1985 Evinrude 55hp value

[scott_maier]

Hello,

I've got a line on a 55hp evinrude '85 motor with working controls and cables for $300. It's gonna cost me $100 in gas to pick it up. It seems to be in good cosmetic shape and the owner says it works fine. So I'm wondering if it's worth the 200 mile(one way) trip. Anyone have comments on the value of one of these?I've been looking for this size motor for awhile by the way.

Thanks in advance,
s

[mark1961]

I assume the one you intend to purchase isn't the one in the pic because thats a '78 model w/o ptt.....


Provided it lives up to the sellers claims its worth every bit and probably more than the 400 it will cost you, ptt would be a bonus.....it would be a good idea to get the owner to do a compression test first if possible and pass on the results to you before you head over there OR see it running when you get there.

[scott_maier]

I assume the one you intend to purchase isn't the one in the pic because thats a '78 model w/o ptt.....


Provided it lives up to the sellers claims its worth every bit and probably more than the 400 it will cost you, ptt would be a bonus.....it would be a good idea to get the owner to do a compression test first if possible and pass on the results to you before you head over there OR see it running when you get there.

The motor in the picture is the one I was going to look at. So you know for sure it's a 1978 model? Here is some more pictures. By the way he dropped the price to $200 since it has a broken solenoid wire

[mark1961]

The motor in the picture is the one I was going to look at. So you know for sure it's a 1978 model? Here is some more pictures.

Sure as i am about the pope being a catholic ..... It's a '78 alright, they had the cc's on the leg that year as did the '79 but they were painted silver......could be just an honest mistake by the seller or not , ask them for the model number and that will nail it but i promise you that IS NOT an '85......

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2426...01354590svfgOv

http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2602...01354590fJUHLd


The broken solenoid wire could be a sign the rest of the harness is on the way out, the insulation gets brittle and cracks, then the copper strands inside corrode, i had to fix this on mine (an '82 60hp) by replacing the entire harness with a new one for just over 100 bucks, its a waste of time replacing with used in this case imo.

At least the price is coming down, it appears to be a reasonably good example of a '78 actually, you might end up getting it for the fuel money by time we're done.

[scott_maier]

Went and looked at it this morning. I had to jump the solenoid to turn her over. Brought my compression gauge with me and the top cylinder was 120, bottom was 90. I sprayed a tiny bit of WD-40 in there and the top jumped to 180(was surprised it got that high), bottom 120. The lower unit had a homemade skeg tip welded on and the front of the lower unit looked like it had a weld patch and JB weld coated over it. So it had taken a good beating at some point. Anyway, I passed. Wasted gas money, but it had too many strikes against it and I don't want a big project motor. Also like u guessed the wiring harness was brittle and falling apart.It's probably worth $200, but i didn't want to mess with it.

[HighTrim]

Good pass on that one.

[mark1961]

Sorry to hear it was wasted trip but keep looking dude one will show up, remember to check the basic vital signs and you cant go wrong.

Let us know when you find another candidate.....

[scott_maier]

I put a "wanted 50-60hp" add on craigslist and had 3 responses when I got home yesterday. One only a few miles away near the lake. Once again the wife was right, I should have just waited...Anyway, this one is another $300 "early 80's" johnson 50hp. So we'll see soon if that means its a late seventies model...

[mark1961]

Get the model numbers off em and we will tell you what they are

They changed the lineup for the 80's and up model years, the 55hp became a 60hp which is what i have, an '82 to be exact and i really like it, parts are still readily available, runs like a top. You could also consider the three cyl version of the 60hp which came a bit later, one of those would cost you alot more though.

If i may ask, what hull do you intend to fit this motor to?

[scott_maier]

Looked at it and it was a POS. The powerhead was obviously overheated,(paint was peeled off and the metal looked heat treated) and someone had scabbed together a thermocouple or some kind of sensor to the water cover. Plus the spark plug wires were dry rotted along with other wiring. It was a mess. Didn't even bother running a compression check.

Got another to look at tomorrow...$700 is the asking price, from what the owner says the motor seems promising..

[mark1961]

You will probably have to expect some deterioration of the wiring though, mine was like it and i think motors from this era are all much the same, this can be easily fixed with the new harness though which is still available. A heat treated cylinder head is another matter though well spotted. Pass!!

[scott_maier]

yeah, I don't expect wiring to be perfect, just hoping to find one that isn't to much of a Frankenstein. The one i'm looking at tomorrow has only been run in fresh water and has 150 psi on each cylinder(according to the owner). We'll see..

