Did I get a good deal? (1973 115HP)

ErikF

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Jun 29, 2008
Messages
204
Hey Everyone,

I haven't posted much in the part of the forum since I was looking for advice on rebuilding my hydro-electric lower unit...

That project was shelved a month or two ago when I stumbled upon another project boat and diverted my efforts and attention to the new toy. Now the project may be shelved permanently as I've found a "new" motor for my Blue Fin and have realized I'd probably spend beyond what the old 65HP hydro-electric shift outboard is worth getting it going again.

The new toy is a 1973 115HP Evinrude Starflite outboard, it has +120psi compression in all cylinders and all the numbers are within 5% of each other, I was able to see it run and shift before I bought it, it starts right up and runs smooth, shifting is pretty smooth but I do hear a slight grinding when it shifts into reverse. It came with the controls, a spare key, and a prop that looks brand new!

Now for the bad, it seems to be weeping oil around the prop, I'm thinking this is a bad seal around the prop shaft? When I ran it on muffs I saw water coming out between the lower unit and the "intermediate unit?" This may be as simple as loose bolts or it might be a sign of larger problems, anything I should keep an eye out for when I pull the lower unit? I think it also needs a new impeller in the waterpump as I'm getting water out the top but nowhere near the amount I like to see. All in all nothing I see as being a huge issue ...yet anyway!

I paid $250 for the motor and controls, the seller also threw in a working Teleflex hydraulic steering system, and whatever other parts I wanted to scavenge off the boat before he junked it. These parts included a 20 gallon steel fuel tank with no visible rust or damage, a small plastic fuel can for a trolling motor, all the gauges and switches from the dash (tach, speedo, fuel, etc...)

I feel like I got a deal, curious what the rest of the forum thinks!

-Erik
 

SideW@ys

Cadet
Joined
May 18, 2009
Messages
20
Re: Did I get a good deal? (1973 115HP)

You got a great deal. I paid 500 bucks just for the teleflex hydraulic system. You have oil leaking out of your gearcase and when that happened to me I just needed to change out some O rings that ended up being really cheap. It also sounds like your waterpump is leaking. If you are buying a kit anyway to replace the impeller you should be able to take care of that when you change the pump. Good luck. You got an awesome deal.
 

SideW@ys

Cadet
Joined
May 18, 2009
Messages
20
Re: Did I get a good deal? (1973 115HP)

I forgot to add to make sure your waterpump is properly sealed before in reinstall the lower unit by hooking up your earmuffs and running water through it. You don't want it to be leaking around the shaft or anywhere else. That is probably what's happening now. You only want water shooting out of the top of the pump where it is supposed to. Also caulk up the connection from the pump to the midsection where the water flows up into the engine to make sure that doesn't leak as well when you reinstall the lower unit.
 
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