Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

[sctkhouse]

Hello,

I'm new here and was looking for some advise from the experts and experienced.

I am considering the purchase of a small john boat with an '86 30 HP Evinrude. Is there anything I should be looking for or asking the owner? Should I just run away from a mid '80 vintage Evinrude? I assume these days with the internet parts are easy to come by? Any know flaws in these engines?

Overall the boat and engine are in real good shape for the age. Always garage kept and doesn't look to have been used much in it's life.

Thanks for any help and hopefully I'll be a regular here...

-Sctkhouse

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

The later 80's 30hp was a redecaled early 80's 35hp which I had (Johnson). Was a fine engine. There's someone doing a rebuild on one of those now in the J/E thread if you look around. As usual, do all the normal checks when buying an engine... compression etc... Run it if you can... Check at the top of the forum in the top secret thread and there's more info there... and welcome to the forum...

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

Sctkhouse, I hope it checks out for you. I love my 30hp, and I picked up a second one this past Fall. If it has a 100:1 fuel sticker on it, remove it and run it with 50:1. OMC revised the fuel requirement. You may want to ask the seller what fuel mix he used? Also, no problem getting parts, and many are available right here on iBoats.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

That motor is considered pretty 'new' to alot of guys on here, lol.

No problems with parts at all. As mentioned, check compression, try to take it for a good run to ensure it doenst overheat or cut out, Id loosen the lower unit drain screw and ensure that the fluid is not a milky white colour.

 

[sctkhouse]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

Thanks guys. Do you know what I need to bring along to check the lower unit oil. Allen wrench or reg wrench, size?

What should the compression be at?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

It a large flat slotted screw, when buying a motor I just loosen it a crack to let the oil in the bottom of the leg seep out a touch. Water will sit at the bottom, so if the oil the exits first is still golden/brown, you are good.

The compression should be within 10% of one another.

 

[G DANE]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

In my opinion one of the most reliable and sturdy motors, they ever made. If it runs good and iddles fine, responses to throttle under load with no hisitation, and doesnt show a lot of piston rattle, or water in lower unit oil ( can be black and smelly too, without problems ) you are good to go.

 

[sctkhouse]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

What size plug socket will I need? I have my compression tester from back in the day when I rebuilt my '66 mustang. I assume that the adapters in the kit will work... Headed over tomorrow to take a look at it.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

the standard 13/16" plug socket.

 

[5150abf]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

The mid 80s Evinrude/Johnsons are some of the best engines ever made, parts are plentiful and they are simple as stones to work on.

They are super reliable engines as long as they have been cared for, I have an '81 50 Evinrude and love it, other than the carb getting plugged up adn a bit of rewireing I haven't had a lick of trouble from it in 8 years adn it has the original head gasket adn 135 compression.

To check the lower you just need a big flat screw driver and you only need to let a small amount of oil out, if the engine has been sitting the water, if any, will have settled to the bottom of the case and will come out first, if you get just a couple drops don't freak out but if you get a stream then I would wonder, hopefull yit is a nice honey color.

As I said compression onmy 50 is @ 125-134 cold but anything above 100 and both cylinders within 10% is fine.

 

[sctkhouse]

Re: Advise - 1986 30HP Evinrude

Took a look at it today. Opened up the lower screw. No oil at all came out. Got that old oil smell. Didn't have the ability to run the engine at the time. Probably walking on this one. sucks because overall the engine looked in good shape.