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Author Topic:   Letter from Mercury; motor needs replacing

Whaletosh posted 07-17-2001 06:31 AM ET (US)
I got home to find a letter in my mailbox form Mercury telling that due to a sub-standard component is the vale train my motor is going to be replace. The whole motor, at no cost to me. I am not clear if this is for my current 60 HP 4-stroke or the 25 HP 4-stroke that I had on my 2000 13 Sport. If itis for the 25 HP I would have expected the letter to goto my old address though. I will find out today when I call the dearler.
At first I was glad that they were being proactive in fixing a problem. But then I started thinking about the down time, the need to break in a new motor, the fact that i had just put in new oil and a filter, etc. Now I am a little miffed.
Sean

Whaletosh posted 07-17-2001 10:29 AM ET (US)
It is my 60 HP. Mixed bag for me.
good:
I was going to get some transom wedges, so this will give me an chance to have the dealer due the work.
Mercury is giving me a new 3 year warranty beginning the day the new motor is hung.
I was going to put on an hour meter, this will allow me to sync the reading correctly.
bad:
I will need to break in a new motor again. If this corresponds to fall fishing on Lake Michigan, I will be screwed for trolling until I get it broken in.
I just put on a new oil filter and oil in. There goes $20 bucks.
At least Mercury is being pro-active. I am still hoping by some miracle I will get a 2002 EFI 60 HP. That would take a real stroke of luck. I am sure that if Mercury were to run out of 60 HP 2001s they would ship some 2002s to make up the difference. I am not going to gamble. I am also thinking that Mercury is going to take some of the returned motors, rework the valve train and issue those as replacements. I don't want a rebuilt motor, I paid for a new one in April. Maybe they'll just sell the returned motors as demos or seconds. That is what I would do, I wouldn't risk customers by giving a rebuilt motor in trade for a new one.
Sean
Loewer posted 07-17-2001 11:40 AM ET (US)
Seems that only certain serial numbers are being recalled. My 60 four-stroke appears not to be included according to the bulleting received by my dealer...
Jeff Loewer
Bigshot posted 07-17-2001 11:41 AM ET (US)
might be later so keep your eye on the mail.
dgp posted 07-17-2001 11:44 AM ET (US)
Sean, this is bizarre. I just left the MercNET dealer/distributor site and there was no mention of a service bulletin announcing an engine swap program for these engines. On another thread you mentioned your letter stated a service bulletin. What's that number?
I searched the s/n of my 2001 50HP four stroke and found no service bulletin for that engine either. Don
Whaletosh posted 07-17-2001 01:50 PM ET (US)
Don,
"The dealer will refer to Mercury Outboard Service Information Bulletin 2001-15"
Above taken directly from the letter. MY DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL. He is out of the shop until Thursday, his staff took the information and he will be contacting me on Thursday to arrange for a swap. He told me to run my engine and not to worry about it. I guess I could beat the snot out of this one if I wanted too. Maybe I should run over to Gull Lake for a WOT endurance test :)
The letter did state that the problem is the rocker arm. And also that it was for a limmited range of serial numbers. Probably one of those cases where they switched designs or suppliers.

For those of you that might be thinking of re-powering there may soon be some rebuilt motors on the market. I can't believe that Mercury wouldn't fix the rocker arms and re-sell the motors. Then again, what else could be wrong?
I still am hoping, fantasizing, dreaming that I get a 2002 EFI as a replacement. wouldn't that be great?
Sean
Whaletosh posted 07-17-2001 02:39 PM ET (US)
My motor recall is popping up all over this site. Let me state a couple of things:
1) My motor is working just fine. Starts on the first try and runs smootth, quiet, and strong; all the while sipping gas.
2) I personally congratulate Mercury on being so pro-active and fourthright. they are completely replacing my whole motor at noc cost and giving me what amounts to an extra season of warranty on my purchase. Frankly, I would rather not have to deal with the hassle of a motor swap, but that is better than having the motor fail a few years down the road.
Juris' is having a much bigger headache with his Opti's
Besides maybe I'll get an EFI; gee ami I fixated on this or what.

P.S. Jack Graner where are you? This and Juris's Optimax debacle would give you real leeway in going after Mercury. Just curious, nothing else intended, but you seemed to have vanished. I would have thought that these two threads would have really elicited several posts from you.
whalernut posted 07-18-2001 08:23 PM ET (US)
Sean, I am still around and enjoying reading all of the new members posts. I think I have mellowed out too much, what do you think? I also have been busy with my 1 year-2 month old boy, very mobile now! Also, I guess I am not suprised anymore buy all of the problems on newer engines. You pay so much for them, and they have problems, doesn`t make sense, the manufacturers should test them fully before letting us purchase them! Tell us how you`re engine handles on Gull Lake, it is very flat there! Regards-Jack Graner.
Whaletosh posted 07-19-2001 10:56 AM ET (US)
I just got back from the dealer. His advice is to run the motor for as much of the rest of the season as possible and put the new motor on later. That way i get "free" use of a motor at Mercury's expense. He hasn't even gotten details form Mercury as to when the replacements are will be available.
Jack,
Depending on loading and prop the boat will do 34-36 statute MPH and cruises nicely at 25-30 statute MPH. Planing with 2 adults is still less than I would like, but after observing other boats over the past few weeks it isn't bad either. I am still toying with the idea of using transom wedges and other tricks.
Sean

