$650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

[Costello]

Guys,<br /><br />I bought a set of ball gears for an OMC Stinger 800 and gave them to my boat repairman to install. (I checked with him before I bought them, to make sure he was OK with installing customer-supplied parts. They were cheap and my old ones were shot.)<br /><br />He installed them, winterized the boat, and replaced the light/light post at the back of the boat for $750.<br /><br />His cost for the light was $20. Winterization cost $65 last year. Working with round numbers, the cost of labor to install the ball gears (and light, which couldn't have amounted to much) was about $650.<br /><br />Did I pay too much? Seems like a lot, but, being a newbie, I could be wrong. How many hours should the repair take?<br /><br />I appreciate your input and have learned a great deal from this Web site. Thanks!

 

[dick]

Re: $650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

In a perfect world where it all comes apart easy should take 2-3 hours.I don't know how bad yours was to do. Once bolts start breaking and nuts round off and parts get siezed from corrosion it can take a very long time. What was the shop rate and how much time it it take them to do it ?

 

[Capt Ken]

Re: $650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

Being your boat is probably at least 20 years old, and the drive has to be removed, and us old mechanics know all about those bolts when mixed with salt water. He probably spent alot of time with a torch heating things so he could get them apart. Its not as easy as popping the old knuckles off and hammering the new on.

 

[Walt T]

Re: $650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

New2, you're lucky you even found a guy to work on that. You got a fair deal.

 

[Costello]

Re: $650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

Richard,fka ****: I'm picking up the boat tonight. I'll find out how long it took. Thanks.<br /><br />Capt Ken: Although you can easily see the ball gears behind the lower unit, he said that it's not an easy job. He did say that he had to remove the drive. (BTW, the boat runs on a fresh water lake, not salt.) Thanks.<br /><br />DieselWalt: I appreciate your comments. Thanks.<br /><br />If I'm not back on the board before Christmas, I hope you all have a great holiday.

 

[andrewgroup]

Re: $650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

Did you want a warranty too.

 

[butch290]

Re: $650 labor to replace OMC ball gears???

Looks to me like 325.00 per hour