Lower unit repair/what would you do?

I recently had my lower unit rebuilt at a local reputable shop in Louisville. This was late January. I paid $766.88 for used parts and rebuild on a 2000 115 hp Johnson. I then tested Mid-February, where I learned there was still something wrong. I took it back where the operator of the business promptly checked it over and told me it was fine. Charged me for replacing the lower unit oil. I take it back out in March where I determine it still has the same problem.

I then don't use my boat for the rest of the Spring/Summer and gave it to a friend who works on them....on the side. He put the muffs on the engine and had the same issue I did...finally...I'm not crazy. He tells me he'll look into it and I don't here from him until recently in September where I got it back from him....he didn't do anything with it. I then take it, in late September, back to the original shop. I tell them it's still has this problem.

They then determine that it's a lower unit issue. I speak again with the operator about how much it's going to be and what's covered? He tells me that the used parts are as is and the labor he'll consider.

Now, I had the original receipt and made a copy, which I'm looking for, but they don't have any record of the transaction. Worse case scenario, I have a credit card statement with the amount paid and to whom it was paid. I've put less than two hours on the engine since the original repair, but that is tough for me to prove. I would like to have the lower unit repaired without worrying about mechanical failure for a couple seasons 50-100 hours would be nice. Is this unreasonable? What should I expect? I would appreciate some ideas or solutions that would be amicable on both sides.
Thanks for your input,
Mark

I would question them as being "reputable." It seems any reputable business would keep records of all transactions, at least for one year. I think it is good, as a boat owner, to get to know a couple of tech.s in your area, or at least near you. I know there are some around here that do outstanding work, and others that do outstanding work as long as it is a warantee job. I do know that most respectable ones here will give a 30-day warantee or more on almost all engine work, I guess it is up to the consumer to check to make sure everything is good during that time. Sometimes you need to insist on computer read-outs of engine performance - that way you have a record of the repair effectiveness, as well as the shop having a record, proving that they did the repair.

I guess it all boils down to finding someone you trust, which today is often difficult to do.

Mark,

I feel your pain & aggravation. Your shop is definately suspect. I'd file a claim with the BBB if I was you. Also you never mention what is wrong with the lower unit. Noise, won't shift, leaking. Just wish I could help.

yep, i think id find another shop...ill usually give someone 2 tries, if thats not enough, im on to someone else...although i usually try to figure out the problem and solve it myself...

what is the issue with the lower unit?

[QUOTE=F16ENGMGR;341704]Mark,

I feel your pain & aggravation. Your shop is definately suspect. I'd file a claim with the BBB if I was you. Also you never mention what is wrong with the lower unit. Noise, won't shift, leaking. Just wish I could help.[/QUOTE]

The motor is slipping down into lower gears mainly when it's running at high speeds...then suddenly down shifts.....pretty scary.

I don't understand your problem with your lower unit. Outboard motors do not shift. They
have one gear. They go into forward, neutral, and reverse. If you saying that the motor is shifting or droping into a lower gear. It may be your hub may be slipping in your propeller.
Need more information as to what the problem truely is. Thanks

There are a couple of thins that could be giving you this problem

Here is the evinrude/johnson web \for the gear case
[url]http://shop2.evinrude.com/ext/index.aspx?s1=b07d313be4f491aaccad82d833855271[/url]

1) The hub is slipping on the prop. Try another propellor before you do anything else

2) The drive shaft pin (20) may have sheared Drive shaft pin (20) and the driveshaft Retainer(21) This would lead to intermitent spin welding of the drive shaft halves together . The weld would break under high loads such as high speed. You would notice this as slipping and then the motor just spinning as the weld broke.

3). The shift mechanism might have something to do with it but doubtful. The way this works Is the pin (39) goes thru the Clutch Dog (38) and into the shaft or shift pin (15). The cradle (13) fits into the shaft (15 and is moved by the lever (14) which is attached to the shift rod. The lever converts the up and down motion of the shift lever into back and forth motion of the clutch Dog to go into forward anf reverse. If there was a problem with this you probably would have no reverse or it would have problems all the time not just as you've described.

Assuming it is (#2) If the lower drive shaft is not damaged then you fix this without completly dissassembling the entire drive system. Just remove the 6 bolts holding the lower unit to the tower disconnect the shift rod (right under the carburator) and you can get to the problem. Just like changing a water pump.

If the lower drive shaft is damaged then you'll have to disassemble the whole gear train. Roughest part here is getting the snap rings out than are way down in the hole. There is a good snap ring tool for this job.

If you've got some tools this can be done in saturday.

from what he is describing, it sounds like either the hub is slipping or it could possibly be cavitating.....do you have a jack plate?

Hub and prop are solid as we have addressed that option first.

I'll questioned him again about the gears.....

Thank you for all the ideas and explainations......VERY HELPFULL!!

The problem is that it will run for about 5 minutes fine....Idle out....once I get it up to about 4000 rpm it will usually feel like I have hit something. This is not always the case, as it's very intermitant and wierd.

Just spoke with the marine repair/service shop and they found the receipt. We had a great conversation and I feel much better about the whole situation.

Okay so keep us informed on what they/you do. Inquiring minds want to know.