Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

[northwoodslivin]

Hello folks.

Looking at buying one of these motors, not sure which one yet. The fellow claims that the motor on the left in the picture is a 1987 and the motor on the right a 1989. Both Johnson 15hp motors.
He wants 400 for the 87 and 500 for the 89 with a tank and hose, claims that they are well looked after and run well. Is this a good deal "Canadian funds" I have read these are good motors, I personally like the Johnsons over anything else as I used to own an old seahorse that was always well to me.

Your thoughts?
PS Is the lower foot on the 89 original? Are they supposed to have a blue foot??? Here is a picture of the two of em.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

The blue foot is from an Evinrude (hence the blue paint) but its the same thing as a Johnson. Color and a few minor cosmetic differences is all they had different. Mechanically though, they are that same. What I would do is take a compression test on each of them and buy the one that delivers the best compression readings. Check the oil in the lower units on them and make sure there is no milky white oil.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Ah that makes total sense! Thank you for your knowledge

He said he changes the lower oil at the end of every season. I do not have a tool to test compression If I can find one, what is an ideal compression to be looking for?

Can you verify that these motors are the ages he claims? and is 400 for the 87 and 500 for the 89 a good deal? Canadian funds.

Thanks alot!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

good prices, pull start motors, 60 psi plus, you can't get much more than 60PSI with a rope start motor, it would be higher, with an electric starter. directions http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=313963&highlight=compression

the blue foot has been replaced with evinrude foot.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

I would find a friend to borrow one from, because this is somethiing important to check. The compression readings should be very close to the same on both cylinders. I'm not sure what good numbers would be on one of those motors, but I think somewhere around 100psi would be good. Those motors may not deliver that high since they aren't like the oldies from the 50's, which had 3 ring pistons.

I think the prices are good. I sold a 1984 model for $550 last year. The 87 model looks like it's in better cosmetic shape, but that doesn't mean anything mechanically. I've had lots of ugly looking motors that were top notch mechanically and vice versa.

 

[northwoodslivin]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Thank you very much fellas. You both are awesome and have answered my questions

Will letcha know how I make out!
PS
How can I test the compression in the dead of winter? Up here in Canada it is pretty cold outside, water pipes are turned off outside until spring. I know if I brought one of the motors home I could manage to fill up a big bucket and attach the motor onto the back of my boat and warm her up and check compression after, but I am sure that will be impossible to do at the fellows place who has the motors.. hmm. Maybe I am just going to have to take a gamble.

If you had to pick between the two, which one would you buy? Yes, I do agree that the 87 looks to be in better shape.

Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

motor does not have to be warm. hang it on the tail gate of a pick up, saw horse, etc, and just pull the rope. do the same to check spark. one to pick, best compression, and spark, looks can be taken care of with a $2.00 can of spray paint.

 

[bktheking]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

I get 95 psi on my 76 15 and over 100 with my 83 , both rope start. It's a good price for the 87, the 89 with the other lower looks cosmetically worse. The 89 has the better twist grip throttle, they did away with that silly knob on the side of the motor. Where do you live, you can borrow mine LOL. If your really hellbent on colour I have an empty lower housing in white!

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Decent prices. I paid $400US for an '89 Evinrude 4HP deluxe a few years ago. It was immaculate though.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

$400 bucks for an immaculant 4hp of that year, is still a decent price

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

First, you need to post the models numbers to get he year. Second, the 1987 isn't a 1987. Looks like a 1983. The other does look to be about 1989. If both were in the same condition I'd say buy the 1989. The 1989 has cable throttle control and the kill switch is within thumbs reach. With this particular arrangement you can add a landyard to the kill switch to make it a"deadman" switch. The 1983 has the kill switch on the control panel and itsn't as nice. However, the 1989 kill switch location is sometimes a problem if you make a tight left turn and bump the switch against you.

Both motors need a good "once over". History and experience tells me that nice looking outboards usually had an easy life. If I had to choose between these motors based soley on the photos, I'd take the 1983. The 1989 has a replacement lower unit and even that lower unit is beat up. Makes me wonder how it was used.

I had a 1981 Johnson 15 hp with 110 psi compression that I sold a few years ago for $750 CDN. I could have got more. I'd probalby buy either for the asking price if they passed my inspection. Sand, paint and double my money.

 

[bktheking]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Good eye, the left is an 83, the hood and throttle give it away. Make sure if you buy the newer one you get the tilt pin with it, they aren't cheap.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Well, be careful about nice looking outboards too. I've had a few that had badly scored pistons and needed rebuilding. Whichever one passes the compression tests the best and doesn't have any milky looking oil in the lower unit, is one I would buy

 

[Patate]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

The right motor have a 1989 cover, but I think the exhaust have a little seal problem, if you look the steering pivot is black because of crud getting out from the upper mount seals.
May be not too important, expert here will tell.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Well, be careful about nice looking outboards too. I've had a few that had badly scored pistons and needed rebuilding. Whichever one passes the compression tests the best and doesn't have any milky looking oil in the lower unit, is one I would buy

I couldn't agree more. They'd both need a good inspection before I'd part with my money.

I'm not sold that that is an exhaust leak on the steering tube, but it very well could be. Even if it is its not a deal breaker for me. However, I can't see much in those photos. Too far away for me.

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

harbor freight, autozone, kragen, bob o'riley, napa, all sell compression gauges for $10ish Worth it in my opinion, I use it a lot more than I thought I ever would.


And the blue leg- not a big deal, but something happened to the original one, Frankenstein motor maybe? (nothing wrong with frank motors! All of mine are)

 

[Solittle]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

Be careful at placing to much stock into what the seller claims. Remember his goal is take the money you have in your pocket and get it into his. Verify & check everything yourself.

There are scads of posts here the begin with "Well the seller told me that all it needed was - - - - " then comes the long tale of woe.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

The best ones are "well it ran the last time I used it!"

 

[dozerII]

Re: Are these motors the claimed year, if so good deal?

I don't think it really matters how careful you are, when you buy used you take a chance. Last fall I bought an 84 Starcraft with a 74 Merc and checked the motor out as one is supposed to. Clean clear gear oil, looked good faily clean not beat up other than a couple of small nicks here and there. Checked the compression 140,130,140,140 tells me it is all good. It has a leak on the exhaust cover gasket so I orded new ones and when I went to change them I found the reason # 2 had lower compression top ring missing and pieces out of the side of the piston. Didn't mean to hijack your post just check them over with a fine tooth comb.
Glen