Engine Ticking - 1998 Evinrude Ficht 175

timbrown57

Recruit
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
3
Long time lurker, first time poster!

Early this summer I got a steal of a deal on a 1998 Javelin 389B with a 1998 Evinrude Ficht 175. I know the horror right? I read all the information I could find on the motor before pulling the trigger. However, there seems to be a problem with the engine, specifically a ticking noise that I cannot locate in the engine.

When I bought the boat, the compression checked good, no issues with motor, diagnostics are good the works. I went to run the motor just to make sure she was ready for fall fishing season and this sound will not stop. It does it in neutral, forward, and reverse and stays constant with the RPMs.

I have a list of possibilities after doing my due diligence and research, and will have to do the fix myself as no local mechanic will even look at the motor, due to the long list of problems this model is famous for.

My thoughts are it could be one of the following:

- Flywheel Magnet has come loose and is ticking

- Possible lower unit issue, Skeg is beat up from previous owner

- Water in fuel (long shot on this one)

- Possible internal bearing or rod (compression is good and no movement in crankshaft)

I am going to decarb motor and re-index with fresh plugs after, drain and inspect lower unit plug for metal, pull flywheel and see if there is visible rubbing or damage on stator. After that I am lost as to what to do. I have the skillset to tear the motor down and rebuild but I don’t know if the time/money involved would be worth it. I am currently saving for repowering and just need to get it fishable for the time being.

I can provide a link to the engine running but cannot post since this is my first post!
 

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jimmbo

Supreme Mariner
Joined
May 24, 2004
Messages
13,859
Welcome to iboats.

I had one of those 98 150s, eventually I ended up with a 2001 powerhead during the Warranty Period. I traded it in in 2002 as the warranty was over. Those engines make lot of Clacking sounds when they are running perfectly.
Did you hear it run it before you "pulled the trigger"?
Does it get any louder when the Cowl is removed?
That lower unit is a different Colour, might not be the original.
Flywheel Magnets tend to jam things up when they Relocate.
How did you determine that there was "No Movement in the Crankshaft"(trying to figure out what you mean by that)
 

timbrown57

Recruit
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
3
Welcome to iboats.

I had one of those 98 150s, eventually I ended up with a 2001 powerhead during the Warranty Period. I traded it in in 2002 as the warranty was over. Those engines make lot of Clacking sounds when they are running perfectly.
Did you hear it run it before you "pulled the trigger"?
Does it get any louder when the Cowl is removed?
That lower unit is a different Colour, might not be the original.
Flywheel Magnets tend to jam things up when they Relocate.
How did you determine that there was "No Movement in the Crankshaft"(trying to figure out what you mean by that)
I followed steps from another post that had the guy remove intake and see if there was any movement. Checked piston movement by removing plugs and using rod to see if there was any movement and they were all snug as should be, or so i think. It didn’t make the noise when I got it, and it is another lower unit not the original. This is why i suspect it could be something with the lower unit, maybe the shaft connection? I don’t know what to try first
 

saltchuckmatt

Commander
Joined
Jul 19, 2019
Messages
2,858
Long time lurker, first time poster!

Early this summer I got a steal of a deal on a 1998 Javelin 389B with a 1998 Evinrude Ficht 175. I know the horror right? I read all the information I could find on the motor before pulling the trigger. However, there seems to be a problem with the engine, specifically a ticking noise that I cannot locate in the engine.

When I bought the boat, the compression checked good, no issues with motor, diagnostics are good the works. I went to run the motor just to make sure she was ready for fall fishing season and this sound will not stop. It does it in neutral, forward, and reverse and stays constant with the RPMs.

I have a list of possibilities after doing my due diligence and research, and will have to do the fix myself as no local mechanic will even look at the motor, due to the long list of problems this model is famous for.

My thoughts are it could be one of the following:

- Flywheel Magnet has come loose and is ticking

- Possible lower unit issue, Skeg is beat up from previous owner

- Water in fuel (long shot on this one)

- Possible internal bearing or rod (compression is good and no movement in crankshaft)

I am going to decarb motor and re-index with fresh plugs after, drain and inspect lower unit plug for metal, pull flywheel and see if there is visible rubbing or damage on stator. After that I am lost as to what to do. I have the skillset to tear the motor down and rebuild but I don’t know if the time/money involved would be worth it. I am currently saving for repowering and just need to get it fishable for the time being.

I can provide a link to the engine running but cannot post since this is my first

Long time lurker, first time poster!

Early this summer I got a steal of a deal on a 1998 Javelin 389B with a 1998 Evinrude Ficht 175. I know the horror right? I read all the information I could find on the motor before pulling the trigger. However, there seems to be a problem with the engine, specifically a ticking noise that I cannot locate in the engine.

When I bought the boat, the compression checked good, no issues with motor, diagnostics are good the works. I went to run the motor just to make sure she was ready for fall fishing season and this sound will not stop. It does it in neutral, forward, and reverse and stays constant with the RPMs.

I have a list of possibilities after doing my due diligence and research, and will have to do the fix myself as no local mechanic will even look at the motor, due to the long list of problems this model is famous for.

My thoughts are it could be one of the following:

- Flywheel Magnet has come loose and is ticking

- Possible lower unit issue, Skeg is beat up from previous owner

- Water in fuel (long shot on this one)

- Possible internal bearing or rod (compression is good and no movement in crankshaft)

I am going to decarb motor and re-index with fresh plugs after, drain and inspect lower unit plug for metal, pull flywheel and see if there is visible rubbing or damage on stator. After that I am lost as to what to do. I have the skillset to tear the motor down and rebuild but I don’t know if the time/money involved would be worth it. I am currently saving for repowering and just need to get it fishable for the time being.

I can provide a link to the engine running but cannot post since this is my first post!
Probably the Ficht timebomb countdown....when the ticking stops??? Well you know!

Sorry about that, just had to.

I would think if the flywheel magnets came off it wouldn't run that well. I wonder if it's an injector or something. I assume all plugs are tight.

I would take a short piece of garden hose and probe around while running and determine where it's coming from.

I take it you haven't had it out on the water yet.
 

timbrown57

Recruit
Joined
Sep 8, 2022
Messages
3
Probably the Ficht timebomb countdown....when the ticking stops??? Well you know!

Sorry about that, just had to.

I would think if the flywheel magnets came off it wouldn't run that well. I wonder if it's an injector or something. I assume all plugs are tight.

I would take a short piece of garden hose and probe around while running and determine where it's coming from.

I take it you haven't had it out on the water yet.
I haven’t had it back on the water since it started but thought about taking it to see if a load might tell me something. However, didn’t wanna cause any more damage if there is in fact internal damage. On another forum someone said it could be an injector but I don’t know how to check them.
 
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