Pontoon Boat & Deck Boat Forum

I had guide trips Friday, Saturday and Sunday and started noticing a ticking about 1500 RPM Saturday, by Sunday mid-day I wouldn't push the motor past 2000K at all, the ticking has turned into a click, not a clunk YET, but Im freaking out. I dont know when I can get it looked at, let alone fixed and have two guide trips coming up this weekend. UGH.

Bummer Spur! I just went through it too. cost me 1700 to rebuild the 2 stroke 115.... Worth every penny after this past weekend though.

Can you tell if the ticking is coming from the head or in the block?

Did it sound as if it was up in the engine?

Could the sound be coming from the lower unit? Remember that the driveshaft going into the foot runs anytime the motor is running and can also produce sounds.

The Honda mechanic was just in it doing my lower a few weeks ago, most assuredly its in the block or head. Piston slap to a blown cylinder is my guess. With it getting worse, I assume the worst case scenario.

Well, he pulled the plugs tonights and said, its fried.
Says it "leaned" out? Not sure what that really means, but something about the fuel supply. I got it pulled off tonight and my old motor checked out and fired up. Going to mount it tomorrow night. Im trying to make the best of a really crappy situation, Im hoping the lighter, faster motor will really scoot the old toon around.

"Leaned Out" can refer to two different things. In a two stroke engine where fuel and oil are mixed, a "lean" mixture (not enough oil to gas ratio) can and will cause significant engine damage ie scored cylinder walls. The other "lean" refers to fuel and AIR mixture at the carb or injectors. In a four stroke engine too "lean" can only be fuel/air related. However this will NOT cause your engine damage (four stroke only), it would only cause it not to start or simply run poorly. A too lean fuel/air mixture in a four stroke motor will not cause cylinder scarring or a loss of compression.

Did your mechanic check the compression with a gauge? Did you see the results first hand?

Did you burn a hole in the top of a piston or something? A lean running 4 stroke will run hot.

I think I would want a better answer about what was making the noise.
He may be right that the motor is toast, or at least in need of a major rebuild but inquiring minds would want to know.

Since I was in a bind to have a running motor, I just pulled it it its in the garage until he can do a full teardown on it. He just lives two houses down so I'm keeping hold of it for now, might even do the work in my garage. Ill keep the thread updated as we know more. I know when he pulled the plugs, two of them had a crazy looking white residue on them, thats when he said it was probably shot.

Got the ol 175 mounted up last night and did a short test drive. WOW, what a difference in power and speed. I didnt get close to full throttle and its amazing the difference in speed. I bet I hit 25 at half-throttle. I didn thave the GPS hooked up yet, but will give a full report as I can.

My guess would be fuel quality related detonation.
Were you in the proper rpm range? You mention guiding so I'm assuming you had a full load. ??
Aluminum specs on the plug are a pretty definative sign you've melted a piston.

Hondas are as durable as they come in my book. Sorry to hear its hurt but very interested in your findings.

The newer versions have knock sensors which are life savers.

Hard to tear up anything with Honda written on it. Good luck.

Have not done anything further with the Honda, more to come on that.

I was out Friday, Saturday and Sunday and was really pleased with performance. With four on board I hit 26.5 mph but still not full throttle as it bogged down as I eased it forward. Didn't want to push it right now. The overall performance is striking though, it seems to 'plane out" at very low speeds which is confusing to me. The big V6 is as heavy as that Honda was, and I have not done a hard push on the throttle at all. just nice easy pressure. I can tell you gas mileage is terrible. Its using three times the fuel even running half throttle.

A moving shot from a happy boat owner.

Those old OMC's were notorious for gulping gas but they ran strong.
My buddy had a "two thirsty five" that ran great but the fuel was killing him. He bought a Yamaha 250 2s and cut his fuel consumption by a third, going faster.