Bought my first boat to cut, gut and rebuild from bow to stern, including engine. Killed my back and suffered the wrath of the fiberglass demons

[redneck joe]

That last sentence is your winning ticket. Make friends, bring him Scooby snacks and beers.

 

[redneck joe]

And don't by everything you think you need all at once. Gives you reasons to go back and ask more questions.

 

[kcassells]

Those other areas left and right of transom and higher areas need to be removed.
Save all the skins they can be used to place back. Saves a lot of glass work.
Looking good. And shop/compare pricing

 

[TripleJGraffis]

That last sentence is your winning ticket. Make friends, bring him Scooby snacks and beers.

I will start with a little small talk and maybe one day I can make it to the scooby snacks level LOL

 

[TripleJGraffis]

And don't by everything you think you need all at once. Gives you reasons to go back and ask more questions.

I like that idea!

 

[TripleJGraffis]

Those other areas left and right of transom and higher areas need to be removed.
Save all the skins they can be used to place back. Saves a lot of glass work.
Looking good. And shop/compare pricing

Why does more need to be removed? All the wood is out. The areas to the left and right of the transom are just one layer of fiberglass. If I remove them, then there is no stern.

 

[kcassells]

Why does more need to be removed? All the wood is out. The areas to the left and right of the transom are just one layer of fiberglass. If I remove them, then there is no stern.

To me looked like the glass was fractured.

 

[kcassells]

I cannot tell if these areas are compromised. I would suspect it has wood in there.

 

[TripleJGraffis]

I cannot tell if these areas are compromised. I would suspect it has wood in there.

There is no wood to the left and right.... just that area in the middle that is already cut out. Only a layer of fiberglass is to the left and right. No wood.

 

[kcassells]

Great!

 

[redneck joe]

hey back to your engine stand thing, here is what i put on my wood lathe cart I built. I like they lock up out of the way so when using the lathe the stand does not move.

Amazon.com

 

[TripleJGraffis]

Need your help guys... working on the motor today... compression is 105...105.... and 65 on the top most cylinder.... got the head off. doesn't seem like a gasket issue. Gasket Seems intact. But have a look and advise away.
Also... last night when I tried starting it up.....I got it to somewhat start and then it died..... it never got to the point where I could stop turning the key and keep it running.... today.... it wasn't as successful. Revelation up a little bit.... stopped and then the starter got hot and started smoking the longer I kept the key turned... so I stopped... funny thing though.... when.I got the head removed....I fired turned the key... knowing the engine wouldn't torn over.... but I wanted to see what the pistons did.... and all of them started moving continuously and without any sputtering or stopping like it did with the head on.... is that normal? Wish I could attach videos on here from my phone.

Top cylinder looks definitely questionable. What kind of repair am I looking at?

 

[Black58]

No love there! Doesn't appear you're afraid of work anyway.

 

[havoc_squad]

Need your help guys... working on the motor today... compression is 105...105.... and 65 on the top most cylinder.... got the head off. doesn't seem like a gasket issue. Gasket Seems intact. But have a look and advise away.
Also... last night when I tried starting it up.....I got it to somewhat start and then it died..... it never got to the point where I could stop turning the key and keep it running.... today.... it wasn't as successful. Revelation up a little bit.... stopped and then the starter got hot and started smoking the longer I kept the key turned... so I stopped... funny thing though.... when.I got the head removed....I fired turned the key... knowing the engine wouldn't torn over.... but I wanted to see what the pistons did.... and all of them started moving continuously and without any sputtering or stopping like it did with the head on.... is that normal? Wish I could attach videos on here from my phone.

Top cylinder looks definitely questionable. What kind of repair am I looking at?

If that's a force outboard, I'd say stick a fork in that powerhead and call it scrap metal. I'll give the details why below on the damage I see.

Force engines becoming ever more difficult to obtain parts for key items.

You'd probably be better off looking for a 1981/1982 and up V4 crossflow or maybe a evinrude/johnson 3 cylinder looper (not sure of the best year model ranges for that)

As regarding powerhead condition description based off of photos.

Top cylinder looks like it ran lean and detonation/pre-ignition happened.

Having damage on the edge of the crown of the piston on the exhaust side is usually points that the likely failure point was detonation/pre-ignition.

You will likely end up nickel & diming your way to $1700 worth of machine shop labor, powerhead shipping, and parts. Definitely NOT worth it for that outboard.

 

[TripleJGraffis]

No love there! Doesn't appear you're afraid of work anyway.

Nope... not at all

 

[TripleJGraffis]

If that's a force outboard, I'd say stick a fork in that powerhead and call it scrap metal. I'll give the details why below on the damage I see.

Force engines becoming ever more difficult to obtain parts for key items.

You'd probably be better off looking for a 1981/1982 and up V4 crossflow or maybe a evinrude/johnson 3 cylinder looper (not sure of the best year model ranges for that)

As regarding powerhead condition description based off of photos.

Top cylinder looks like it ran lean and detonation/pre-ignition happened.

Having damage on the edge of the crown of the piston on the exhaust side is usually points that the likely failure point was detonation/pre-ignition.

You will likely end up nickel & diming your way to $1700 worth of machine shop labor, powerhead shipping, and parts. Definitely NOT worth it for that outboard.

It's not a force... it's a Suzuki..... but I am thinking the same thing... not afraid to spend that kind of money though..as long as I get a working engine out of it whether or be to bring this motor back to life or spend that much for a working used one.

 

[racerone]

Motor must be taken apart for a complete evaluation.----Do not forget taking lower unit apart as well.

 

[stresspoint]

take it apart , see how bad it is in the bores etc , parts used to be easy to come by when my brother had his and prices were not too bad either .
you may just get away with aa re ring and a hone , but be prepared for the worst .
as i posted earlier the starter is a weak link , you have probably smoked it now so add that to the list .
as posted by racer one , take the leg off and service the water pump while its in bits as that may have been why the cylinder is done for.
so call this a lesson learned , never by an outboard without doing a comp test and seeing it running... luckily it was not a real expensive motor so not too much lost , if anything use it to learn about 2 smoke outboards , they are a simple as an outboard gets so have some fun with it learning .

 

[havoc_squad]

It's not a force... it's a Suzuki..... but I am thinking the same thing... not afraid to spend that kind of money though..as long as I get a working engine out of it whether or be to bring this motor back to life or spend that much for a working used one.

As mentioned previously, parts support is the biggest concern.

Next biggest concern is making sure it isn't a crappy engine design like the Evinrude FICHT outboards.

If those two pass and it is a fully rebuildable core, then it might be worth it.

For that old of a Suzuki, I'd say pass on spending the money to rebuild powerhead.

Where you going to find a replacement lower unit or trim/tilt unit if either goes out for that model?

 

[redneck joe]

part it out and find another, newer, running that you know has proper compression form the start. imo compression is primary on any buy, in/out of gear and able to start and stay running for at least a little bit. The other stuff is usually easy and relatively cheap. Breaking down powerheads is not on my list of things I want to do.


or keep it and play with it in a couple years when you get another one on and you are on the water.