SUBJECT: # 32423: Are the Ficht engines as eficient and reliable as some say?

Submitted by jb (205.188.199.203) from NORTH CAROLINA on 10/15/2000 10:40:00 PM

What are the pros and cons of the ficht now that they have been out in the water for a while. Owners only please. Or first hand info.

1. 10/16/2000 6:29:00 AM Submitted by Blackbird's Remanufactured Outboards from PENNSYLVANIA says My Experience
   Gas and oil consumption is unbelievable compared to EFI or carb.They are extremely quiet and responsive. Now that they have the bugs out long term should be better than Opti or Dfi with the simpler design .....The POwerhead

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2. 10/16/2000 7:58:00 AM Submitted by Capt. C (198.170.184.120) from TEXAS says Ficht
   I have a 2000 model, 225hp on a 22' Robalo. It has done a great job replaceing the Merc. engine, that had been so much trouble before. It is so quite and runs so smooth its had to beleive that it's a two stroke. The fuel and oil useage are concederably better. I picked up a average of 4/10th of a mile per gallon, depending on sea conditioins. I use nearly a 1/4 less oil per trip. With the merc. it used one gallon per 50 gallons of fuel. The ficht uses about 3/4 of a gallon per 50 gallons of fuel. I have 75 hours on the engine right now and it has never missed a beat. The Merc. needed something nearly every time I came in. I don't beleive you could go wrong with a ficht.

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3. 10/16/2000 8:20:00 AM Submitted by Rageboat (205.188.192.187) from PENNSYLVANIA says Love my Ficht!
   My 1999 225 Ficht is great. Much more economical than the previous carbed models. I use less gas and oil than ever before. The unit runs much more quieter and you never have the trouble starting with choking the engine, etc. No more of that annoying blue smoke anymore either. I am sure that you have heard the many Ficht stories out there, but I can tell you that the bugs have been worked out and I would buy another one in a minute. Good luck.

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4. 10/16/2000 8:25:00 AM Submitted by kirk (206.25.198.113) from NORTH CAROLINA says ficht
   I run twin 2000 225 fichts. Have had some problems. One lower unit blew, the other needed to have the seals replaced, loose throttle plate screw, needed to have the oil pump replaced on one motor, rigging is an issue - get check engine warning due to throttle adjustment sometimes.

   Does get great fuel economy, I went from .8 to 1.6 mpg, quiet, starts right up.

   A friend of mine has twin 2000 175. He has had more problems. In fact, both motors quit this weekend. FInally got one to run but it would only turn 2500 rpm. We think one or both blew powerheads or have some type of computer problem. He never could get the one to run again and the other sounds pretty sick.

   Overall, I have had more trouble with these motors than any others I have owned (Mercs and carb Evinrudes).

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5. 10/16/2000 9:10:00 AM Submitted by Sharky (63.112.158.158) from CONNECTICUT says Fichts
   I was one of the owners of the first Ficht's, a pair of 1998 175hp. When they were running they were great but that wasn't too often. I had blown several powerheads and wasn't happy, and expressed that opinion here on this board. I was forced to sign a gag order before OMC would honor their warranty, it as not the begining of a good relationship. I must say that the dealer, Atlantic Outboard, always stood behind me and did the best that they could do under the circumstances. I ended up with a pair of 2000 200hp on my 26 Grady, and they have performed flawlessly. I now have over 150 hours on them and I have had to change plugs and had a small oil leak in one engine, that is the extent of maintainance. At 4000 rpm I am burning 12 gph (each) and moving 35 kts. Oil/gas ratio 60:1. They start on the first turn of the key EVERY TIME and only trace amounts of smoke when first started. They are only slightly noisier than a 4 stroke. There are a few places along the rpm curve where the engines don't seem to want to be, around 3200 and 4800, but punch it up a few hundred and the are smooth and resposive. I am not a fan of the way OMC dealt with these engines in the first few years, both from a product and a customer relations stand point. I now believe I have the best engines available on the market. Sharky

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6. 10/16/2000 3:47:00 PM Submitted by Jack B. (12.77.119.74) from NORTH CAROLINA says 225 hp fichts
   I have a friend at our marina who has a pair of 2000 225 hp on his 26' Hydrasport Walkaround. He blew the 3rd powerhead this weekend. The first 2 blew when the dealer was doing a rigging check on the engines before turning it over to the new owner. Not sure I would have taken delivery even with the new powerheads. It doesn't sound like OMC is out of the woods with this technology yet.