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Author	Topic: Letter from Mercury; motor needs replacing
Whaletosh	posted 07-17-2001 06:31 AM ET (US) I got home to find a letter in my mailbox form Mercury telling that due to a sub-standard component is the vale train my motor is going to be replace. The whole motor, at no cost to me. I am not clear if this is for my current 60 HP 4-stroke or the 25 HP 4-stroke that I had on my 2000 13 Sport. If itis for the 25 HP I would have expected the letter to goto my old address though. I will find out today when I call the dearler. At first I was glad that they were being proactive in fixing a problem. But then I started thinking about the down time, the need to break in a new motor, the fact that i had just put in new oil and a filter, etc. Now I am a little miffed. Sean
Whaletosh	posted 07-17-2001 10:29 AM ET (US) It is my 60 HP. Mixed bag for me. good: I was going to get some transom wedges, so this will give me an chance to have the dealer due the work. Mercury is giving me a new 3 year warranty beginning the day the new motor is hung. I was going to put on an hour meter, this will allow me to sync the reading correctly. bad: I will need to break in a new motor again. If this corresponds to fall fishing on Lake Michigan, I will be screwed for trolling until I get it broken in. I just put on a new oil filter and oil in. There goes $20 bucks. At least Mercury is being pro-active. I am still hoping by some miracle I will get a 2002 EFI 60 HP. That would take a real stroke of luck. I am sure that if Mercury were to run out of 60 HP 2001s they would ship some 2002s to make up the difference. I am not going to gamble. I am also thinking that Mercury is going to take some of the returned motors, rework the valve train and issue those as replacements. I don't want a rebuilt motor, I paid for a new one in April. Maybe they'll just sell the returned motors as demos or seconds. That is what I would do, I wouldn't risk customers by giving a rebuilt motor in trade for a new one. Sean
Loewer	posted 07-17-2001 11:40 AM ET (US) Seems that only certain serial numbers are being recalled. My 60 four-stroke appears not to be included according to the bulleting received by my dealer... Jeff Loewer
Bigshot	posted 07-17-2001 11:41 AM ET (US) might be later so keep your eye on the mail.
dgp	posted 07-17-2001 11:44 AM ET (US) Sean, this is bizarre. I just left the MercNET dealer/distributor site and there was no mention of a service bulletin announcing an engine swap program for these engines. On another thread you mentioned your letter stated a service bulletin. What's that number? I searched the s/n of my 2001 50HP four stroke and found no service bulletin for that engine either. Don
Whaletosh	posted 07-17-2001 01:50 PM ET (US) Don, "The dealer will refer to Mercury Outboard Service Information Bulletin 2001-15" Above taken directly from the letter. MY DEALER WAS AWARE OF THE RECALL. He is out of the shop until Thursday, his staff took the information and he will be contacting me on Thursday to arrange for a swap. He told me to run my engine and not to worry about it. I guess I could beat the snot out of this one if I wanted too. Maybe I should run over to Gull Lake for a WOT endurance test :) The letter did state that the problem is the rocker arm. And also that it was for a limmited range of serial numbers. Probably one of those cases where they switched designs or suppliers. For those of you that might be thinking of re-powering there may soon be some rebuilt motors on the market. I can't believe that Mercury wouldn't fix the rocker arms and re-sell the motors. Then again, what else could be wrong? I still am hoping, fantasizing, dreaming that I get a 2002 EFI as a replacement. wouldn't that be great? Sean
Whaletosh	posted 07-17-2001 02:39 PM ET (US) My motor recall is popping up all over this site. Let me state a couple of things: 1) My motor is working just fine. Starts on the first try and runs smootth, quiet, and strong; all the while sipping gas. 2) I personally congratulate Mercury on being so pro-active and fourthright. they are completely replacing my whole motor at noc cost and giving me what amounts to an extra season of warranty on my purchase. Frankly, I would rather not have to deal with the hassle of a motor swap, but that is better than having the motor fail a few years down the road. Juris' is having a much bigger headache with his Opti's Besides maybe I'll get an EFI; gee ami I fixated on this or what. P.S. Jack Graner where are you? This and Juris's Optimax debacle would give you real leeway in going after Mercury. Just curious, nothing else intended, but you seemed to have vanished. I would have thought that these two threads would have really elicited several posts from you.
whalernut	posted 07-18-2001 08:23 PM ET (US) Sean, I am still around and enjoying reading all of the new members posts. I think I have mellowed out too much, what do you think? I also have been busy with my 1 year-2 month old boy, very mobile now! Also, I guess I am not suprised anymore buy all of the problems on newer engines. You pay so much for them, and they have problems, doesn`t make sense, the manufacturers should test them fully before letting us purchase them! Tell us how you`re engine handles on Gull Lake, it is very flat there! Regards-Jack Graner.
Whaletosh	posted 07-19-2001 10:56 AM ET (US) I just got back from the dealer. His advice is to run the motor for as much of the rest of the season as possible and put the new motor on later. That way i get "free" use of a motor at Mercury's expense. He hasn't even gotten details form Mercury as to when the replacements are will be available. Jack, Depending on loading and prop the boat will do 34-36 statute MPH and cruises nicely at 25-30 statute MPH. Planing with 2 adults is still less than I would like, but after observing other boats over the past few weeks it isn't bad either. I am still toying with the idea of using transom wedges and other tricks. Sean