Lower unit failure - bad replacement?
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Lower unit failure - bad replacement?
I recently had a lower unit replaced on a 2012 Honda 150 HP and I know something is still gravely wrong despite dealer and mechanic stating otherwise. Anyone have any thoughts?
I have a 2012 Honda 150 HP with 400 hours on it, well maintained, that was running PERFECTLY until my mechanic failed to either replace the upper bolt on the lower unit following an oil change.
Incidentally, this same week my neighbors Honda 150 purged all its oil into the lake after the oil filter came loose following a similar oil change on her engine.
When I told him I was hearing funny noises, he told me he could not figure out why and that I should (no joke) "run it to failure and then we will figure it out what to do then".
After telling him I was taking it to the dealer only then did he come back and discover his mistake, realizing the unit had already catastrophically failed.
After quoting me an actual price for its replacement, as if it had nothing to do with his mistake, he finally agreed to "take care of it".
When I finally got the boat back, within seconds I could hear something was wrong - a low grade grind or groan coming from the motor that faded under power.
When I told him I could hear something was off, his reply was that "he could not hear anything". He took the boat back to double check his work, could not find anything and then sent it on to the Honda dealer.
The Honda dealer took a look at it, ran it and claimed it was "one of the best running engines they have heard" and returned it to me.
As soon as I tuned the key I knew something was still wrong and had many comparable Honda engines to compare it to in the marina.
I took the boat back to the dealer myself so they could again look at it and pull the lower unit off and take a closer look - they continue to claim everything is fine and there are no metal shavings in the oil.
I now have the boat back, it remains 2x-3x louder at idle than it has ever been, the engine groans at in neutral and sounds like its in gear at low RPS when at idle. It periodically shutters going into and out of gear. At speed its quieter but getting louder with every mile.
Clearly I will never use either of these parties to service my boats again but is there anyone who might know what could have happened to continue to create such a noise after a lower unit replacement?
Greg Miller
I have a 2012 Honda 150 HP with 400 hours on it, well maintained, that was running PERFECTLY until my mechanic failed to either replace the upper bolt on the lower unit following an oil change.
Incidentally, this same week my neighbors Honda 150 purged all its oil into the lake after the oil filter came loose following a similar oil change on her engine.
When I told him I was hearing funny noises, he told me he could not figure out why and that I should (no joke) "run it to failure and then we will figure it out what to do then".
After telling him I was taking it to the dealer only then did he come back and discover his mistake, realizing the unit had already catastrophically failed.
After quoting me an actual price for its replacement, as if it had nothing to do with his mistake, he finally agreed to "take care of it".
When I finally got the boat back, within seconds I could hear something was wrong - a low grade grind or groan coming from the motor that faded under power.
When I told him I could hear something was off, his reply was that "he could not hear anything". He took the boat back to double check his work, could not find anything and then sent it on to the Honda dealer.
The Honda dealer took a look at it, ran it and claimed it was "one of the best running engines they have heard" and returned it to me.
As soon as I tuned the key I knew something was still wrong and had many comparable Honda engines to compare it to in the marina.
I took the boat back to the dealer myself so they could again look at it and pull the lower unit off and take a closer look - they continue to claim everything is fine and there are no metal shavings in the oil.
I now have the boat back, it remains 2x-3x louder at idle than it has ever been, the engine groans at in neutral and sounds like its in gear at low RPS when at idle. It periodically shutters going into and out of gear. At speed its quieter but getting louder with every mile.
Clearly I will never use either of these parties to service my boats again but is there anyone who might know what could have happened to continue to create such a noise after a lower unit replacement?
Greg Miller
Senior Member
Joined: Sep 2018
Posts: 1,466
Terribly sorry to here you are having issues. Yeah, it sounded like the first guy didn't know what he was doing and messed something up.
Can not prove anything .. with the dealer backing the mechanic or garage shop.
For them, you do not mean much.
For you, it is the whole thing making you feel terrible.
It is like having a bad day every day you use the boat.
Unfortunately, not a boat guy and have no idea what could be wrong. Sorry.
Wish you luck.
Can not prove anything .. with the dealer backing the mechanic or garage shop.
For them, you do not mean much.
For you, it is the whole thing making you feel terrible.
It is like having a bad day every day you use the boat.
Unfortunately, not a boat guy and have no idea what could be wrong. Sorry.
Wish you luck.
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