85 HP Evinrude 1975?

[Mystic Wanderer]

Hello all. My first post from a soon to be first time boat owner. I have heard here and there that an Evinrude will basically run forever and is a good motor. The boat I will be sea testing on Saturday is a 1974 17 foot bowrider (brand something like cruiser) with a 85 HP Evinrude outboard. Everything appears sound (I have gotten a good bit of advice on checking out boats from friends - ie transom, floor soft spots etc). I mostly wanted to get some feedback on the motor which the owner said he believes is a 75 but I could see it just as likely being a 74 like the boat. I am assuming that this would have to be a 2 cycle but I forgot to ask today while I was there. I'm mostly looking for experiences and general maintainance advice.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 85 HP Evinrude 1975?

check compression, lower unit oil, for water, is the wiring frayed,cracked, worn. get the service history, what has been done and when. when was the impeller and thermostat, last changed. salt water use?carb rebuild?

 

[LubeDude]

Re: 85 HP Evinrude 1975?

I had a mid to late 70's 85 HP Evenrude and had it on a Bass boat. It was as solid as a rock, had a zillion hours on it when I got it and I ran the begeezins out of it for two years more and the only thing I ever did to it was replace one coil. The guy that had it before me never did anything but service it and run it hard too. They are a great rock solid engine. One reason is that it was low on the HP curve for that block because the 115-140 was basically the same engine.

 

[Mystic Wanderer]

Re: 85 HP Evinrude 1975?

Thanks for the thoughts. I am almost jumping up and down just sitting here typing because I am so anxious to get a line in the water. Just got this years new fishing license. I can't believe I actually waited 7 days into the 2006 season to buy it. Then again with the weather here we get winter and spring in the same day for most of March and April. But the Walleye are movin and I know spring is comin even if the weather man disagrees.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 85 HP Evinrude 1975?

get a manual, kencook.com, or iboats mega mall. get the manual for your specific engine, ask the seller if he has one. if it's a clymer, use it for to keep from getting your knees dirty.