Too all,

I would like to inform all boat owners to be cautious about who rebuilds your  out board motor. I recently had my 2.4 mercury rebuild by Blackbird Industries in PA. I contacted Mike Jr. through an EBay ad he had  concerning rebuilt Mercury motors.  Mike had told over the phone that he could rebuild my motor if I sent it to him for $2600.00 with a one year warranty.  I was excited to hear that because every shop in my area wanted more and less warranty. I was so excited that I told my fishing partner about what I had found, he also was looking for a rebuild. I contacted Mike Jr again a few days later and this time my fishing partner ( Don) was listening on speaker phone so he could  here the deal I found. Mike told us both  that If I sent him the entire power head complete, he would sleeve all 6 cylinders and rebuild the carbs and do a cylinder finishing called Plato Finishing which is supposed to make a motor last a lot longer. And he make sure all is in great working order to fish the 2009 season. He said he would do all this for $3000.00 plus shipping. I though this was still a great deal, because Mercury wanted $4000.00 for a all steel sleeved replacement motor plus shipping.  So I pulled it shipped it to him and sent the money. I received the motor back 3 days later, YES I said 3 days. I could not believe it. It looked perfect. ( on the outside ). I called Blackbird again to confirm that the work I was quoted was completed and had to talk to a female clerk. ( I assume she's a clerk). She confirmed that what mike quoted was done, so I asked for a work sheet of what was done or invoice explaining the work performed. YES they sent it back to me with no invoice. ????? I received the invoice and all it said was 2.4 LTR  MERCURY POWER HEAD/REMANUFACTURED . I again called to confirm that I received a 2.4 litter motor with all 6 cylinders sleeved and rebuilt carbs, She again told me that  what I was quoted is what I received.  I only wanted to make sure because the invoice was not describing the work received.

A few weeks later on a Saturday I decided to install the power head and complete the boat. After installation, we fired it up. After about 5 minutes of warm up time I noticed the head gaskets, pop it valve, rear exhaust plate and thermostat were all leaking water. (pretty bad) I called Mike back and asked him if there is some thing I missed or was supposed to do before starting it up. He replied NO just tighten every thing a little and go run it on the lake. I tighten the heads to his specs and tighten up all bolts but the water leaks did not stop.  I called Mike again but could not reach him, but I talked to a Stan. I told the story again. He requested we put new head gaskets on and replace the other gaskets, I agreed that this would make me feel better. I also told him that I found a crack in the rear exhaust plate and that appeared to be why there was a water leak in that area.  He replied he would send me a replacement. I waited for a few days and a package arrived but it did not  have the exhaust plate. I called again ( all this long distance every time). But was unable to reach Mike or Stan and had to deal with the ?@***<>* rude clerk who has no people skills at all. She informed me that it was on the way.  Today she calls me back and says they have to have a $100.00 deposit for parts until I return the un-used or replaced used parts. ( I thought it was one the way)

I could not believe what I was asked for. Upon further investigation, I pulled the heads to replace the gaskets and guess what??? No sleeves!!!!!! YEA , they only sleeved one cylinder, not all 6 and 12 of the head bolts where stretched. They didn't even replace the head bolts??????  I have been ripped off. Now I understand why the invoice only said remanufactured power head  There word is no good.  I have asked Mike about our conversation but he has amnesia I guess, he says he does not recall that. I sure am glad my fishing buddy heard all this on speaker phone that day. There is my proof.

All beware of Blackbird Industries, I was ripped off. If anyone wants proof I have pics of all the water leaks and pics of the invoice. I also have pics of the score marks still in the cylinders, where the Plato Finishing ???? send me e-mail and I will send you proof. Oh and stay away from the A** HOLE clerk.

Oh man, that gotta suck big time! Is there anything you can do or is it basically your word against theirs now? If I was in your shoes, I would jump all over their arse!

Edit:  Just noticed you double post your topic.

I also have had similar dealings on a motorcycle....

[move]GET AN ATTORNEY[/move]

The initial cost of an attorney may be high but you will get better results than dealing with them yourself.

I have an appointment with an attorney next week. I have found numerous others that have been also screwed. I have contacted my fishin buddy and he says he is game for a law suit. I have also made a call to the AR and PA attorney generals office. Waiting a reply. Ill keep you all posted.

If you're going to persue this, I would have a certified mechanic pull the heads off and look at the pistons/sleeves and see if the pistons were even replaced and the sleeves bored.  You mentioned you saw scratches in the sleeves and I've heard of others that got their motors back and they were never even bored.  I don't do black motors but I would think they have the oversize diameter in the dome the same as most others.  However that's not a true indication he installed new piston, I've seen post of people getting their motors back with used pistons in them.  

The guy is a crook, plain and simple, how he has kept this up this long is beyound imagination.  He must be a pretty good one also because no one has brought him down yet.  His first statement is always if they had a problem, they've never given him ample opertunity to correct the problem

If the invoice says "Remanufactored" power head, that normally means all six cylinders have be resized, all new pistons and rings, crankshaft checked/replaced and rods checked/replaced if needed, all new bearings, crank seal rings and gaskets.   That's expensive and that's why reman'd powerhead cost so much.   One guy said he sent his motor off to them, got it back as reman'd and all they did was replace the rings.

I pulled the heads off myself, They did not bore or sleeve the cylinders as mike quoted he would do. Thats why I am so upset. He did replace with all new pistons and rings, I can see that. I left some things out in the first thread because I was tired of typing. Mike also told me he would pre-run the motor and break it in on a machine he has, other wise it would be ready to run full throttle upon me receiving it. If it was pre-run, why didnt they notice all the leaks. Now I have paid $3200.00 for a reman motor thats sitting in my shop tore apart and I am repairing it. When I mentioned retaining an attorney the son-of a B**** clerk replied that Mike was to popular and I would lose the law suit if I tried. I have printed off 30 pages of other stories from other people that I am going to take to my attorney. I agree, If I could find the Merc. rep I might slap some sense into him.