The Great Gremlin Hunt 2020-2022

[Bud Kennedy]

For those of us who are still running old 2 stroke motors, we are finding that getting good motor service is less and less likely.  My Johnson 150 Fast Strike was built in 1990 and has provided very good service over the years until a few years ago.  After a ham handed routine service at a well known service shop near Santee the problems began.  All I wanted was a spring tune up and a lower unit oil change and an impeller replacement.  During the service they advised that the drive shaft had a problem and I should also replace as well.  After the service was completed I headed to the ramp to launch the boat only to have the motor last less than 10 minutes before it blew up.  OK so now I am pissed.  FYI it turned out they used the wrong drive shaft and it just tore up the innards of the motor.  I did get some money back but I also fired the serviced and did not want them to do anything else.  I picked up the boat and motor and took it home.  I started to look for a new motor but it was really out of my budget so I continued to seek a service solution.  Anglers Choice Marine offered me a power head replacement that I accepted.  They came and picked up the boat and completed the power head swap.  The motor ran just fine for the next few years.  During this time the motor started to exhibit some issues and from time to time would not deliver enough rpms to even get on plane.  This is when the gremlin search begain. 

I started using a different servicer here at the beach and for the next 2 years we tried to get the motor to perform as it should.  As you may imagine this was frustrating as well as expensive until I just had enough and fired the servicer in favor of just doing my own work.  After all I had nothing to lose and it seems that I knew more about the motor than the prior service organizations.

One year ago I began the process to systematically go through the motor step by step.  I wound up swapping a lot of parts among which were things like power packs, carb rebuilds, thermostats, filters, plugs, and then finally spark plug wires.  So now I have replaced most of the parts with new products that were not always OEM parts.  It turns out the newer stuff is much better anyway so I was a good decision.  Once the motor was complete and tested on the river, everything worked just great.  Good power, Good Speed and easy starting.  To improve performance I did a prop change also and then the final thing was to replace the steering cables with a new NFB helm and cable set from Sea Star. 

I am pleased to report that we spend an entire trouble free summer with the old Ranger and her old Johnson Fast strike.  The motor is still running like a new one and the Ranger is also doing what it w as designed to do.  So, the moral of this story is that if you own an old motor you may want to consider just doing your own work.  First of all it is more cost effective and you can make darn sure the job is done right.  This does not keep you away from all the possible problems but it sure boosts you ego enough to make you realize that for most things DIY is the way to go.  I might be an old man but I can still turn a wrench and being from a time and place where DIY was your only choice, we do know a little bit about these old motors.  In closing, DIY is far better than the constant need to break out another thousand each time you need service.  The gremlins may return but now I know how to grab the rascal by its throat.

[BassmanRudy]

Bud, like you said It is extremely tough to find/get good service now. From wrong spark plugs installed to weeks of the boat sitting exposed in a lot with NO contact regarding parts ordered to flat out lies about timelines Yet I've still not experienced all that you have...

I don't know if it's the training received or the pressure of so many boats due at one time or what but something needs to be done.

With all the videos online nowadays it has gotten a lot easier to perform DIY maintenance.

[caddyjoe77]

Bud, super glad to hear that you might finally have the gremlin beat!!  I know its been a tough process. 

i have a power steering gremlin now and i hope that gets fixed.  Shop here has been upfront and honest and it appears that there is a long line of power steering problems in verado's.  Looks like the part number is on the 6th generation...thankfully this was still under platinum service. 

[Oldfart9999]

Bud, you've shown a lot of patience with that motor, you now have a motor that flat out does what it's supposed to do. Like you, I prefer 2 strokes, the smell of the first firing up in the morning and the simplicity of the system. But 4 strikes are the only option on new boats and they keep getting better and better.
Rodney