Which engines to avoid

[68ltdwagon]

I am looking to buy a used evinrude from the 70's or 80's around 115 HP. are there any years that are worse then the others? what should I watch out for?

 

[DJ]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Avoid 1972 and older electric shift models. Other than that, the V-4 115 was a great engine.

 

[Duck Loads]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Sometime in the mid 80's (I think) horse power was rated at the prop shaft instaed of flywheel as in years before. An earlier 115 might have been a the same as a later 90. Perhaps someone will fill in where I might be wrong.<br /><br />Good luck,<br /><br />Duck L.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Just wondering? are there any particular 20-30 year old car's I should avoid? Is this what they mean by buyer beware? I alway's look for the used only on Sunday model.

 

[Duck Loads]

Re: Which engines to avoid

We have our second 1979 BMW 528i with 198K miles. I feel comfortable at 100mph in it right now. It is inherently a good car due to its engineering. <br /><br />Let's compare it with a 70's Vega. It is (was) a bad car when it was brand new due to its lack of engineering.<br /><br />Perhaps something along these lines is what the guy wanted to know. Like, stay away from the troublesome electric shift models. They were something not so good to start with. <br /><br />1989 GT150 = good<br />1999 Ficht (sp?) = bad<br /><br />Be safe,<br />Duck L.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Which electric shift model's were bad? Explain why! Are you talking from experience, or something you read, or heard?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Yeah, those electric shifts were gems!!! How many do you have or have you had that have not had many problems or is this something you read, too??? I'm real curious...

 

[Duck Loads]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Hey guys,<br /><br />Please forgive me about my comments on the electric shift. I didn't mean to trash anyone's hobby or property.<br /><br />Here is where I'm coming from when I said, "They were something not so good to start with". Perhaps 15 years ago I was going to buy one. I cann't even remember the model right now. I do remember that I was told by an older man, "that if you ever get it working right, you better sell it before it's not working at all". <br /><br />Those are words that I hung my hat on due to the respect I had for the man that told them to me.<br />Again, I did not intend to trash anouther man's stuff with what I had to say.<br /><br />Be safe,<br />Duck L.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Which engines to avoid

i have had and currently have evinrude electric shifts. no, they arent gems, but the break no easier than a regular shift, its huts that they are impossible to get parts for ... but i use mine all the time...its just the idea of relying on a msall electrical part to shift my boat, doesnt sound appeeeling in design, but it works .. although i would honestly rather have a manual shift, i have no probs with a selectric shift.. they are MUCH easier to work on, no shift ;linkage to warry about.. and only 2 wires, they are a much simpl er beast

 

[Becken]

Re: Which engines to avoid

I've owned a 1964 v4 Evinrude, with electric shift, for over 30 years<br />and have run it almost every year for that amount of time without a bit of trouble, I guess I must be missing something !<br />If it ever lets me down I'm sure that some of the <br />people on this forum would love to know. Becken.<br /><br />Use em' but don't abuse em'.

 

[bidlimit]

Re: Which engines to avoid

Don't get an electric shift for a first engine. As stated before, they are hard to get parts for. There are two kinds of electic shift motors. The kind that works well, and the kind that doesn't. When one of those electric shifts works, they work really well. However, when they break, watch out. My dad rebuilt one years ago when parts were still avialable new, and it worked for awhile really well and than broke again. Do yourself a favor, you don't need the headache now when you should be on the water.

 

[Bass Runner]

Re: Which engines to avoid

I had three of the electric shift models 75,85, and a 115, all three gave me trouble with the cluthch springs(not sure their called that)breaking, one was reverse(not to bad) you only go forward but the second one was forward and had to back 2 miles back to the ramp(got some real wierd looks) and yes they are hard to find parts for and expensive(that was 15 years ago. If they work good they are great but when they don't get out the wallet and get ready to do a lot of crying.

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: Which engines to avoid

They started rating the motors at the prop in 1983, and the loss was only about 5%, a 115 wouldn't be putting out 90hp at the prop, they never lost that much through the gear case, it's not like a cars drivetrain. A 115 would probably be putting out 110 maybe a little less at the prop before they changed where they rated them.