Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to blow?

[BrokeLoser]

Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to blow?

I ask this because it seems that most people wait to throw a ring, rod or bearing and then they replace a powerhead and usually a long block.
Does anyone ever clean up / hone the cylinders, replace critical bearings, rings...etc before something lets go? Like around the 2,000 hour mark?
When I use to race motorcycles we would never want to throw a rod or waste a piston because it would / could ruin lots of other parts and maybe even the bottom end. We always tried to be proactive and replace critical "wear parts" on a run time basis.

Just curious.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I would if i had the money but i would need a lot of money to replace all the rings and especially the bearings and everything else that can get worn.
I find it more cost effective to just buy the parts that go when it does eventually blow. But running premixed fuel and checking the carbs arent running lean after its being sitting has saved me a rebuild for a long time and counting.....

The biggest risk is the damage to the cylinder wall but more often than not a hone or a os piston will fix that up good

 

[aerobat]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

i guess most people do not perform proactive overhauls out of a running condition because on the one hand usually the engine is rigid enough to hold for decades with the usual annually running hours of a recreational boater and on the other hand when the engine gets old its a question if its worth such a step or not, additionally when the engine runs people want to go boating and not overhauling.

in really expesive big industrial engines or safety critical aero engines overhaules on a running engines are usual, but not at recreational boat engines .

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Cost and available time to perform the work are the biggest no no's in my opinion. Part out the exploded one and buy a running replacement.

 

[F_R]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I'd say that far more damage is done by would-be "mechanics" rebuilding powerheads that don't need it, than if they had left them alone.

 

[JB]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

+1 ^

 

[racerone]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Motors with electronic ignition and fixed jet carburetors usually start and run.---------For most folks that means there is nothing wrong with it , so why take it in for inspection.-------Result is motors that come to a " dynamic halt " and go to the scrap heap.----------Now, years ago I knew of a dealer that used to offer free winter storage with a comprehensive check over.------Stored many motors too.---------Those days are long gone.

 

[BrokeLoser]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I'd say that far more damage is done by would-be "mechanics" rebuilding powerheads that don't need it, than if they had left them alone.

Well, a "would-be mechanic" has no business cracking into an engine block and you would never want to tear one down that doesn't need it. But a powerhead with say 3k hours on it should more than likely "need it" considering average life expectancy and all. If you're running an outboard with 3k hours on it you're sitting on a live grenade. Why not be proactive and have it rebuilt at 30% the cost of a new long block? Even paying a qualified mechanic for labor still puts you way ahead financially...plus those remanufactured powerheads come bored .020-.040 over..who wants .040 over cylinders?

 

[gm280]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I don't think many if any folks rebuild their vehicle engines and transmissions and differentials and such just because. And I think that most boater do general maintenance like lower foot oil, impellor work and plugs and such. But if it isn't broken, why tear into it? Boats rarely see the same hours put on them that vehicles do. So run them until...

 

[jb93]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

You can do a top-end rebuild on a single cylinder 250cc 2 stroke motorcycle for under $200. A quick scrape on ebay would suggest that a rebuild kit for a smaller V4 outboard (90-115) is $700 and more for a V6 outboard. That doesn't include the cost of having the cylinders bored or honed and cleaned up...probably $60/hole. So another $240. If I am on target, that is about a $1000 to do a rebuild on a V4 outboard if you do everything yourself except bore/hone? You can find a good engine...or at least a parts motor with good powerhead for $1000. Seems easier to swap out a good used replacement powerhead than do a rebuild.

 

[BrokeLoser]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I don't think many if any folks rebuild their vehicle engines and transmissions and differentials and such just because. And I think that most boater do general maintenance like lower foot oil, impellor work and plugs and such. But if it isn't broken, why tear into it? Boats rarely see the same hours put on them that vehicles do. So run them until...

You're right, it doesn't seem that people pay attention to the big potential mechanical failures before they actually fail which is my point exactly. The typical cycle is run motor until it breaks then spend 10k-20k for a new motor or 5k (at the very least) for a remanufactured powerhead. Why not spend $1,500 and be proactive?

 

[racerone]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

The vast majority of people boating today also have the money to buy a new motor.-----------With the cost of good shop labour now adding up quickly and folks being impatient it means.-------" buy a new one like everybody else does "----------It is usually cheaper to buy a good used motor than to rebuild.

 

[BrokeLoser]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I don't think many if any folks rebuild their vehicle engines and transmissions and differentials and such just because. And I think that most boater do general maintenance like lower foot oil, impellor work and plugs and such. But if it isn't broken, why tear into it? Boats rarely see the same hours put on them that vehicles do. So run them until...

