charge for rebuild

[splitshot]

Guys i need your help i built a motor for a guy 1978 140 evinrude , he said do what it takes and as long as he has less in it than a new motor would cost him....pulled the first powerhead and the block was busted so it couldnt be used, didnt find out till it was tore down..(had to fight every one of the mounting bolts due to rust there wasnt even an hex head on them they looked like rivets),so got another powerhead and midsection (package deal)...pulled the powerhead and disassembled..then got the parts and rebuilt the second power head (the good one)...installed new pistons and rings,thermostats,gaskets,and bearrings,oh yeah and exhaust housing gaskets (about 7 exhaust housing bolts snapped off and where froze in the block had to drill and tap)...then installed the powerhead, rebuilt carbs, fuel pump,new impeller, and new gear oil in the lower...how much is all this worth ?? i just want a ballpark estimate on labor only..all in all i have 66 hrs in it, oh and just how much does a brand new 140 2 stroke cost with tilt and trim ?? thanks Jason

 

[reeldutch]

Re: charge for rebuild

power head rebuild on a crossflow v4 tops would be 24 hrs. depending on the damage and parts.


66 is way to much.

i know you had to put that much time in it to drill and tap and fight with these blocks.
thats why i dont rebuild anything older than 1990

dont know what parts you replaced so its very hard to tell what you should charge him

i would not charge him for 60 hrs of labour.

did you test the motor before you give it back?

labour rate around here is about 100 hr for mechanics that are qualified.

that would be 6600 dollars plus all the parts
you would be at 7500 dollars. easily
he will freak out. for a 1978 140 gas guzling 2 stroke? are you giving him a waranty?

i would not charge him more that about 2000 dollars and the engine better be flawless with some fresh paint on it. and hope and pray it wont blow any time soon.
did you prop it out?

 

[splitshot]

Re: charge for rebuild

I just posted what parts i replaced it is a COMPLETE POWERHEAD REBUILD minus electronics...the motor has not been given back yet...well to each his own but it took me 60 hours so i figure it would take a tech 60 hours to do what i did...how can they know something i dont because there is only 1 right way to put a motor together right ?? i dont claim to know everything but these old crossflows i believe anybody can disassemble then and assemble them properly...i have worked on many motors from cars to tractors to boats so i'm not a first time do it yourselfer...i charged him $1100 larbor then parts were $600 and $120 for machine shop 3 cylinders were bored over...Why would it blow up i took my time checked clearances torqued everything down so why would it blow ?? every cylinder has an even 135 compression on each cylinder....so to tear 2 motors down fight rusted bolts rebuild one with carbs,fuel pump, you would charge for 24 hrs plus 12 for tearing the broke one down ?? 36 hrs times $100/hr $3600...well i'm a 3rd of that price i gave him a HUGE discount because of the bolts

P.S. i put my old 140 together 4 years ago and it still runs like new never had a problem with it so i would say i'm qualified

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: charge for rebuild

Dang I need to get up ya'lls way!!! I can't sell a good running one for 1500.00 much less get a rebuild price of that. I just sold a 1979 85 with tnt for $900.00 and it was super clean!!

 

[reeldutch]

Re: charge for rebuild

i told you i believe that you put 66 hrs in it.
and probbebly a good mechanic would have spent about the same amount of time.

the problem is that there are flat rates out there.
OMC at that time gave you about 24 hrs to do a rebuild on a v4 crosflow.
and 15 min for extracting broken bolts. 15min/fastener.

you charged him 1100 for 66 hrs of "qualified" labour.
thats 16 dollars /hr to rebuild an 1978 engine.
if you are skillful and know what you are doing why wasting your time with it?

if you do it to kill time and have a hobby, i would say great job.

if you dont believe me go call some marinas and ask them the flat rate time to rebuild your motor.

im not trying to pick a fight.
and the price you charged him is fair, its just would you do it again?
or rebuild a 1996 crosflow do it in 35 hrs if you cant beat the flat rate and make
2000/35 = 57/hr + 600 for parts and 120 for machine work.

im just saying i wouldnt rebuild old stuf to make a little money
i would rather spend the time with my wife.

and i think you do a great job.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: charge for rebuild

do you do this for a living, or a hobby? did you give the guy any idea what it would cost? did you tell the owner the block was cracked, and you needed a donor, and what that would take. if not i would tell you to keep the motor. for anything over $2,000. the motor is only worth about 1/2 that, rebuilt of not.

it think there was a major communication problem here between you and the owner. when finding the cracked block. he should have been notified. i would have had you to stop, and pay you for your work.

 

[splitshot]

Re: charge for rebuild

thats just it he was told about the cracked block, told him as soon as i found it, i even took it to him and showed him, i do it for a hobby and was really starting to love it until this happened...he said to try to find another block i did and we went ahead with it...if he dont want to pay for it i'll just keep it...all together he has $2200 dollars Total parts and labor and with buying the extra block...a local shop wants $2500 total parts and labor..

thanks reeldutch i know what you mean, didnt mean to get mad but its a bit frustrating..i'll let ya'll know how it turns out

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: charge for rebuild

splitshot, don't get me wrong. i was not bashing you. but it seems like i try to do a guy a faver, i get bit. i understand, i have worked on peoples motors, repaired them. never make a cent. i do a lot of restores on old boats, i have never made money from them. but i still do it. why, because it keeps me out of trouble, and basically pays for itself, and is a labor of love.

why don't you join us at the Florida iboats get together, in May. here are the details so far.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=291501

 

[reeldutch]

Re: charge for rebuild

As long as everybody is happy it doesnt matter.

its just the people that you might work your behind off for and take advantage of you that you have to watch out for.

good luck.

did you run the boat and propped it out to the right rpm?
did you figure out why the engine failed to begin with.

 

[splitshot]

Re: charge for rebuild

it failed due to a few things carbon build up, the little dowels on the pistons that keep the rings from turning were pushed in on 2 cylinders..and it had been ran hot the impeller was pretty much a brass or bronze sleeve (which ever is in the center of the rubber)...havent propped out yet the owner is putting the motor on a different boat i believe its a 17' or 18' Mako (the one its on now is rotten) but when he gets it installed i will do it for him

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: charge for rebuild

Sounds like this experience will work out OK, but I think I would be a bit more formal about an agreement with a customer in the future. Had you felt that your time was worth more money, and had the customer not been happy with the price, this could have been kind of a mess.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: charge for rebuild

"the one its on now is rotten" it sounds like you have an owner, that likes to defer maintenance.

 

[splitshot]

Re: charge for rebuild

no he purchased it rotten....he bought boat and motor and trailer for $300

 

[ksubigbuck]

Re: charge for rebuild

no he purchased it rotten....he bought boat and motor and trailer for $300

He got hosed.