I should have guessed that finding anything for a motor built by Sanshin, a division of Yamaha, for Mariner, a division of Mercury, would be a nightmare.
The Mariner is an electric, longshaft, 30hp outboard, model 30E, s/n 689 L 411690. I get varying opinions on what year that is depending on who I ask, but 1980 seems to be the most popular choice for now.
Although the bozo I bought it from on ebay told me the lower unit checked out on pressure/vacuum tests, as soon as I tested it out the first time in a drum in my garage, the lower unit started to leak oil all over the floor. I opened the ports, and chocolate milkshake poured out
.
So, what I guess I need is to rebuild the gearcase, replacing all the seals, or find a rebuilt lower unit somewhere. Trouble is, I can't find a used Mariner unit anywhere online, and I don't know whether there is a Yamaha equivalent. Furthermore, when I try to order a seal kit, I get all kinds of answer about what parts to order; everything from Yamaha parts numbers, to Mercury themselves telling me there is no kit for that engine, and I have to buy all the seal parts seperately. Scariest of all, a local Merc/Mariner mechanic wanted $600 to do the job! That's probably more than the whole engine is worth - although it is otherwise super-clean, and starts up and runs like a top when you just glance at it.
What's a guy to do?
The Mariner is an electric, longshaft, 30hp outboard, model 30E, s/n 689 L 411690. I get varying opinions on what year that is depending on who I ask, but 1980 seems to be the most popular choice for now.
Although the bozo I bought it from on ebay told me the lower unit checked out on pressure/vacuum tests, as soon as I tested it out the first time in a drum in my garage, the lower unit started to leak oil all over the floor. I opened the ports, and chocolate milkshake poured out
. So, what I guess I need is to rebuild the gearcase, replacing all the seals, or find a rebuilt lower unit somewhere. Trouble is, I can't find a used Mariner unit anywhere online, and I don't know whether there is a Yamaha equivalent. Furthermore, when I try to order a seal kit, I get all kinds of answer about what parts to order; everything from Yamaha parts numbers, to Mercury themselves telling me there is no kit for that engine, and I have to buy all the seal parts seperately. Scariest of all, a local Merc/Mariner mechanic wanted $600 to do the job! That's probably more than the whole engine is worth - although it is otherwise super-clean, and starts up and runs like a top when you just glance at it.
What's a guy to do?