Problems down below

[TonkaBass]

Does anyone know much about lower-units? Mine is knocking but I can still go wide open without any affect on my speed. I haven't ran it since, and don't plan on it. My guess is a support bearing, but any info would be great. Does anyone know anything about costs???

If worst came to worst it would cost about $3,200 for a used lower unit installed.

[gunflint]

$3200 That's more than I paid for my boat, new motor and trailer.

[Surface Tension]

Bring us up to date on the year, make and hp of your motor. Are you talking about the bearing under the impeller housing?

[FOOT]

Wait till you get my age, then you'll really have trouble with your lower unit. Oh wait, someone just told me you're probably talking about an outboard motor.

Sorry, nevermind.

[STILLNOFISH]

FOOT,

That was funny. LMAO

[TonkaBass]

It's a '99 OMC Evinrude Ficht, 200hp. I haven't taken it apart yet so I'm not sure what bearing it could be. I found shavings in the lower unit lube, but I don't think I ran it long enough to do significant damage to the gears.

[ChuckN]

I had shavings in the lube once on an OMC. Turned out 2 gears were damaged.

Completely re-built lower unit with gears, prop shaft, seals and labor was $1700. Prop shaft alone was $500 or so, and the most expensive part. If your prop shaft is ok I don't see a big repair bill.

You don't want to tackle that job unless you are a trained mechanic, it's not an easy fix.

[Random guy]

I currently have my FICHT in for the same thing, complete replacement of entire unit and water pump rebuild while I was in there $3,100. Mine lower unit made two good growls and whamo all over in 30 seconds.

[Stratosman]

Hey,

I have a 1999 Ficht 225, my lower unit went out last month in the middle of Mille Lacs (not fun). Anyway, it was a bearing failure that happened while running the motor, I heard a slight noise at first which rapidly progressed into a louder one then locked up the lower unit completely. A re-built lower unit with a 15 month warranty cost me $2,300.00. ouch!! It was a bearing on the upper portion of the driveshaft , the pieces of that dropped down and destroyed the whole thing.

Tear it apart of have someone that knows do it for you, fix it right or it will get real expensive real fast if it hasn't already!

[ChuckN]

When I had my lower unit re-built the mechanic wanted to keep the boat/motor one more night after the re-build. He said the lower unit lube settles after each lube change, and you must double check the level after 24 hours.

He said if he had a dollar for every person that did not do this, and burned their upper driveshaft bearing...he would be a very rich man. He said the OMC's were notorious for this...the lube must be completely FULL, almost overflowing out of the top hole, to lube that upper main bearing.

So now, after every change in the fall I double check, then check again in the spring....and throughout the summer.

Sounds like a terrible ordeal you guys have...

[Stratosman]

Good call, I think I might go check mine now.

[TonkaBass]

Wonder how much just the bearing would be???

[Stratosman]

Not sure but I guarantee it's cheaper than a lower unit!! Don't know if you plan on doing it yourself or bringing it in, but hopefully you caught it in time. I had no time with mine, all in a matter of 10-15 seconds.

[Random guy]

I asked my father who was riding shotgun "does that motor sound funny?" Before I got the words out it was all over.