worst fears confirmed......

[cowgillj1]

Well....I have been regreting my purchase ever since I started hearing about these damn ficht outboards.....bought a 99 295PE back in october w/a 200hp, have only had it out once and it blew....two cylinders with no compression. Looking at thousands to fix and I havent even caught one fish off this damn thing. I have no other choice but to repair it...who wants a blown ficht? Heard all the stories but honestly if I pay to fix this thing and it happens again Im gonna sink it in the river and walk away. I plan on being meticulous with this setup and I have located a mechanic about 2 hours away that is truly a ficht expert....every other shop has dropped his name for evinrude repairs. Anyone out there think I should cut my losses now? the mechanic assures me that the repairs will hold and if I follow the "ficht regimen", right oil, rpms etc that I will enjoy this thing for years. Have heard horror stories about these things getting repaired and not even running 30 hours before blowing again......signed F'ed by a ficht

[faztbullet]

Go ahead and fix it, but make sure all updates are done.

[jeffnick]

I had a similar decision to make a couple years back. After about 800 hours, my 2000 115 Ficht dropped a cylinder.

I came real close to rebuilding, but then decided I didn't ever want to look back and wonder if I did the right thing. I bought a new 115 E-Tec and will never have to ask myself that question.

[cowgillj1]

mechanic I talked to reassures me that this engine can come back from the dead and run great for years but Im wondering if he just wants the money and the work

[MigAz]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cowgillj1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Well.... Anyone out there think I should cut my losses now? the mechanic assures me that the repairs will hold and if I follow the "ficht regimen", right oil, rpms etc that I will enjoy this thing for years. Have heard horror stories about these things getting repaired and not even running 30 hours before blowing again......signed F'ed by a ficht
</TD></TR></TABLE>

Speaking from experience, I was optimistic I could take my Ficht 225 and make it work. I cut no corners. I sent suspect injectors and oil injector and EMM to DFI Technologies for inspection and updates. Well after about $5K, it blew twice after that. I sold it for parts, got an ETEC and have never been happier. I have my fingers crossed that I, or anyone else, never go through this again.

[rickdb1]

Im wondering if he just wants the money and the work

If you don't trust the mechanic, you will never trust the engine. I would see what else you can come up with...

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

What's the quote to repair it? I would post it here then ask what the great guys here what they would recomend.

Frankly if you have ANY doubts I would go to a new 2008 E-Tec even if its smaller. At least you have piece of mind & a LONG warranty as well.

================================================== ======

[Garfish]

If that mech. has that good a reputation I'd get a close estimate from him on repair. If you REALLY, REALLY like the BOAT, I'd repower it if the transom is in good shape and I'd put all new cables, oil tank and at least one I-Command gauge. and run it for the next 10 years.................JMO

[Danrude]

I had to make that decision 2 years ago, went with the rebuild and 100 hours later and all is well!

[OrygunBasser]

I wouldn't even concider it, why jump back into the fire! Run Run Run and find a good used carbed motor. There has to be tons of used older outboards out there.

So you put a bunch of money into it and it blows again, even if they warrentee it you will be without a boat and you are that money behind.. You just can't trust those engines.

[imcap10ed]

I would suggest you get a rpm/hours read out before deciding. There should also be a max temperature history in the computer to tell if the the engine has ever been over heated. I'd say 800 hours @ high Rpm and the motor is probably wore out. I have a 2000 225 Ficht with 1100 hours, used in salt water, 500 hours trolling (1000 rpm) and 600 hours @ 4000 rpm. To date I have only replaced the EMM, crankshaft positioning sensor and thermostats. Motor still runs excellent, I take it 15 to 50 miles off shore routinely.

[ghind]

A few comments:

You've checked out the background of this mechanic and found he is a wizard
Everybody has suggested his work on Fichts is great
He tells you he will make your motor right and it will last

The early Ficht engines were very unreliable. They have given all Fichts a bad name.

The later ones are considered quite reliable by people in the know, but the value of them is low because of the association of the Ficht name.

The motor will be worth very little to sell after the work BUT it is a very economical, nice, powerful, pleasant motor to own as long as it works. If you plan on keeping the boat, go right ahead.

You say your mechanic can fix it for $5k. I'd do it and go and enjoy my boat.

Greg

[cowgillj1]

thanks for all the comments and advice....I have to admit I am still on the fence about repairing....I am going to talk with him on Monday again before I make a decision. I am definitely going to see if he can check the temp history, never even knew that was possible. I kind of figured this thing would be worthless even repaired since no one wants the hassle....I will update everyone next week...thanks.

[Lockjaw]

You can get a carb engine for what it will cost to repait that engine, and the carb ones are much more reliable.

Don't fix it, when it breaks you will absolutely kick youself.

[Won Hunglo]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by cowgillj1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks for all the comments and advice....I have to admit I am still on the fence about repairing....I am going to talk with him on Monday again before I make a decision. I am definitely going to see if he can check the temp history, never even knew that was possible. I kind of figured this thing would be worthless even repaired since no one wants the hassle....I will update everyone next week...thanks.</TD></TR></TABLE>

This was a no brainer for me. Take the new engine with 7 years warranty & sell the blown engine to make up some of the difference. (This only works financially if you plan on keeping the boat a long time.)

Life is good with my 2007 Etec 200 HO.

[wise 1]

I honestly don't understand all the FICHT bashing. I seems if they were updated with the pinned heads most of the problems were eliminated. When I got my motor 1998 J175FTLECS .serial #G 0450412B in 2000 my mech told me to run it hard and don't do alot of trolling. It has worked for me, My motor is 10 years old and the only glitch has been a false code 37 in the ECU.

With that said I cant count how many NEWER MOTORS that I personally know of that have blown. Even the E-TEC 's have issues but I would buy one in a heart beat.


So whats next ? Everyone going to bash the E-TEC's because a few have had issues?

WISE 1

[LIQUID NIRVANA]

I can never understand the unbelievable paranoia. The so called "Ficht" problem was with a small number of 150hp & 175hp 25" shaft models. It DID NOT extend to any other "Ficht" models. The 200hp was OK. Some of the 150hp & 175hp had a soot buildup problem which was generally limited to those drivers that ran their motors half on plane for extended periods. This is not a good thing to do to ANY outboard. This caused the motor to work VERY HARD & cause incomplete combustion & scavenging of the exhaust. This soot was very abrasive & subsequently destroyed the the pistons & bores. Again I repeat that this problem did NOT EXTEND to the Ficht 200hp or 225 models.

================================================== ===

[Neveredge]

LN is right, the 90 degree loopers didn't have the same problems as the 60 degree motors did.

That said, you still have a blown motor.

Options, 1.) rebuild it as a ficht and expect the resale to be lower if you ever sell it.
2.) buy a new Etec and sell off the parts of the other motor. This will cost you 13k. But you have a ne motor.
3.) have it converted to an efi and add some performance heads and have it ported. This will probably cost you 7 or 8 K total. But you will have a very strong motor that will smoke any ficht out there.
4.) buy a used motor, you might find one cheap but your rolling the dice.

Good luck with whatever you choose to do!

[JJohnSind]

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by wise 1 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

I honestly don't understand all the FICHT bashing. I seems if they were updated with the pinned heads most of the problems were eliminated.
WISE 1</TD></TR></TABLE>

My '97 was updated with the pinned head... it blew up 10 hours later. Motor thrown away. The new one might be better, but I wouldn't touch the older model and definitely wouldn't throw good money after bad.

[MigAz]

The other option not mentioned would be to get a fully dressed BRP unit, if your inclined to stay with this. The BRP units are much better than working w/ the pre-'02 product.