need some advice on possiable purchase

[billybaja]

Hi I am looking at a 1988 johson bubble back 140 hp.. Motor runs real good but has water in #3 cyl.. compression is 110-120 in all 4 cyl.. owner said he got the motor from po and he noticed the water and had changed the head gasket but never milled the head,. seller seems pretty legit demo`s motor in can plenty of water from telltale and has infared heat gun and it shows about 130-132 degrees after about five min.. does not seem to get any hotter..in or out of gear, He wants 500.00 for it but recomends to get head milled and new gasket right away has tnt works perfect and will also come with prop.. Thinking of taking a chance, anybody have any ideas? or advice?? has anybody ever run across this problem?? Thanks in advance Bill

 

[mikomos]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

could have a hair line crack water in cylinder i wouldnt buy it.

 

[bktheking]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

Roll the dice.....

 

[billybaja]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

thanks for the reply,it does run and has 120 to 110 on compression checks , do you mean a hairline crack in the head water passages or cyl wall ??

 

[CBGale2]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

Question you have to ask yourself is if you can part it out and break even if it ends up being scrap?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

Probably at least $350+ worth of parts there. Lower unit, TnT, ect.

 

[CBGale2]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

Go for it man, its only money.

 

[glassmaster68]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

if you want it bad,go for it,but,if you have to think too hard on it,,walk away

 

[billybaja]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

Thanks everybody, decided to pass when I went to the guys house he had quite a few motors and parts nice little backyard shop, and a nice guy..but When looking over motor I noticed that the head that was getting water on plug had been changed already he claims it was probally not decked when installed which is probally true but with the knowledge and parts availability this guy had I just did not get a good feeling. He said he just did not want to get invovled and if he did he would get around 1500. for it I would think that for the price of the head gasket around 25.00 and machine work about 30.00 or lets round off to 100.00 in parts if head is bad, about 30 min work to change head, I would think he would do it himself to make another 800-1000 dollars?? So I decided to pass but just wanted to thank everybody for their input.. just a bad feeling.. Thanks again Bill

 

[ezmobee]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

I agree with your bad feeling. It makes no sense that he wouldn't fix it himself.

 

[jonesg]

Re: need some advice on possiable purchase

Have to wonder if he can actually HEAR himself.