Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

[roger3645]

I recently went and looked at a Ski boat which was powered by a 1989 Johnson 140hp looper. I was actually only interested in the boat for the motor. If, I had bought the boat, I had a guy I was going to give the boat and trailer too, after I pulled the motor. I found the boat had a bad floor and transom. The boat has been sitting in a self storage lot for over two years. Using a fully charged battery which I brought with me, I did a compression check. The motor wasn?t really turning over that fast and I got these numbers, 100, 90, 100, 100 (too low for me). I sprayed some WD40 into each cylinder and got the same numbers. But the motor did turn over a bit faster. Since the boat was in bad shape (I don?t have room to store the boat) I let the boat go. I just have this haunting feeling, that the motor most likely does have better compression. I am thinking since it has sat so long, the engine probably wasn?t lubed, causing it to not turn over fast enough to get a good compression reading. I did pump the primer bulb before the compression check. The boat is still for sale.

Question is: Did I give the motor a fair evaluation?

What do you think?

Thanks

 

[itsaboattime]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

I'm going to say nope, you didn't.
Only because you didn't say how much the rig would cost and how much you wanted to put into it. If you could have picked it up for about $200, you should have bought it because you can get more than that for a good lower unit.
If after messing with it a little and the compression numbers didn't come up I would have parted it out and made a profit.
Just my opinion.

 

[roger3645]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

The advertised price was $1000 for the package. I offered $700 for the motor if they would seperate. The lady countered with the entire package for $800. After looking at the boat and finding the shoft floor and transom. The lady just wanted me to make her an offer and drag the boat out of there. I didn't make one. I am sure the lady just really wants the boat moved out of storage so she does not have to pay the storage fees any longer..

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

WD40 was NOT a good choice.

If you would have sprayed Sea Foam or even penetrating oil through the carbs you would have been better off.

2 strokes rely on the oil in the fuel for the main bearings, the wrist bearings and the cylinder walls. You could even spray a gas oil mix in and if you wanted you could put it in the cylinders too.

Were the carbs held wide open? That is also a better way to get a true reading.

My last comment/question is about the compression gauge used. A high quality gauge is necessary for the PSI reading and a low quality gauge will just basically tell if the motor has compression.

I would say that $800 for a 140 looper with controls is an EXCELLENT price and I bet that motor could have been revived and run great.

I wonder if it had ever been de-carbed? I wonder if the rings were stuck? Seriously reconsider your method and get a second look at it.

If it was closer...... I would be all over that deal.

 

[boobie]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

The compression #'s on that motor don't look to bad.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

A 140 Looper in my area goes for more than that alone. A decent trailer is also worth that alone. Even if the boat is junk, give a decent offer and sell the trailer to cover costs, get a near free motor.

 

[roger3645]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Thanks for all the feedback. I just sent her a txt with an offer for the motor. She replied she can't separate. I have no room at all for another boat. This is what happens when you allow your brother-in-law and his two cars move in to your basement.

 

[boobie]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Get rid of the brother-in-law as boats are more important.:laugh:

 

[roger3645]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

I double that. I am trying to figure something out as to where to put the boat.

 

[boobie]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Now that's a loaded question.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

I double that. I am trying to figure something out as to where to put the boat.

in front of or on top of your brother in laws car would work

 

[roger3645]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Just reached a gentlemen's agreement pick up the boat on Monday. I can use my neighbors carport for the boat storage. Need to find someone who needs a good trailer cheap. Boat attached of course

 

[tazrig]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Just reached a gentlemen's agreement pick up the boat on Monday. I can use my neighbors carport for the boat storage. Need to find someone who needs a good trailer cheap. Boat attached of course

That works too. I think you made the right decision taking the engine. :thumb:

 

[roger3645]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

I'll post updates on the motor. Guess I should start a new thread when I do so

 

[roger3645]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Well just got a txt from the lady selling the boat. She advised she sold it. I guess that's why she told me, she couldn't make to the boat until after 3:00PM. She wrote hope you understand. I replied I have a clear understanding on what your word is worth. Guess that's what I get for not conducting a proper compression check. Nooze you lose.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Well just got a txt from the lady selling the boat. She advised she sold it. I guess that's why she told me, she couldn't make to the boat until after 3:00PM. She wrote hope you understand. I replied I have a clear understanding on what your word is worth. Guess that's what I get for not conducting a proper compression check. Nooze you lose.

Maybe the buyer waved more cash in front of her nose. Can't fault the lady for taking cash in hand. Sorry you missed out. I would say that she could have texted you that she had another looker coming by if there was a verbal agreement and get over there. But she did sell the boat which was her intent. Every time I've looked at anything on CL, I lost out if I didn't strike the first time. Again, sorry you missed it.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Did I give this 1989 140 Looper a fair Evaluation?

Well just got a txt from the lady selling the boat. She advised she sold it. I guess that's why she told me, she couldn't make to the boat until after 3:00PM. She wrote hope you understand. I replied I have a clear understanding on what your word is worth. Guess that's what I get for not conducting a proper compression check. Nooze you lose.

Thats too bad. Unfortunately you can't trust anyone these days!