Clarification, http://speedonthewater.com/in-the-ne...-recalled.html.

Hmmm... "Recall" is exactly the term car manufacturers use when they ask customers to return products in order to replace some component with a better one. Interesting that valve seats would be an issue in big blocks after almost 50 years of development.

Anyway - Kudos to Mercury Racing for standing behind their product. It's a good thing that they caught the problem early.

Geez, I think thats great Mercury Racing is going to change valve seats that obviously had some issues in endurance testing. Its a lot of work to change valve seats in complete engines isn't it?

But, I pretty much think all performance marine engines produced today are suppossed to be 'endurance" engines. This return for replacement sounds kinda like a "recall" to me?

If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, looks like a duck?
then I think it must be a Duck, I mean a recall.

Nice PR try Mercury Racing, at least you are fixing something that needs fix'in! There's a lot of performance boaters who wish you had done more to fix the CMI/Merc header leaks issue though!

Best Regards,
Ray @ Raylar

Ditto.
Quack, Quack.

Kudos for acknowledging and fixing but call it what it is.

as late as the first rebuild?

With all due respect, Ray and other gentlemen, I would not describe replacing the valve seat covers on a total of six engines in demo boats "a recall." As stated in the article, all of the engines built for orders taken at the show will be constructed with the new valve seat covers, as will all 565 engines produced subsequently when the engine goes into full production two weeks from now.

Matt, so these engines in demo boats were also demo engines? Or were they loaners for the boat show, so builders had a engine to display?

No, I used the term "demo boats" loosely in association with anything at the Miami Show. The engines were not loaners. The engines were/are paid for by the builders and customers.

I simply would not call this a recall for a couple of reasons. First, the existing parts replaced, according to Fred Kiekhaefer, who I spoke to moments ago, will not "fail," hence the offer Mercury made to replace it now or at the first rebuild for the engines in these three boats. Second, all engines aside from the first six (I think it was six) will be built with the new valve seat material.

I could have written the headline differently, I suppose, but based on the information above I think it's accurate.

If a manufacture sends out a notice to customers and asks them to return their product so it can have a part or parts replaced, what else do you call it besides a "recall"? The small volume of product involved makes no difference in this case. No way you recall, I mean ask politely for your sold motors back, unless you know there is the potential to have a major problem. In this case, I'd bet money their test mules where dropping valve seats. It will be interesting to hear what Blee plans to do.

Definition of 'Product Recall'
The process of retrieving defective goods from consumers (BOAT MFG) and providing those consumers with compensation (NEW ENGINE). Recalls often occur as a result of safety concerns over a manufacturing defect in a product that may harm its user. (VALVE SEAT DROP, ENGINE GO BOOM, BOAT DOA IN WATER)