Old evinrude, Should i do it?

[santander]

I found a guy with a 15 hp evinrude that is willing to sell it for $300 the only catch is that it's a 1957 motor. He says it runs perfect and is pratically new. I have been searching for a motor for weeks and haven't found anything but small 5 hp tohatsu's. I need something to power my 14 ft john boat but i need something that will be very reliable. Am i better off with a newer 2000+ small chinese or japenses motor or would the old evinrude do the job. I would prefer a 9.9 but those are impossible to find where i live in florida. PLus is this guy asking to much for the motor? He said he could sell it for $800; if it was proffesionally painted, to a collector. Should i offer less and go for it?
thanks

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

If you can get a 15hp evinrude for 300dollars that runs, buy it---quick. They are very simple to work on and very, very reliable. If you don't like it, sell it to me for the same price, as I would love to have a 15 evinrude. You can still find parts for it. Replace the whole ignition for about 80$, reseal lower unit for about $40, and carb kit is about 15$. Water pump impeller for about 20, then have a very reliable motor. If it's already running great then change the lower unit oil and put in a new impeller if it needs it and run it for another 50 years. Once again, good deal, great motor, buy it.
JMO,
JBjennings

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

The motor may, indeed, run well and be reliable.

If you are mechanically inclined, check the compression, make sure it pumps water and check the lower unit oil for signs of worn gears (metal in the oil) and/or water intrusion. Also make sure that it shifts normally and stays in gear both with no load and under a load. If it still has the pressure tank, check that to make sure it isn't rusted out and that the seals don't leak. If it has been used a lot in saltwater, make sure anything that is supposed to move, does. It should tilt normally, steer easily, etc.

Old OMC motors are pretty "bulletproof" if they have been taken care of. I actually prefer them over some of the "newer" motors with CDI, multiple carbs, etc. just because those motors have more in them that tends to fail.

BTW if you "google" the search string "small outboards," the first hit you will probably get is a site for a business in FL that sells a lot of smaller, used motors. He has a later model Johnson 15hp available right now for $1195.00 and a Johnson 9.9hp for $795.00. This guy also sells vintage outboards and has an Evinrude 15hp like the one you are looking at for $995.00. This motor looks like it has been repainted and has a fuel pump installed.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

this thread sure sounds familiar, wonder if it is the same motor. seems like it was in the Ft Lauderdale area.

 

[Lakester]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

hello,
seems i just read about a 15HP evinrude on ebay? or was it another? missing tiller, starter, and linkage, + some other stuff, for about $126 or so was the bid...

dint interest me. id never find the parts... lol

regards
lakester

 

[cc67]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

Good luck with the 15. I got one a few weeks ago (1954 15012) for $50 and so far a couple of coils I had on hand and a carb kit it runs good. The lower unit gets a rehab this weekend. So far cheap entertainment.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

No such thing as a 1957 Evinrude 15 hp. The motor is from 1953-56.

Great motors. I have five (I think). Most expensive was $100 running and in good original condition. You'd be hard pressed to find someone to give $800 unless its in showroom condition. They are not the most sought after 50's OMC's, although they are amoung my favourites.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

I'd love to see someone do a comparison test between a 50s model 15hp and one of the 70s/80s 15hp engines. The usual - identical boats, loads, prop pitch, etc. I wouldn't be at all surprised if the older motor outperformed the newer one.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

i agree with jay, on performance, i've had 2 50's 15hp rudes.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

Are you consumer minded with your stuff or maintenance minded? Do you buy something, use it up, toss it and get another? If so, go with a newer Jap engine but be prepared to pay out the wazoo. If your maintenance minded, take pride in taking care of your stuff, buy the old E-rude. If you take care of it, you can pass it down to your kids. That's why they're still around, simple, efficient, easily maintained and reliable. Wish today's stuff was half as good.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

this 55 is still running like new.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

$300 for a good running engine is not bad. But for that price I'd want to see it running on a boat though, not in the tank. Make sure the compression is good, say 90 psi and over in both cylinders and similar, and the lower unit is good. The rest can be fixed easily.

All I run is 50's and 60's and they all work well. One of the main engines I used this past summer was a 1950 Evinrude 7.5 hp, the other was a '66 18hp. As was said before, there's not much to go wrong with them. easy to work on and maintain if you have any mechanical abilities at all. (i.e. can you change a tire?

Also make sure it comes with the correct dual line fuel tank and that it works. As the tanks are unique to the 50's engines and will cost you up to $100 to get one if it doesn;t work or come with it.

p.s. TD, where are you that you have to lock up your '55? In my area all the old ones are very safe! Nobody will touch em!

 

[hammerhandle]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

my opinion would be to buy the 15, great motor and fairly easy to work on( dont have to be a marine mechanic to work on).P.S --T.D dont give Samo that location, we all know he wants one of those 15's. (LOL ! )

 

[rolmops]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

This old fastwin has roughly 20 cubic inch while the 1970s 15 horse really is nothing more than a 9.9 with an enlarged carburetor.
I am not sure sure but I think that the 70s 15 has fewer cubic inches.
The pro for the fastwin is that it is easily adjusted for a remote control.
The con is that it is heavy for its hp.
the price is pretty stiff,considering that they are not scarce.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

I've run both 1950's and 1980's 15 hp's motors on my 12' boat and the 1980's performed much better. The 80's motors performed much like the 1960 18 hp I tried on the same boat. I have some GPS numbers in an old post called "How quick do your old outboards push".

I'd still lock up my motor if it was going to live on a boat.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

Actually you'd be surprised at how close the weights are of the old engines and the new ones... Read the 75hp weight thread going right now. The old 75 weighed less than the new one. Aluminum is aluminum. But the new engines are better at getting hp's from less cubic inches...

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

You say you are from Florida? Check out these people: www.smalloutboards.com No, I am not an employee of this company; however, they are in the Tampa area, and they have some very clean small outboards are decent prices. I purchased a 9.9 Johnson from them that still runs like brand new.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

I look at the smalloutboards site every so often. Whoever paints them is really a craftsman! If he is as good at the mechanicals those motors might well be worth the high price. I just like to look at 'em, as they're too high for me.
JBJ

 

[santander]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

In the end i decieded against the motor because he refused to budge on the price. I am now considering a "70's mercury 9.9 which a saw for sale on the side of the road or a 1980's johnson 6 hp thats on craigslist. AnY input to help my decision.
thanks

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Old evinrude, Should i do it?

What are the prices for the other two?