1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

[tex599]

Quick couple of questions. I have a 1972 Evinrude 50hp, hydro shift. The engine runs perfect and shifts great. The only problem I have, is that there is water in the lower unit. I have ordered a new water pump kit and lower end seal kit. I have the Evinrude service manual for this boat and will be attempting to replace the seals. Is this something hard to do and do I need any special tools? I was in the process of asking around several local repair shops in Fort Worth, TX for the parts and most just said I should toss that engine in the lake. But I have a real problem of understanding where they are coming from, because this engine has been problem free since new. I use it almost everyweek and just cannot justify getting rid of it. Am I just throwing money away on it or at least $85 worth. I understand that it is getting harder to find parts for it, but most common ones are still available. What are your thoughts?
Thanks

 

[Lakester]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

hello,

check with stone and sons in houston. they have most older evinrude parts in stock. they are an international evinrude supplier.

http://www.outboard-parts.com/ie4/i...it to the lake. :D regards lakester :cool:

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

I have a '72 Johnson 65hp with hydro-electric shift and I love it. As long as the motor is in good shape, reseal it and see how things go. While you have it off the motor, examine the wiring to make sure it is OK. As with any wiring, this wire is prone to becoming brittle over time and it seems that some motors have the problem and some don't. Also, don't forget that this lower unit takes Type C lube or its equivalent.

There is a special tool that you can get - a puller sold by OMC that is used on lower units and flywheels. I bought one years ago because I own a bunch of OMC motors of various sizes and they just work well. There are other pullers (harmonic type) that will work but you have to fool around getting the right bolts, etc.

BTW, one of the things that these motors like to do is to leak exhaust into the engine cowling, via the port where the wire comes out of the midsection. If you remove the ring where the engine pan joins the midsection (four screws in the pan from above & four joining the front & rear halves of the ring), you can gain access to this area. Just use a little heat resistant silicon and seal it well. This is important because your performance will suffer if your motor is trying to "breathe" exhaust gases.

One more thing, one of the mechanics at my local dealer told me the same thing when I bought mine on EBay and brought it to them to go through it. His comment was "get rid of that piece of $*&^ and buy a new one." When I went to pick it up, all the guys at the shop were raving over what good shape it was in and how well it ran. Even considering that I paid shop rates to get the carbs, etc. rebuilt, and include my driving/hotel costs to go get it in the total acquisition cost, I have a very serviceable engine that I spent under $2000 for. I'm having a little "burp" with it now but the problem is looking more like it was caused by bad gas than anything mechanical. All in all, its been very reliable and I can buy a lot of fuel and the odd part here and there, with the four thousand dollars more that it would have taken to buy a new one!

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

You'll find a lot of folks on this forum run older engines... A 1972 to me is too new... Most of mine are 50's. So in my opinion you should have no problem keeping it going. The big IF is with your LU. I have heard they can be tricky the electric shift ones and an LU leak must be dealt with asap. And as Jay said, make sure you use Type C lubricant in the LU.

Also, keep on the lookout for a parts engine. That's the best way to keep an engine going is to get a parts engine. Think how many mechanics are out there telling folks to dump their electric shift OMC's. Thus there should be lots floating around. Check ebay and other sources. And if you don't have the space to store it, strip it and then store it.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

I used to fear electric shift too, until I bought this motor. I would think leaking seals need to be fixed quickly too, but if the solenoids were in basically good shape and you get on this, you should be OK.

One of the things that I like about hydro-electric shift is that the motor "defaults" to forward gear, if the solenoids die or lose signal. When the engine is running and in neutral, one solenoid has been activated, when you shift to reverse, both solenoids are engaged. Forward is, of course, no solenoids, so loss of them will not prevent you from getting home.

I own a number of 50s & 60s motors also and buy both parts motors and individual parts. If you end up needing to buy a LU, watch EBay because they show up there on occassion.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

Jay, if you feared electric shifts then why'd you buy one? Musta been a good deal! I also fear them and would not take one unless it was a really good deal or I needed it for parts!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

It was a good deal. The way I buy stuff off of EBay is to make a decision on risk - I don't know that I have a set number on a particular item but, I sort arrive at a "gut check" as to whether or not I am willing to gamble the money that I offer for a motor or part. I also consider whether or not I am likely to get my money back by re-selling the item, if I decide that I don't want to fool with it.

