Is it worth it? toasted motor

brownboat

Cadet
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
17
Hi ? long time reader of the iboats outstanding forums. I wanted to get your opinions as to whether this motor is worth repairing. 1973 65hp Evinrude triumph, 3-cylinder, very low hours.

A week ago I was out with the family. As we were heading in the motor just died, quicker than running out of gas, it was like the ignition key was turned off. I thought I hit a log or something. Fortunately we were only about a 100 yards from the ramp. It turned over again and after some cranking it started. Went about 40 yards and it died again. Had the boat out of the water in less than 5 minutes, the water jacket and cylinder heads were normal temp, lower unit was cool and no dings in the prop.

I was thinking that because it turned over and restarted that maybe it was a fuel delivery problem. During the week I checked/cleaned all electrical connections and checked the fuel filter (very clean). The power pack was replaced 2 years ago. I noticed that one of the pins, possibly for the vent, on the gas tank connection was stuck, so I switched the fuel line to the other tank (2 portable 6 gal tanks).

Yesterday I head out to try it on the water. Idle around for a few minutes, and it appears to be running fine and water is coming out of the exhaust relief ports (no pee line on this model). Get up on plane for about 30 seconds and then it momentarily feels like one of the plugs is not firing. Then all of a sudden it dies abruptly again with a noticeable metallic sound as it stopped.

I?m thinking it WAS a fuel problem and one of the carbs got plugged, no lube, that cylinder is toast (at a minimum). I haven?t torn into anything yet, but I can turn the flywheel by hand and feel some compression.

So?it?s 36 years old, I don?t know if I should fix it (I have no idea of the cost involved) or start looking for another outboard. Any opinions are much appreciated, sorry for the long post.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Is it worth it? toasted motor

more trouble shooting required, compression check, spark check, first post the results. read ethanol in the Top Secret File.
 

jbjennings

Captain
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
3,903
Re: Is it worth it? toasted motor

I would do a compression check and pull the heads or bypass covers so I could take a look before I did any buying, but I'm thinking that since your lower unit is good and that's what seems to go first rather than a powerhead, I'd keep a look around and find a used one that you can check the compression on and see about swapping the powerhead to your motor, using all your other stuff. I see those motors coming up pretty regularly.
JMO,
JBJ
 

brownboat

Cadet
Joined
Jul 11, 2006
Messages
17
Re: Is it worth it? toasted motor

Thanks, I'll do a compression check and go from there. Wow, I guess I should read more of those top secret files - great info!
 

Tim Frank

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jul 29, 2008
Messages
5,346
Re: Is it worth it? toasted motor

There are a lot of fairly significant things that could be wrong, but as a slim chance but easy to try , I had what sounds like exactly the same thing with a Johnson 55HP TR-10. 1968. Turned out the original gas line end fittings had just reached the end of their life and suction was lost.
I replaced them and the motor ran for another 10 years.
If you have, or can borrow a known good gas line, it is about as quick and easy a test as you will ever have.

You might be lucky....:)
 
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