First timer outboard installation

If the engines are in good mechanical condition, you can run them in pre-mixed gas/oil. The computer mapping was wrong and the engines built up carbon siezed the rings and destroyed the pistons. You can also change the computers to the newer type after Bombardier took over the company, but is a lot more work and expense.

 

The problem would likely be finding people with the expertise and diagnostic equipment to work on them effectively, in your area, shops these days don't seem much interested in working on old two stroke engines, and it being a "dead" brand only worsens that. Unless you have a clear picture of what the history of it is, in terms particularly of any software updates that might have alleviated the known problems, it is gambling. At the very least do a proper compression check, if the problem was gummed up rings and pistons, it will likely be reflected in differing compression readings. It would not be worth having to pull them down to fix that.

 

That's the first coherent description of what was actually wrong Gonzo. Thanks.

I wouldn't even consider these engines with this reputation, but there's a worldwide shortge of outboards.

 

It's a bit reassuring that they are 23 years old and still running.

Gonzo, what ratio of premix?

 

As bajansailor alluded to, you need the engines hooked up to the diagnostics equipment to know what the history of them is, but I wouldn't even bother if they have cylinders that are significantly down on compression, that more than likely would require a re-build. Compression check the first thing to do I think.

 

You would run 50:1 mixture. It is not ideal but works.

 

Understood, Gonzo. In a worldwide shortage of engines, the used market does not exist. I'll be making some compromises.

 

Well, we definitely have the reverse waterfall effect.