You can do a top-end rebuild on a single cylinder 250cc 2 stroke motorcycle for under $200. A quick scrape on ebay would suggest that a rebuild kit for a smaller V4 outboard (90-115) is $700 and more for a V6 outboard. That doesn't include the cost of having the cylinders bored or honed and cleaned up...probably $60/hole. So another $240. If I am on target, that is about a $1000 to do a rebuild on a V4 outboard if you do everything yourself except bore/hone? You can find a good engine...or at least a parts motor with good powerhead for $1000. Seems easier to swap out a good used replacement powerhead than do a rebuild.

$1,000???
A later model, good, used low hour motor in the 150hp-225hp range is $5k-$10k. A used high hour motor is just another live grenade.

 

[ronward]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I have a 1970 33hp Johnson, a 1973 85hp Johnson, and a 1974 50hp Johnson. I have less than $500 in any one of these motors (including purchase price and all upkeep and replacement parts). All three run great and have the same compression numbers now as they did from the factory. Forgive me if I'm missing something, but what is it exactly that I need to "freshen up". Or maybe a better question would be "What would I do to freshen any of these up that would not cost more than they're worth or would not actually do more harm than good?

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I have five 2 cycle outboard engines in the garage right now._ _ _ _ A 1969 9.5hp_ _ _ _A 1975 50hp_ _ _ _ A 1983 50hp_ _ _ _A 1987 50hp VRO and a 1988 70hp. _ _ _ _ _One of which will be up for sale this spring.

Of this group there is only one which has issues,_ _ _ _ the 70hp._ _ _ _ _It has a washed out driveshaft and crankshaft from improper maintenance._ _ _ _ _All others have great compression numbers on all cylinders._ _ _ _ _ Should these all be rebuilt because of their age?_ _ _ _ _I don't think so!

 

[ronward]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I have five 2 cycle outboard engines in the garage right now._ _ _ _ A 1969 9.5hp_ _ _ _A 1975 50hp_ _ _ _ A 1983 50hp_ _ _ _A 1987 50hp VRO and a 1988 70hp. _ _ _ _ _One of which will be up for sale this spring.

Of this group there is only one which has issues,_ _ _ _ the 70hp._ _ _ _ _It has a washed out driveshaft and crankshaft from improper maintenance._ _ _ _ _All others have great compression numbers on all cylinders._ _ _ _ _ Should these all be rebuilt because of their age?_ _ _ _ _I don't think so!

Hey bonz-d, maybe we should all rebuild our older outboards since ya never know when you might find your boat on the track alongside BrokeLoser's motorcycle...it is fresh ya know. That'd be embarassing

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Back in my HS days I had one of the 1st Husky CR125cc MX bikes in the states and before that rode a 125cc Penton 6 Days Trials MX bike. Sure we used to re-ring all the time but you cannot compare an air cooled 2 stroke MX bike to a water cooled outboard. An outboard takes nowhere near the beating that a Moto Cross bike does.

 

[BrokeLoser]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

I don't think many if any folks rebuild their vehicle engines and transmissions and differentials and such just because. And I think that most boater do general maintenance like lower foot oil, impellor work and plugs and such. But if it isn't broken, why tear into it? Boats rarely see the same hours put on them that vehicles do. So run them until...

You can do a top-end rebuild on a single cylinder 250cc 2 stroke motorcycle for under $200. A quick scrape on ebay would suggest that a rebuild kit for a smaller V4 outboard (90-115) is $700 and more for a V6 outboard. That doesn't include the cost of having the cylinders bored or honed and cleaned up...probably $60/hole. So another $240. If I am on target, that is about a $1000 to do a rebuild on a V4 outboard if you do everything yourself except bore/hone? You can find a good engine...or at least a parts motor with good powerhead for $1000. Seems easier to swap out a good used replacement powerhead than do a rebuild.

I have a 1970 33hp Johnson, a 1973 85hp Johnson, and a 1974 50hp Johnson. I have less than $500 in any one of these motors (including purchase price and all upkeep and replacement parts). All three run great and have the same compression numbers now as they did from the factory. Forgive me if I'm missing something, but what is it exactly that I need to "freshen up". Or maybe a better question would be "What would I do to freshen any of these up that would not cost more than they're worth or would not actually do more harm than good?

Your situation is obviously the exception. Simple cost of repair to potential value mathematics. You'd throw your motor away before making any major repair.

 

[racerone]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

The situation / thinking on this is different for every party involved.-------------Mechanical expertise / availability of parts / availability of tools / availability of good used motors is different in every state / province.

 

[ronward]

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

Re: Does anyone ever "freshen up" an outboard motor or do you simply wait for it to b

By the way BrokeLoser, I didn't catch what kind of outboard you have and when it was last freshened up.