Johnson/Evinrude Question

[JOHNNYBOY]

Looking at a few boats with Johnson/Evinrude's on them, and I like to know if anyone can recommend any good one's from 1996 to 2000 with or without Ficht, - 130 hp to 250 hp, I know they had a lot of problems and Im trying to avoid them. Thanks Johnny Boy

[Markus]

Well, OMCs product from that era are a mine field, but it is a gradual scale where 1996-1998 3 liter carburated engines had all kinds of problems with rings catching exhaust ports, top bearing carriers coming off, etc, the 1997-1998 150-175 HP Fichts were real disasters and all the 2000 models were just low quality products, except for the big-block Fichts that exploded and would fall into the disaster category.

To sum if up:

* If you get a FICHT, get a 2000 model (regardless of HP), but make sure it has been upgraded so that it does not blow up (applies to big blocks)
* If you get a 3 liter carburated engine, get a model after 1999

When Bombardier took over, they discarded an amazing amount of OMC inventory (cranks etc.) because the quality was just too poor.

[optimax135]

I would recommend staying away from the product period! Bombardier is a Canadian company that bought OMC and the company is rumored to be sold again. They may be an Etzel and parts ? Who knows? You couldn't give me a Johnson or Evinrude right now! I don't me to disappoint you but I'm a Evinrude and Johnson dealer and I've lost alot of customers because Bombardier doesn't know how to take care of them! They aren't FICHT yet! Hopefully maybe soon if Genmar buys them. Good -Luck!

[Forkin' Crazy]

And the Optimax is any better? LOL! I heard that John Deere is one of the co. that is looking to buy BMC. Yea, green and yellow BMC's!;)

[optimax135]

As a matter of fact......Yes the orbital system is proven its self in all fields. Bass Master's classic and World cup racing and recreational as well. I sold over 75 units last year of the optimax product and only one failed from a pinched oil line that was assembled wrong from factory. I sold 25 Ficht motors in 1999 and had 15 failures. Blown powerheads from bad tolerances. You decide. Laters......Dale

[RRRevinrude]

you should do more research......lots of optimax failures as well....bombardier has fixed the problems and if you are a johnson dealer you should know why they are selling the recreational division.....it is the most profitable part of the company and therefore the most desirable......stop posting B.S.

[ken medendorp]

Yea thank's to the snowmobile&wave runners

[optimax135]

Yeah sure....That's why I just recieved another ficht recall last week on this so called they fixed the problem campaign you refer to. I sell mostly 135hp & 150hp.....and honestly I have no problems with them unlike the Bombardier product. I've been servicing both products for 17 yrs and have a masters in both lines. How about you. Put down your pride take off the decals and research the orbital verses the ficht technology, don't get me wrong , I think the ficht has the ability to surpass orbital systems but it just hasn't happened yet. You may be surprised. Besides the X-motor is coming soon, which I ran and after it comes out this conversation will mean nothing. Wait for the X!!!:D

[delawarerick]

Both motors have had and will have problems period. If you remember alot of the opitmaxes where pulled and reassembled. As for the 99 fichts the computers where subbed out from motorola and they where s$$t. As Markus said when bombardier took over large masses of parts where thrown away. In my opion the direct injected engines are too lean and run too hot. In a performance or just plain hard running sinerio they work. Rick