What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

[Grant Brown]

I'm looking for a 4 stroke long shaft kicker for my boat. I have a couple of Hondas to look at. One is an early 90's 5 hp blue/white version for $550. Supposed to be in mint cond with low hours.
Second is a 7.5 hp around the same age. It's $400 but the guy knows nothing about it.
Both are long shaft models.

Grant

 

[jayceebaik]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

if i were you, i would go for brand new one with 5 year warranty..

 

[trendsetter240]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

I'm looking for a 4 stroke long shaft kicker for my boat. I have a couple of Hondas to look at. One is an early 90's 5 hp blue/white version for $550. Supposed to be in mint cond with low hours.
Second is a 7.5 hp around the same age. It's $400 but the guy knows nothing about it.
Both are long shaft models.

Grant

Hey Grant, I'm in Vancouver also and I've been shopping for kicker motors as well.

What you want to look for in a 4-stroke is similar to a 2-stroke. Test the compression, should be less than 15% variance between cylinders. Also check the condition of the oil, should not be milky or dirty as an indicator of overall engine condition and how well the PO has taken care of the motor.

Being that we're near to the ocean, check for corrosion. Any sign of corrosion is a bad sign. Last but not least, of course you should see the motor run with muffs or in a barrel. Should start easy, idle well and shift in and out of gear easily.

Apart from a water test the best you can do is as mentioned above. Ask him for maintenance receipts. 4-strokes need an oil change at least once per season. If it was not done at a shop the he should have been doing it himself.

Cheers, hope that helps

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

Thanks, that's all good advise.
I was wondering if one year is better than the others. I know from experience that the OMC 2 Stroke 9.9/15hp outboards went from a points style ignition to ECM in the mid 80's and it really improved reliability.
A buddy suggested that the early Honda 4 strokes were less reliable than the newer ones but can't remember why he thought that or what the issue was.

Grant

 

[hondon]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

That 5 horse is a single cylinder engine.They idle rough and can cause some annoying rattles while trying to troll but were marketed as sailboat kickers.It is also doubtfull that the vintage represented is true.That 7.5 is tried and true and in production still in the form of the 8 classic.Smooth twin cylinder operation and very dependable provided it is a cdi unit.OMC switch thier 9.9/15 engines to cdi in the late 70,s shortly after thier introduction.Great engines but in the very late 80,s they started dicking with the carbs to meet emmision standards and IMHO really screwed them up.

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

A buddy suggested that the early Honda 4 strokes were less reliable than the newer ones but can't remember why he thought that or what the issue was.

Grant

I've got an 1983 Honda BF100 (9.9hp) which is nearly identical to the 7.5. Great motor and have no issues with it. Maint is not much harder than a 2 stroke and it sure is nice trolling a 4 stroke compared to my Johnson 9.9 I used to have.

You can download the manual for it direct from Honda as well.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

Well the one for $400 looked like it sat on the back of a salt water boat for it's entire life without ever being rinsed. Corrosion everywhere and not running, yikes!
I did find a Honda 9.9 that sounds decent and looks ok in the pics. It's not running and $350. Owner said it ran last year when he put it away and thinks it's just the carb.
I also found another Honda 9.9 with no spark for $225.
Any comments?

Grant

 

[Tacklewasher]

Re: What to Look for in a used small 4 stroke Honda?

Keep looking for one that works?

http://vancouver.en.craigslist.ca/rds/boa/1535643408.html