When to upgrade outboard motor?

[Gillfisher]

I have a 1978 Japanese Mariner W-15 HP outboard on my tinny, last season I spent more time pulling the starter than I did with it running. Needless to say that cut to deep into the fishing time and that sucks! What should I check out to see if this motor is worth fixing up or if I should give it up and buy a new one. If I would have to stick less than $200.00 US into it and it would run decent for a couple more years I would be O.K with that. If not I would buy new. I would get a Mercury 20 HP but would like to know who is making their 20 HP 4 strokes.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: When to upgrade outboard motor?

When was the last time this engine was tuned up? If you have to yank on it til your blue in the face you are either doing something wrong or the engine needs something fixed. We can't see it, we can't hear it, and we can't touch it so we can only suggest that if you don't have the skills to troubleshoot it yourself, then professional help is in order. A simple compression test will tell you if the engine is in reasonably good health and that the starting problem is either fuel or spark.

 

[Gillfisher]

Re: When to upgrade outboard motor?

O.K. I will do a compression test before anything else. I dont know when the last tune up was done, I have had it for about a year and a half now and have done nothing to it. Also I have been searching on the Internet for parts and they do not seem readily available for the Japanese Mariners, anybody know of a place that can get them ie: carb rebuild set, reeds, coils?

 

[Gillfisher]

Re: When to upgrade outboard motor?

The compression is 148 and 153, I did three checks on each cylinder. So it appears that the compression is good. I have taken the carb apart cleaned it and put it back together. I also purchased some decarbonizer which I plan on doing this weekend. I ordered a new impeller which should be in next week. Is there anything else I should do to this outboard?

 

[sunburnt]

Re: When to upgrade outboard motor?

some minor cost items 1- fuel pump diaphragm: ethanol takes a toll on them. #2-plugs and wires #3-fuel filter or add one .a water separating one .-can be used for this motor or a new motor #4 while you have carb off, replace fuel lines if they are ??? able.now go pull it !! see what else it needs .should be great.

 

[Gillfisher]

Re: When to upgrade outboard motor?

Did the decarb, gapped the points, and removed lower gear case to change impeller when the new one comes.

Anyone know of a site that lists the parts for the older jananese made Mariner outboards, such as my W-15?