WinnerCougar74
Petty Officer 1st Class
- Joined
- May 12, 2020
- Messages
- 236
I thought it might be interesting to start a discussion on this topic. I run through my own pros and cons on the motor I have own for the last 6 years. My Chrysler 1974 135hp was in fairly good condition when I got it. Decent compression 137-140 which has stayed the same. The lower leg was corroded. I replaced it with a used one complete for $200. I also replaced both carbs with intake manifolds for $175 since the ones that came with motor had been damaged. OK Pros and Cons
-----PRO's
1. Very cheap to buy. I got a running boat, motor and trailer for $1000
2. Parts are fairly inexpensive when compared to other 2 stroke outboards. Except for very rare parts that people jack the price way up. I have noticed the super expensive parts don't sell. I think most people move on to another motor before they will pay such very high prices. It's called not throwing good money after bad.
3. Very light motors. Weight equals speed on the water.
4.Easy to work on once you get past the learning curve. I can do the spring season service in about 2 hours.
-----CON's
1. If you aren't mechanically inclined DO NOT buy one. There are very few mechanics that will work on them and if they do they will probably make things worse. This is the single most important thing on these motors.
2. Loud. These motors are loud 2 strokes. They don't have much sound deadening built into their design.
3. They idle kinda ruff no matter no much you tweak them
4. They tend to have a lot of vibration.
5. Parts availability. With these motors the first thing you should buy is a factory parts book. Also keep in mind many force parts work. They just put letters in front of the numbers. I have ebay saved searches setup to send me emails when parts I am looking for show up. Ebay has been the best source for parts. Although so far Franz Marine has also been excellent.
6. If you are mechanically inclined you must use a website like this one. It has helped me many times although sometimes you have to sift through till you get the correct info.
7. Not great gas mileage.
I think that's about it. Considering all the pros and cons I have decided to stick with my Chrysler outboard. So now that I have got my Chrysler running ok I'm willing to live with the noise, vibrations, gas mileage and parts issues. Incidentally, I have a box full of "just in case parts". I buy them when they are cheap. It has saved me many times. I anticipate it will be the last outboard I own. I just can't see investing so much money into anything else.
-----PRO's
1. Very cheap to buy. I got a running boat, motor and trailer for $1000
2. Parts are fairly inexpensive when compared to other 2 stroke outboards. Except for very rare parts that people jack the price way up. I have noticed the super expensive parts don't sell. I think most people move on to another motor before they will pay such very high prices. It's called not throwing good money after bad.
3. Very light motors. Weight equals speed on the water.
4.Easy to work on once you get past the learning curve. I can do the spring season service in about 2 hours.
-----CON's
1. If you aren't mechanically inclined DO NOT buy one. There are very few mechanics that will work on them and if they do they will probably make things worse. This is the single most important thing on these motors.
2. Loud. These motors are loud 2 strokes. They don't have much sound deadening built into their design.
3. They idle kinda ruff no matter no much you tweak them
4. They tend to have a lot of vibration.
5. Parts availability. With these motors the first thing you should buy is a factory parts book. Also keep in mind many force parts work. They just put letters in front of the numbers. I have ebay saved searches setup to send me emails when parts I am looking for show up. Ebay has been the best source for parts. Although so far Franz Marine has also been excellent.
6. If you are mechanically inclined you must use a website like this one. It has helped me many times although sometimes you have to sift through till you get the correct info.
7. Not great gas mileage.
I think that's about it. Considering all the pros and cons I have decided to stick with my Chrysler outboard. So now that I have got my Chrysler running ok I'm willing to live with the noise, vibrations, gas mileage and parts issues. Incidentally, I have a box full of "just in case parts". I buy them when they are cheap. It has saved me many times. I anticipate it will be the last outboard I own. I just can't see investing so much money into anything else.
now (thanks to this forum) I'm somewhat of a guru on these motors & they work every time I'm up there. 
