Luck buying used outboards?

[SeaHorse]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

I've bought several motors. All were good except a small Tohatsu I bought from somebody in California. Seller claimed it was "kept dry", used little, only needed a pull rope. When I opened the box, I could tell in 2 seconds it was a salt corroded pile of junk. Ebay was no help. I ended up throwing every piece of it away in the trash. One of my least expensive lessons. <br />Be careful when buying from a blue state. I don't like to generalize but in come cases morality there seems to apply only to others.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

<br />...I don't know what to expect when buying used, thinking about just holding off and waiting until I have enough to buy new, maybe i'm too anxious to get into the water, all anyone seems to share about used engines are mostly horror stories, [/QB]

Like others have said here, it's no different than buying a used car, an old house, used appliances, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, and sometimes you break even.<br /><br />As with anything used, have it inspected by a KNOWLEDGEABLE person who specializes in the product. That will raise your chances of having a good experience with the item.<br /><br />If you are buying site unseen, such as on EBAY, just pay what you can afford to lose. That way any surprises won't "break" you.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

It sounds like besides buying the motor, you need to buy a service manual (before you get into trouble). Virtually every motor ever built has the drain plugs in the same place and the refill procedure is universal. For this inspection you are not looking to entirely drain the lower unit. Loosen the plug and just let a little fluid out -- if water is present it will come out or the fluid will be milky and about the consistency of warm catsup. The drain plug us located under the bulge at the bottom of the prop shaft housing. The vent plug is an identical plug located up the leg a bit. Lower units are filled from the bottom using a pump or squeeze bottle until lub comes out the top hole.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

Make sure you bring a LARGE screwdriver for the big slot on the screw....

 

[NJCoastFlyFish]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

Ive decided to start searching for a local evin/johnson mechanic to maybe meet me there and do the outboard check. It will be near the poughkipsee area of NY- I don't have the money to have the sheets pulled over my eyes!

 

[ratracer]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

Originally posted by SeaHorse:<br /> Be careful when buying from a blue state. I don't like to generalize but in come cases morality there seems to apply only to others.

A better lesson is to remember that "buyer beware" is the mantra, especially when it comes to eBay. If the seller states the item is being sold "as-is", consider yourself on your own.

 

[koolerb]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

I bought a 50 hp Johnson about a year and a half ago. Ran it for a season and a half, no problems. I got my 60hp back on the boat last fall so the 50 is going up on ebay in about another week.

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

Old Motors, and used motors here in Florida are risky at best. Salt corosion is a huge problem, and unless you stay on top of it, your motor will be junk in a hurry.<br /><br />WD-40 is a salt-water boaters best friend.

 

[jameservin]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

I bought a 94 60 mariner (yamaha) off ebay few years back, it was within driving distance. Has been best motor ever owned!<br />Buying used is scary enough when ya dont know the history. Think its a crap shoot anyway, but worse when its bought online then shipped! <br /><br />I just cant do it, so I bought new.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

the merc 135 i traded the 50 rude for, i found on ebay. the seller was visiting Fla at the time so he came and looked at the boat and motor. we agreed he would pay my expenses for me to pull my boat to NC. so i could inspect his boat and motor. if i wasn't happy all i had to do was bring my boat back home. surprizingly i got lucky. the boat had a small hole in floor where a tree limb had fallen, motor was great. pull the new boat home, mounted the motor on my 18' Bonita, patch hole in floor. gave boat to my nephew, who is now looking for a 90hp motor. another happy ending.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

i have never purchased a new motor. ever, or a new car or a new house or a new appliance.<br /><br />the more informed you are, and more inquisitive you are about the item, the better. ask LOTS of questions.<br /><br />i just paid 4000 for a recently rebuilt with warranty from a dealer, 1994 mercury 200 offshore. im really happy with it, ive also bought motors for hundreds of dollars from ebay where i cant see or check or test a thing.<br /><br />ive been burned once! and that was a local motor, ha!

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

I'm curious. How many engines out there that turned out to be crap also looked like crap to start off with? Doesn't negligence show from the outside? ...or to put it differently. Has anyone ever purchased an immaculate looking engine that performed like crap?

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

Has anyone ever purchased an immaculate looking engine that performed like crap?<br />

sure, you could buy an engine that LOOKS great, but has , say, leaky reed valves....<br />.... that would make it run like real crap!<br /><br />unless you thoroughly inspect what youre buying, like check gear fluid, check compression, etc.... youre taking a big risk !

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

Yes for sure. I'm not saying don't check the engine out. I'm saying you can already have a good idea if you're buying a POS just by looking at what it looks like from the outside. If it looks like it went through hell, then it did. If it looks immaculate, you should proceed to doing your inspection.<br /><br />Leaky reed valves are an easy cheap fix. I'm talking serious fixing requiring more $$$ than it's worth.

 

[waterinthefuel]

Re: Luck buying used outboards?

We've had pretty good luck with used outboards. The ones that we knew the history of gave us about the same amount of problems as we expected. <br /><br />Just got a 150xp 1990 model and its a strong runner. It's almost scary on the back of the little fish and ski.