used motor to stay away from

[Big Pete]

Re: used motor to stay away from

Well Pete, that's a tough call not knowing its current condition, however, I don't believe there's anything inherently wrong with an 1980's 2 stroke 80HP Mercury. I would venture to say....if it has good compression, everything else can be fixed

Well it was running ok as the guy showed me , so thats a plus i guess , but what does worry me! I found a can of easystart in with the anchor now i have only ever used that to start a old Tractor engine..

When he showed me the boat , the engine was already warm and started on the key first turn ..

 

[ezmobee]

Re: used motor to stay away from

Yeah that would worry me too. You should never use those kind of products on 2 strokes because they have no lubrication properties and can briefly strip off the lubrication you do have. However, if it runs, but it hard to start, it's probably fairly easily epairable. I'm no motor guru though.

 

[jeff_smith_0423]

Re: used motor to stay away from

Hi Guys

Seems you know a lot about outboard engines .

I have just brought a secondhand speedboat with a Mercury 80 on it as per pic.

Is this a good engine , its a 2 stroke dont know the year but pretty old..

is it going to give me grief or is it a good one ?

Threadjacking is bad form. Start a new thread in the appropriate forum. That being said, as long as the powerhead is in good mechanical shape, it's a fine motor.

 

[Big Pete]

Re: used motor to stay away from

Yeah that would worry me too. You should never use those kind of products on 2 strokes because they have no lubrication properties and can briefly strip off the lubrication you do have. However, if it runs, but it hard to start, it's probably fairly easily epairable. I'm no motor guru though.

Ok thanks for that .. time will tell i guess . i will give it new plugs and stuff anyways then see how she goes..

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: used motor to stay away from

Back to the original question.
Steer clear of Ficht, Force and Chrysler.

Just my humble opinion though.
Having said that a motor is only as good as how it has been treated previously. You can find some 20+ year old motors in better condition than a 3 year old one that has been neglected and thrashed.

 

[pmillar]

Re: used motor to stay away from

I'm planning on looking at a boat with a non-running 1997 115 Johnson Fast Strike. This isn't one of the infamous Ficht motors is it? I'm pretty sure it's a V-4 but I haven't checked it out yet to get details on the motor or what's wrong with it. The rest of the boat looks good.

I should mention I posted on the Johnson/Evinrude forum as well asking if I should just steer clear or get more info.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: used motor to stay away from

The HPDI Yamadingers are junk.

Most four strokes lack power n' have too much weight fer a credible "bass boat".

Respectfully, JR

 

[snowman48047]

Re: used motor to stay away from

When I was considering buying my '82 starcraft Islander I asked my favorite guys at a local marina to give it the once over. He asked for details over the phone first, so I loaded him with info. He stopped me when I told him it had a Force outboard. What he told me was; Because they have been made by Force, Chrysler, and Mercury it is sometimes hard to tell exactly what you've got and from what years (Merc upper/Force lower, Chrysler lower, Force upper, etc...). Also because of this some parts can be hard to find. He told me to run away from it, don't bring it to his shop, don't ask him for help.

I didn't listen. So far it has only cost me a prop ($104), a starter rebuild ($96), and a tilt/trim service ($986, from the same shop that told me not to bring it to them). I figure the Islander was worth it and I can always repower. As long as compression is good like has been stated, I wouldn't worry about the motor much. Even my issues have been outside the engine, nothing on the inside.

 

[crazyfishinnut]

Re: used motor to stay away from

I'm planning on looking at a boat with a non-running 1997 115 Johnson Fast Strike. This isn't one of the infamous Ficht motors is it? I'm pretty sure it's a V-4 but I haven't checked it out yet to get details on the motor or what's wrong with it. The rest of the boat looks good.

I should mention I posted on the Johnson/Evinrude forum as well asking if I should just steer clear or get more info.

The fast strike is a Great motor PRE fitch almost bulletproof if serviced and not abused

 

[ward cleaver]

Re: used motor to stay away from

I think the question of which motors are best is about design, reliabaility and manufacturing quality and not the care that any one owner has given to his outboard. On that basis, arent the Evinrudes on the top of the list?

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: used motor to stay away from

I think the question of which motors are best is about design, reliabaility and manufacturing quality and not the care that any one owner has given to his outboard.

...you've got to be kidding.

BP

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: used motor to stay away from

I think the question of which motors are best is about design, reliabaility and manufacturing quality and not the care that any one owner has given to his outboard. On that basis, arent the Evinrudes on the top of the list?

Hmmmmmmm...... then why oh why did OMC go bankrupt then? Hmmmmmm?

 

[ward cleaver]

Re: used motor to stay away from

I have no idea why OMC went bankrupt. If you think you know, then go ahead and say so. When I saw in the title of the thread "used motors" I took that to mean older ones. But I guess that isnt necessarily what the thread is about. Having said that, I do believe the older Evinrude/Johnsons are felt to be solid by those that have owned them. As for newer (and I use that term loosely to mean less that 20 years old) motors, I have no experience and wouldnt pretend to know anything about them.

Regardless, I do believe that all the maintenance in the world is not going to make a poorly designed or poorly built motor be anything but a headache. Whereas even a well design/manufactured motor will eventually have problems. And that can be fixed.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: used motor to stay away from

Ward cleaver states:

I have no idea why OMC went bankrupt.

Clue: people either did not buy enough of their product, or they were very unhappy with what they bought and refused to buy again.

If you think you know, then go ahead and say so.

Read what I just posted above. BTW: are you the Beeeeevs' Dad?

When I saw in the title of the thread "used motors" I took that to mean older ones.

Hmmmmmm............ a 2008 model could be "used" if it were fer sale; could it not?

But I guess that isnt necessarily what the thread is about.

10-4

Having said that, I do believe the older Evinrude/Johnsons are felt to be solid by those that have owned them.

Yer right.....I kinda like 'em, (Johnnyrudes n' all) butt I reeeeeeeeely like me purdy ol' smokin' screamin' tall black girls toooooooo.

As for newer (and I use that term loosely to mean less that 20 years old) motors, I have no experience and wouldnt pretend to know anything about them.

Ya don't say......... Did ya post before thinkin' real clearly then?????? Hmmmm.... As yer post was a bit one sided n' difinitive don't ya think? Hmmmmmmmmmm........?

Regardless, I do believe that all the maintenance in the world is not going to make a poorly designed or poorly built motor be anything but a headache.

Yabutt it could cause the company who built such an engine ta go bankrupt don'tcha think? Hmmmmmmmm..........???????

Whereas even a well design/manufactured motor will eventually have problems. And that can be fixed.

Hmmmmmmm...... I guess that is true now isn't it?

Respectfully, JR