total price of engines they stood by there first price. service and prices always first rate and fair. i would have addressed the 120 worth of bullshit with them before i ever left the store. they are great people> i just hope you are getting the service you deserve now!!!!!!!!! warren
Huh,
Yamaha usually get's it right the first time. Maybe they missed it this time. I'm with MakoMyDay, Merc, but not a Merc 225 4-stroke. [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_razz.gif[/img]
after looking at the manual for a while I'd say some new factory dressed heads would do you right. You didn't say if the other bad valve was on the opposite side , but some bad valve guides would weep oil and cook their stem. I wouldn't really want to trust a machine shop rebuild on my new motor. I would demand new parts for a mechanical failure, you have 3 years. Probably no need for a new powerhead if all else checks out(the motor will tell you what is wrong with it)
I have about 100 hours and everything ok except for a little squeal sometimes.
Well you also have to think of the customer and yamaha did they have the heads in stock when needed to send,, if not then it's standard practice to repair and not replace. Read your warranty.
Of course you the customer would have been given the choice to replace the head or the valve if the head was not avail then get the parts and fix it.You could have had to wait several weeks till heads arrived from japan. ???
Hmmmm use my boat now or wait a few weeks maybe a month . [img]/infopop/emoticons/icon_smile.gif[/img]
Since I last posted, several things have occurred. The dealer has taken the apart the motor and overnighted my head so Yamaha can look at them. There were four valves cracked this time upon inspection from my dealer. As for not being charged, that remains to be seen. My dealer is sure a new powerhead is the answer. Now it is just a matter of time to get the problem fixed.
As for the rpms being the same, they were the same but without the speed. 10 mph less than normal. My dealer has contacted me several times to give me informed, so things are definitely looking better than before...
This does not sound right, with the same rpms you will always go the same speed so long as the conditions are similar (i.e. load weight, seas, wind, trim .....). Personally I'd look at a couple of possible problem areas, #1 would be prop damage and #2 soaked foam or trapped water in the hull.
Another opinion, if the same fueling electronics are to be reused on the motor and there has been no over heating problems the problem is going to recur with or w/o a completely new powerhead. The normal ways you crack/burn valves is overheating by cooling problems or overheating the cumbustion chambers by running to lean.
Anyway, my 2 cents.
Rich
2000 17' Sea Chaser
1993 26' Proline WAC
Mercruisers are good for one thing....fixing.
My 2002 F225 
