When to overhaul?

[Jet I Master]

Boat Doc,
I have a Yamaha 200/140 jetdrive that is a 1987 vintage. It has about 550 hours on it at this time. I have had absolutely no problems (knock on wood shampoo) at this point. Other than plugs and filters etc. I have replaced the water pump, shoe and impellor and thats all. Is there a standard hour figure that it would need an overhaul? I always see used boat adds stating new powerhead etc. and the motors not that old. Did they just overheat it or run it out of oil or something oblivious like that or was it just normal wear? Should a guy do a preventative maintenance overhaul at a certain hours so as not to throw a rod or something later costing a whole lot more. With the replacement cost of around $10,000 I'd be shut down for quite sometime. Whats your experience?

Thanks Boat Doc :bowdown:
Jet I Master

[night stocker]

Jet I, I would OH that thing before it blows, or better yet, sell that thing to me.It would fit perfect on my boat. But,oh I forgot, I don't have a job but thats another story.I have a lot of time on my hands if your engine goes Scott and I would love to go fishing with you sometime again.We can use my boat if ya want.

[Starfish]

I'll be interested to hear the official answer from Boat Doc, but IMHO if it ain't broke-- don't fix it. 2 stroke motors run, sometimes forever, for no apparent reason and sometimes fail for the very same reason. Be alert to changes in how it sounds (slap or rattle), loss of power, hard starting, etc., but otherwise I'd run it 'till it pukes.

[Boat Doc']

You really need a crystal ball. Things that will shorten an engines life are running at high rpm consistently, lack of water pump maintenance, using low quality oils, poor fuel quality, contaminated fuel or oil and improper storage. A motor that follows the manufacturers recommended maintenance, Is warmed up before hard use, isn't allowed to ventilate much, avoids sustained wide open throttle use and follows the above items could last 2000 hours or more.

[Jet I Master]

Thanks Boat Doc, hopefully I can get another 30 years.

Jet I Master :cheers: