Learn to repair Outboard Motors

[ftallen]

I've rebuilt lawnmowers, motorcycles, and car engines before. However, outboards have always been a bugga-boo for me. It's all the peripheral stuff that is so confusing.
I would love to be competent enough to repair or rebuild my own motor.
If there were a school for Outboard Motors nearby, I would attend.
I wish I could find a good (bare-bones) outboard repair and/or rebuild manual or course so a person with some mechanical ability, like me, could learn.
It's as if there is a coveted club or click you have to belong to before you can understand Outboards.

Any suggestions?

 

[flabum]

Re: Learn to repair Outboard Motors

where are you at?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Learn to repair Outboard Motors

you just joined the right club. to properly work on an outboard, you need the manual for that motor. if you understand 2cycle lawn mowers, and motor cycles, you in good shape. get you a 1955-1965 small johnson/evinrude outboard, they are the simplest to work on, really nothing more than a lawnmower, with a lower unit, and it is water cooled. this will give you a good basis, to begin with. schools are espensive, or you have to work for a dealer, and the dealer thinks enough of you , to sponsor you in the factory school.

i've been known to call this forum, The University of Boating. start reading.

 

[ftallen]

Re: Learn to repair Outboard Motors

Corpus Christi, TX

 

[ftallen]

Re: Learn to repair Outboard Motors

I had a 1983 Evinrude V4 115 that I worked on all the time. I knew it pretty well, but I sold it and bought a 2000 V4 115 60degree looper. Now I'm lost, I can't set the idle without special tools, all the electronics are different, no carb adjustments I can find, I am thinking I made a big mistake upgrading motors.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Learn to repair Outboard Motors

do you have the oem manual? if not get it. believe it is still a dealer item.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Learn to repair Outboard Motors

Like you many years ago I wanted to learn more and learn as much by doing as by reading. I found a local vocational tech school that had an evening course in outboard repair. I acquired a "junk" engine for free and went to school at night. I went through every screw. When I got done it fired up on the 2nd or 3rd pull. I had no use for the engine and sold it for what I had in it plus some beer money. Go for it!!!