[mark1961]

Last time i checked mine it had 140 in each, i've decarbed it since so you never know. That one sounds like good prospect, do you have the model number or know the year?

[scott_maier]

It's a 55hp, 1977. From the picture he sent to my phone all I can see is that is has the reddish orange decal with white on the housing. My '78 35hp looked like this.

I also looked at a 70hp '76 yesterday - asking price $300. The motor is the maximum hp I can put on my boat. The owner started it up and it didn't sound too bad. I checked the compression in each cyl. and they were all 120-130. Someone had replaced a bunch of the motor gaskets - head, water cover, exhuast cover etc., but they had put lots of RTV on all the gaskets. Probably didn't hurt anything, it just didn't look good. There were two big holes in the side of the motor "pan" right across from the two lowest exhuast cover bolts. Looked like some one didn't want to remove the power head and drilled those holes to access the bolts! The holes were rough looking and filled with silicone. Anyway, the lower unit looked like it had been sitting in salt water for awhile, it was corroded and pitted quite a bit. Once again ya get what ya pay for! (i didn't buy it )

[scott_maier]

The $700 motor looked very nice.This is a 55hp, 1977. It was clearly taken care of and I was told he was the second owner with the first only using it in freshwater. It was believable, i didn't see any rust at all on that big bolt for the transom mounting bracket(those things usually rust), and the aluminum housing overall is in very good shape. The controls worked perfect and the key start worked fine. The motor fired right off when we started it. As a bonus this one is only 20 miles from my house. He's not too flexible on price, but is open to offers, so I'm debating where to start with price...Any suggestions??

[ezmobee]

Sounds like it's worth the $700. Show up with $500 and see where it goes but $700 is still very fair.

[scott_maier]

Sounds like it's worth the $700. Show up with $500 and see where it goes but $700 is still very fair.

Well, $600 is his lowest price. I'm probably going to buy it.

I've got one more motor to check out, but it is out of town about 3hrs., so I'm not too interested in driving again that far. I'm waiting on some pics and the guy said it's a "mid to late 80's motor" needing a power pack, but it looks new and he has an extra cowling. So from what i've seen the past few days, this means it's a 1976 model, the wiring is all cracked and dry rotted and the extra cowling has a big hole in it from where the tree hit it during the last hurricane.

[scott_maier]

Here's the pictures of the latest candidate. Anyone know what the year is from the model number? Notice how the transom mounting bracket is a different color...

_MG_0212.jpg_MG_0207.jpg_MG_0208.jpg_MG_0206.jpg

[kbait]

1973. I found it here: http://www.marineengine.com/manuals/evinrude/

[scott_maier]

1973. I found it here: http://www.marineengine.com/manuals/evinrude/

I wonder if it really is a '73 since the transom bracket doesn't look to be the original and it is what the identification tag is attached to..He wants $600 for this motor, I'm gonna pass. Decided to buy the one 20 miles from my house, the 55hp 1977 for $600. I'm picking it up today. Just for grins I'll make a youtube video of it running after I get it home and post the link to finalize this thread.

[scott_maier]

If i may ask, what hull do you intend to fit this motor to?

Forgot to reply to your question. I have a 14' Mckee Craft, it's a 1979 model. I'm still finishing up the the new sole I put in and I have to set it up with steering and seats. A little early to be looking for a motor, but I want to be able to put her in the water as soon as I get the work done.

[scott_maier]

Well, I bought the 55hp, 1977. Now I just need to get it off my truck somehow without dropping it on my foot. That bad boy is a little heavy for one person. I'll probably slap together a 2x4 A frame with a "come along".

[ezmobee]

Good choice. Good luck with it!

[jbjennings]

Just followed the thread----thinking to myself that you made some good decisions along with some good advice. I hope your new motor treats you good. I like my 50hp johnson even if it is hydroelectric shift. I'd like to have your 55hp mech. shift even more! I put new rings in mine and it has 145psi on bottom, 150psi on top. No improvement over the old rings on the top cylinder.
Good luck,
JBJ

[scott_maier]

Yeah, I really appreciate the advice and hope the motor works out. Separate but related question now...can I add a tilt and trim setup to this motor? was that even available in 1977? I'm getting greedy I guess , but I think being able to trim out the motor while under way would be a big plus with the McKee Craft I have.