I have a 1995 Johnson Faststrike 150 which is a carbureted motor that produces about 164 hp. It has the optical triggered ignition system. It has been a little hard on power packs, and it requires a special tool to set the spark advance. CDI electronics is producing a new digital power pack that does not require special tools to set the ignition. It is set just like a merc on the starter after jumpering the left temp sensor circuit. I just test drove it and it performs better that the OMC or BRP units. The rev limiter is softer and it does not go to fast idle on a warm start. It is also cheaper than the BRP unit. If it lasts I will really like it. jim
http://www.google.com/#hl=en&source=hp& ... 9f83f82f8a I went with Outboard Parts (first on list), but there might be better deals out there. jim
I have dealt with outboardparts.com many times. The site is a bit old school but the service is great, they make a replacement black box for older Mercury Inlines that is cheaper then trying to find a used one also. Daniel
I would suggest doing business by phone with them. They have some expertise. I bought a kit that was not show on their site, but it was shown on the CDI site. CDI only deals through dealers. The kit includes the power pack, optical sensor, and the suppressor plug wires which I needed according to CDI. Suppressor wires and plugs are required with most digital ignition systems so the high voltage does not interfere with the electronics. I was already running the correct plugs. I also run a CDI voltage regulator. jim
Jim-- How well does your motor start and idle? I am very close to buying a motor for my boat. One option is the 97' Intruder 175. 375 dry weight. With your info on new power packs for the boat, how does the motor idle when skiers are getting ready? What is your oil usage and fuel consumption like? Carb motors vs. EFI? Need some advice Thanks, Jason
Jim-- My decision is between the 97' Intruder (about the same motor as what you run) and a 09 150 E-tec? What would you go with? Thanks, Jason
Hi Jason, The advantages of the carb motor are that they are much lighter, and cheaper. They are simpler and the plugs are probably cheaper too. It remains to be seen if the new digital ignition is long lived. I have disabled the oil injection on mine because it failed and I lost a power head years ago. This is very unusual. The motor starts immediately, idles well and never has fouled a plug. There is a video on this site in the video section of a warm start. It starts so quick that you can barely hear the starter. I always shut the motor down while a skier is leaving or entering the boat. I can't give you a good answer on fuel consumption because I run slow most of the time. I think the e-tec will burn less fuel and oil especially if you do a lot of slalom or barefoot. The carb motors do not like to sit any period of time with fuel in the bowls that containes ethanol. I run straight gasoline with no ethanol in mine and I have no problems. I ran the ethanol fuel one season with good results, but at the end of the season I completely dried out the whole fuel system. The club guys like the e-tecs, but they don't keep motors very long. If I were building a new boat, I would probably go with the e-tec if it was within my budget. I have a neighbor on our lake that has a 175 carb and it has been very reliable. He runs it regularly and I think that is the key. jim
I want to add that the throttle linkage on the carb motors can be troublesome. It reuires careful maintenance and good cables. I use return springs to keep the play out of the system. I would probably do that on the e-tec also. My daughter is a swivel skier and needs really precise speed control. I hear that the throtttle linkage on the e-tec is improved. jim
Jim-- I found out on the carb faststrike/Intruder motors that at low speeds the motors tend to shake the boat? A friend in the marine engine business told me that at low swivel speeds, and teaching kids to ski at slow speeds based on the way the carb is designed on these motors that the motor shakes quite a bit. Do you have this problem? He had a 99 faststike on his Larson and said that he had quite a bit of vibration/shaking at low speeds? I know you pull a lot of slow speed sking (swivel) so I was wondering if a dyne 18 hull would shake at low speeds? I have young kids, and teaching a lot of slow speed skiing will be in my future soon. Wondering what you thought? E-tec's are known not to be so touchy at the low speeds. Thanks, Jason
