EVINRUDE FICHT

[CN]

Am I the only person that has had good luck with this Motor.

I have a 2000 200hp and have never had a problem with it other than some sort of oil sending unit that failed about two year's ago but it didnt have an affect on anything.

All I hear is they are the worst thing you could have hanging off the back of your boat.What's the main problem with these.

Now with that being said the Damn thing will probably take a crap on me next week when I am on Vacation.Oh well then I can put an E-TEC on

I am the original owner of this boat and I do drive like an old lady.

[WELDER DUDE]

I have a 175 (2003) had fuel pump replaced 4-5 months ago THAT is all I have done besides 100hr service's. I run mine wide open. I think any thing pre 1999 is a handgrenade waiting to blow,that is where they got the bad rap.Revamped everything after that from what Im told

[ash]

I dont want to JINX myself....

[Long Nguyen]

I had a 2001 FICHT RudeRam engine on my Ranger and it was a piece of crap. Many things failed on that engine so it spent a lot of time at the shop.

Count your blessings.

[DOWDY]

I had a Ficht and the motor wasn't a problem when it was fixed the right way. The problem was with the warranty. They only wanted to fix the damaged cyclinder. So after three blow ups. It came out of my pocket to get it fixed right. Not shop issue warranty issue...

[bassindon69]

I am running a 2000 90 hp still. Upper and lower end work but still going....


Don.

[TritonBrent]

I had a 2001 175 Ficht that about did me and my partner in. I guess a fuel line was leaking so bad while running it filled up the bottom of the engine area with fuel. After stopping and fishing, went to run to the next spot, hit the key to start it and it absolutely EXPLODED!! Blew the cowling 30ft in the air, threw raw fuel all over the rear deck of the boat and all over the surface of the water surrounding the engine and that all ignited. Was just a huge fireball from the drivers seat on back.... Scarry ****! That happened at Berryessa about 10 miles from the launch ramp back in a cove.

The boat was burnt to a crisp and I got a new boat out of the deal which wasnt so bad.... But i'll tell ya what, You will never ever see a Evinrude on the back of any of my boats!

[Gary Dobyns]

The Evinrude Ficht that was owned by OMC did have some problems. There was GREAT ones that run like HEL* and never had any issues, but there were some that were junk. Every company regardless of brand will have a problem engine once in a while. The Ficht just had way more than their share of problem engines. When BRP bought them, things really changed for the better. The new Evinrudes are GREAT.

[Long Nguyen]

The Evinrude Ficht that was owned by OMC did have some problems. There was GREAT ones that run like HEL* and never had any issues, but there were some that were junk. Every company regardless of brand will have a problem engine once in a while. The Ficht just had way more than their share of problem engines. When BRP bought them, things really changed for the better. The new Evinrudes are GREAT.

Ah yes, Gary is right. I forgot to mention that important fact that OMC FICHTS were the ones with issues. Mine was a 2001, which pre Bombardier. The ones in 03-06 were good motors.

I know Armando's 2001 FICHT is running strong and he never had issues. Mine wasn't so lucky.

The new E-Tec technology is pretty awesome.

[fishdude]

I dont know the guy but one day last year i was pulling off the water at sugar barge and this guys Ficht blew up he said his coweling blew like 10ft in the air and the motor was blazing. He had a stratos nice looking one but that whole back of his boat was all black and burnt. No one was hurt but man must have been scary i dont know what the result was but would be nice to know what caused the problem. Just the thought of any motor being able to do that scares me and possibly this happining to me and my family.

[jimmy87]

Its hard to call. I hear alot of problems with merc as well.
I been running a old merc for years without a problem.
It an old carburated one at that. It has not let me down so far.
got my fingers crossed.

I do all the maintance myself and just keep an eye on things.
Only time I had to take her to the shop was for the lower end.

[CBoat]

I had a 1992 200 HP evinrude special addition and I just replaced it with a 2008 ETEC. When I first purchased it in 1992 I had some problems with the trim switch shorting but since then - not a single issue. Never replaced anything on it accept the lower unit but that was my fault. I just sold it in running condition for $2,000!

Hopefully the ETEC will last me that long...

[hippie]

I have a 99 200 ficht . it runs great no problems yet the blowing up problem you had was a recall the bolts on the injector would break and send gas everywhere so when you would start your boat it would ignite. a couple other things were in that recall if you had the upgrades which many qualified service guys won't even work on the ficht if you don't have the recall upgrades. you should have an outstanding motor they do leak oil on the bottom of cowling I asked my service guy if there was a fix he says yeah put an etec on back. I love evenrude, I hope to not have any problems with my ficht but if I do it will get repowered with an etec

[TonyM]

I have a '02 225 FICHT that has been bulletproof. The widely publicized FICHT problems were limited to the early technology '98-'99 OMC 150s and 175s. It seems Mercury also had problems with the Opti Max (aka "Opti Pop").

[macinckirk]

It seems Mercury also had problems with the Opti Max (aka "Opti Pop").

LMFAO Love it

[CN]

I have a 99 200 ficht . it runs great no problems yet the blowing up problem you had was a recall the bolts on the injector would break and send gas everywhere so when you would start your boat it would ignite. a couple other things were in that recall if you had the upgrades which many qualified service guys won't even work on the ficht if you don't have the recall upgrades. you should have an outstanding motor they do leak oil on the bottom of cowling I asked my service guy if there was a fix he says yeah put an etec on back. I love evenrude, I hope to not have any problems with my ficht but if I do it will get repowered with an etec

Youve described mine to a tee.I did have the upgraded injector flanges put on and it will leak oil arond the lower part of the cowling but my mechanic said the same thing dont worry about it.

[twister]

My POS 225hp 1999 took a dump after a fresh rebuild last year. Spent $400 in pistons/rings and $600 at Inland Marine. Holes 2, 4, and 6 have almost zero compression. Luckily I found a new dressed 2004 225hp HO for cheap. Only $3000. No problems so far. Knock on wood!

Don't waist your money on the older motors if they show signs of being a problem child. But if you have a good dependable unit, then make sure you service the engine properly every year. The Bassboatcentral.com forum is visited by knowledgable master Evinrude mechanics that can direct you in the right direction. And they're from the East Cost were Rudes are more popular. Most motors here are Black!