Re: A good place to find used outboard?
Not east coast only. Posts here from all over the world. First, check all of the posts here at iboats in the Top Secret Files about buying and reviving an outboard.
First things first: Caveat Emptor (Let the buyer beware!)
Second things second: B.O.A.T. = Break Out Another Thousand
That being said, if the motor already runs, ask to see it run in person BEFORE you buy it. At the very least, see it run in a tank, or on muffs. It should at least start in under ten pulls and idle smoothly and shift into and out of gear easily and pumps water out of the tell tale and/or exhaust. HOWEVER, motors can behave very differently on a boat and under load, so bear that in mind. If you can see the motor running on a boat that would be ideal, but probably not likely.
If you're willing to look at some motors that may need a bit of work (a.k.a. the "it ran a couple years ago before I put it away in the garage") then the 3 main things you want to look for in any motor are:
1.) Compression 2.) Spark 3.) Fuel
If you have a compression gauge, use it. Ideally the pistons will be within 10% of eachother once the motor is warmmed up. But, if you're like me, you don't have a gauge you can get a VERY ROUGH idea of the basic state of the motors's compression when you pull the starter cord on the engine. If you feel a strong, but smooth "lub dub" action, then it's probably ok (again, only speaking very generally).
To check the spark, get an in-line, gap style, spark plug tester from an auto parts store. Well worth the investment at $7-8. If you can get a spark to jump a 7/16, then the spark is also probably ok. You can ground the spark plugs on the engine block and pull the starter too. You should see and hear a nice, "snapping", blue spark when you pull the starter cord. HOWEVER, this is not really a very good way to test for good spark, but if you're in a pinch it can be done. If you don't get a spark, it may be a simple fix to just replace the points and/or coils. Both of which are cheap easy fixes and worth doing if the motor is otherwise sound.
As for fuel, look for any obvious leaks on the motor. Pump up the bulb and let it sit for a bit and/or run the motor. The bulb should stay firm. If it gets soft, then you may have a fuel pump issue. Not a super big deal really. They're about $50 and pretty easy to replace for the most part. Also, resign yourself to cleaning and rebuilding the carb. Again, not a big deal and to be expected. Carb kits are approx. $20 and you can do it all yourself.
You can check the Lower Unit by looking at the gear oil by unscrewing the drain plug a bit. If water comes out, and/or the oil comes out cloudy or milky, then it may have a leak. This can often be fixed by getting a Lower Unit seal kit for about $20.
More than anything, take your time. It's easy to get outboard fever and buy the first motor you see. There are go-zillions of 25 hp in the world, so no need to get the first one you see. Resign yourself to putting a little TLC and $$$ into any motor. $100-$200 on top of what you pay for the motor to get it in tip top shape, is not unhead of. These outboards have parts that can and do ware out over time, such as the carb kit, waterpump(impller), points, spark plugs, or coils so don't be alarmed if you have to replace a few of them. Happy hunting! Keep us posted. Pics are nice
