Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

[johnk86]

Some of you who have seen me post know my situation. I have a 1988 175hp Johnson V6 outboard that has stripped splines on the bottom of the crankshaft and top of the driveshaft. When I took it to the mechanic, he said "time to start looking for another motor". I did that and a new one is on the way. <br /><br />Now, my first inclination was to keep the Johnson, get a used driveshaft and crankshaft in good condition and disassemble the powerhead and lower unit, replace the parts, and reassemble them again. Buy new seals too.<br /><br />I asked a seller a question on EBay who is selling a used crankshaft inquiring about condition. He said, among other things, that he could not sell his motor (mid-80s high horsepower motor) that was running good so he broke it down to sell it for parts. When I said I was thinking about rebuilding as a learning experience and hoping to get some money out of the engine, he said that he's rebuilt a few before and found it to be "costly, time-consuming, tedious" and if he hadn't had someone there to help him the first time, he would have to have done things over again a number of times.<br /><br />Now, I am interested in taking this thing apart just for the learning experience. The dilema I have is should I:<br />1) look to buy a crankshaft and driveshaft now (at least the crankshaft is on EBay now), tear apart the motor, then attempt to put it back to together to sell or...<br />2) not buy a crankshaft and driveshaft now and take the motor apart, look for a driveshaft later if I realize that I might be able to put the thing back together (what are the chances of that?) or...<br />3) not buy any parts for it, tear it down, and sell the parts on EBay and hope to get some money that way or...<br />4) leave the motor in tact and try to sell it as a whole for parts and take what I can get?<br /><br />For those of you who can relate to my situation or have any insight, please let me know. All I've done so far is take the motor off my boat and put it on a homemade motor stand in my garage.<br /><br />Thanks for any opinions you have.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

Being the inquisitive mind and fix it guy that I am, I would go ahead and get the parts as if you planned on rebuilding it. You have already deceided to put new power on the boat, use this engine as your "Learning Project". Who knows, you may do better than you think (outboards are simple engines) and you could end up with a real good engine in the end. If you wanted, you could then buy a hull that needs just a little work, pair the two and sell a boat. That should get your money out of the deal, and you learned something.<br /><br />Just a thought.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

If it were mine, I would tear it down first. That way you can make up your shopping list as you go. You know for sure that you'll need the crank and driveshaft. You may find that one of the pistons is slightly scuffed, or maybe some bearings are a little sloppier than spec. <br /><br />The downside is that if it's a long search, your nice neatly mounted-on-a-rack motor will be a messy, stacked-in-whatever-boxes-you-can-find pile on the floor and shelves. If money is less of an issue than keeping the garage neat for the missus, then you might be able to sell it complete, but you'll likely be limited to local sale. Not many people want to bother with shipping a motor that large, particularly if it's a parts motor. Parting it out would be the way to go if you're looking to recoup some of your investment - assuming you decide it's more than you want to take on for rebuilding...<br /><br />- Scott

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

hello<br /> tear it down first. that way if you find the castings are just to corroded or the bolts wont budge you dont have a crank and such as well. I have an 89 that we could discuss some parts. anyway tear it down clean it up then decide if its worth building or selling as parts. I normally sell used parts for 1/2 of retail.<br /> good luck and keep posting

 

[snohomishbaddawg]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

I was in the same boat (so to speak) this last fall. I broke the crankshaft on my 94 90hp johnson and could not decide if I wanted to rebuild or replace. I started tearing the thing down and the further I got into the thing the more the rebuild costs added up. I ended up selling the parts on ebay and netted about $900 for the stuff. Got a new yami 4 stroke and don't regret the choice at all.

 

[Tinkerer2]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

Tear it down first.<br /><br />There's always the chance you'll find something wrong in tearing it down that renders it pointless even thinking about rebuilding it.<br /><br />The surest way to end up with parts you can't use is to buy them before you know they're worth fitting, or can be fitted. And maybe they'll be the wrong part entirely, like buying stock piston rings and finding that you need oversize or vice versa.

 

[DJ]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

I think the concensus is to tear it down. you have absolutely nothing to lose.<br /><br />If it turns out worse than you thought, it's time to go e-bay'ing! You'll get a few bucks out of it that way.

 

[johnk86]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

Thanks guys, I will tear it down and see what I have. I will keep you posted on my progress. Ought to be an interesting ride since this is the first time I've done this with an engine.

 

[Solittle]

Re: Looking for opinions: rebuild, sell for parts

Get the OMC shop & parts manual if you think there is a chance you might want to rebuild it.<br /><br /> http://www.theoutboardwizard.bizhosting.com/parts_service_and_owners_manuals.html