This motor had all of the signs of being a good one. It was also close enough for me to pickup and I made it clear that, EBay rules or not, I wouldn't accept it if it were not as advertised. The motor was presented as one that had been used very little and the telltale signs supported that - compression was over 140 in all three cylinders (its still 138 - 140 in all three), every thing that was supposed to move did, electrical check on the solenoids was ok, original paint that was hardly worn anywhere - including the skeg. The motor had also been a freshwater motor for its entire life which is something that I look for for obvious reasons.

I was extremely busy at the time that I received the motor so I just took it to my OMC dealer to get it ready. He did the usual stuff - rebuild carbs and water pump, drain, check and replace the gear oil, examine the shift wiring (was ok), new fuel pump, replaced rectifier & thermostat and a few things that I am probably forgetting at the moment. I bought the motor for $400, spent about $200 getting it and the bill at the shop was about $1,000. Add to that an adapter bracket/arm to use teleflex style steering in it (no tube on this motor) for $200, and a couple of odds and ends over the last year of frequent use. So, for under $2,000 I have had a good runner that will probably last me quite awhile longer. Considering that I am seeing a lot of old, refurbished motors in the 15hp category being sold for $800 - $1,200, I could probably get most, if not all, of money back if I decided to sell it.

 

[Lakester]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

Considering that I am seeing a lot of old, refurbished motors in the 15hp category being sold for $800 - $1,200, I could probably get most, if not all, of money back if I decided to sell it.

hello,

i noted this morning on CL a 1978 85 Merc for $3995. not sure he will get that, but none the less... that is the asking price today.

regards
lakester

 

[tex599]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

Thanks for all the replies. I feel the same way you do and don't mind spending some money on it. That being said anyone ever replaced the seals in this motor? How hard is to do?
Thanks
Tex

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

If you are not sure about doing the work, check with your local shops to see what they would charge you for the job. I would start where you ordered the parts just because most shops want to earn the markup on whatever parts they use and may not want to use customer supplied parts.

 

[Lakester]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

If you are not sure about doing the work, check with your local shops to see what they would charge you for the job. I would start where you ordered the parts just because most shops want to earn the markup on whatever parts they use and may not want to use customer supplied parts.

hello,

no doubt ur engine is very similar to the 1971 50HP evinrude. the oe parts manual shows most of the l/u's seals, o-rings, etc, to be in the area of the water pump with an inner exh gasket and a gasket to seal solenoid to gearcase.

if u r handy with tools and have some exp, and get get the oe manuals the job shouldn't be too hard to do. no doubt plenty of guideance here for when and if u have questions as u go...

regards,

lakester

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift 50273

It was a good deal. The way I buy stuff off of EBay is to make a decision on risk - I don't know that I have a set number on a particular item but, I sort arrive at a "gut check" as to whether or not I am willing to gamble the money that I offer for a motor or part. I also consider whether or not I am likely to get my money back by re-selling the item, if I decide that I don't want to fool with it.

This motor had all of the signs of being a good one. It was also close enough for me to pickup and I made it clear that, EBay rules or not, I wouldn't accept it if it were not as advertised. The motor was presented as one that had been used very little and the telltale signs supported that - compression was over 140 in all three cylinders (its still 138 - 140 in all three), every thing that was supposed to move did, electrical check on the solenoids was ok, original paint that was hardly worn anywhere - including the skeg. The motor had also been a freshwater motor for its entire life which is something that I look for for obvious reasons.

I was extremely busy at the time that I received the motor so I just took it to my OMC dealer to get it ready. He did the usual stuff - rebuild carbs and water pump, drain, check and replace the gear oil, examine the shift wiring (was ok), new fuel pump, replaced rectifier & thermostat and a few things that I am probably forgetting at the moment. I bought the motor for $400, spent about $200 getting it and the bill at the shop was about $1,000. Add to that an adapter bracket/arm to use teleflex style steering in it (no tube on this motor) for $200, and a couple of odds and ends over the last year of frequent use. So, for under $2,000 I have had a good runner that will probably last me quite awhile longer. Considering that I am seeing a lot of old, refurbished motors in the 15hp category being sold for $800 - $1,200, I could probably get most, if not all, of money back if I decided to sell it.

Sounds like reasonable prudence. That's good it worked out for you.

 

[star3662]

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift

Re: 1972 Evinrude 50hp, Hydro Shift

hello hope all of you can help me. i have a 1972 envinrude model number
50esl72c the problem i have is inside the control box for the motor to be more percise i think it is the switch that puts the motor in forward and reverse is brokken i just don't even know where to begin for parts for that any ideals