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7. 10/16/2000 5:47:00 PM Submitted by R DAVIS from TEXAS says FICHTs
   JB You were smart to ask for only first hand information. The FICHT problems of the pre 2000 150 & 175 motors have been corrected. Of course there are a few problems with ANY brand motors. I have a 2000 model 225 FICHT with 130+ hours & no problems. I previously owned one of those 98 175s with BIG problems (blew 4 powerheads). Still, I highly recommend the FICHT motors. Be aware that every time someone sees or hears of a FICHT with a problem, it is automatically a "blown powerhead". I doubt many of these naysayers were there when the real problems were diagnosed. Bad plugs, loose wires, bad fuel, operator error, dead battery, all these things and many more are the usual culprits. There are a LOT of FICHT motors out there now, and a LOT of FICHT owners on this board. If there were REAL widespread problems you would be seeing them on this board, BIG TIME, like they were a couple years ago with the problem motors I mentioned. Also: The FICHT motors use the same lower units as other OMC motors, so THAT is not even an issue.

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8. 10/16/2000 8:24:00 PM Submitted by Rob from MASSACHUSETTS says 2000 Ram Fict 225
   I would suggest another engine. I have one and cant seem to get the "bugs" out. It has been to the dealer 3 times this summer and he tells me the engine is fine. My boat will run mid 70's one day and 60-62 the next. Some days it comes out of the hole good, other days she is stuck in there. Some times I have to run 3-4 miles before it will hit top RPM's, (5700) some say it should be more??The next time to the dealer I am supposed to have an OMC tech at the dealer to go over the engine with the dealer, we'll see what comes of this > I have dealt with up and down performance of a 2000 motor all season. Serial # G04729999, this is not second hand info.The engine is smooth, quiet, and doesa good on gas and oil, but for the dough I spent, I'd like to run in the 70's all the time !!!

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9. 10/16/2000 9:21:00 PM Submitted by R DAVIS from TEXAS says ROB's MOTOR
   Rob: Your problem could be one of several things. It could be a fault with the EMM. If so, it will likely not generate a fault code. Some other things to have dealer check are throttle position sensor, exhaust pressure sensor, engine timing (this is easy to screw up), fuel pressure, crankshaft position sensor, and sensor air gap setting. Your motor should definitely be propped to turn right at 6000 RPM @ WOT. If not, you have too much prop. This can cause exactly the problem you describe. My bet is that if you will try a prop with 2 inches less pitch, your problem will disappear. For some reason the sensory input of these motors causes problems with the EMM program if they are overpropped. Once you get it set up properly you will be pleased with it. You will probably not lose any top end speed either. If none of these are the problem, try raising the motor an inch or two. If there is a disadvantage to the FICHT motors, it is that they have to be set up properly for correct performance.GOOD LUCK!

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10. 10/18/2000 10:03:00 AM Submitted by kirk (206.25.198.113) from NORTH CAROLINA says update
    from my previous post. My friends motors both blew powerheads. They are trying to figure that out as the odds of blowing both motors at the same time must be astronomical.

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11. 10/18/2000 12:52:00 PM Submitted by dhill (208.48.242.245) from NEW YORK says Kirk...blown power heads...
    Kirk,

    I am not so sure the odds are astronomical. I talked to a guy in Conn. not long ago that blew the power heads on his (year 2000) twin 200 fichts within 10 hours of each other.

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12. 10/19/2000 3:05:00 PM Submitted by Rob F (216.64.26.172) from NEW HAMPSHIRE says Here's my two cents from a Ficht owner
    I have a 225 and had nothing but problems. Supposedly the newer ones are better but I am stuck with my '99. I also have to say that the OMC Customer Service is about as useful as a fishnet condom. You can check out my recent post on the boats/motors board I posted a couple of days ago. http://www.wmi.org/sql_messages_html/onfly_index/non_multi_doc.asp?message_number=39780&ini=d:\asp_ini\boats_motors.ini

    Hope your luck is better and decision is wise.. RF

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13. 10/22/2000 6:01:00 PM Submitted by big tuna (207.30.235.126) from FLORIDA says Ficht Problems
    Why do American outboard engine Mgfs expect the American consumer to pay for the R & D that they should have done in the first place? As for me I will buy Yamahas till they do.

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