1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

[woodsailboat]

I am currently looking at a 1988 oil injected 15 hp suzuki that looks like a pretty good deal but I need to know if this will be a good motor for me. The motor has just had the impellar replaced and a whole tune up on it and it sounds great, I am going to water test it before I pull the trigger on it but I need to know if it is a problematic motor or not. Anyone who knows about this motor please give me some info on it. Thanks

 

[James R]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

If the motor has been taken care of you should have no problem. Suzuki's are extremely reliable and the oil injection is the best out there.
Check the compressions before you buy. Compressions should be even within 8% and up around 120 PSI or better. Compression test applies to any motor of course.

 

[woodsailboat]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

Well i just took it for a test ride today and it was spectacular, I was very pleased. I am going to get it but I was wondering about the water pickup on it, I noticed on the motor that the vents are right above the prop undernieth the fin. I have seen this once before but it was on a 15 hp force and I did not know that some suzukis had that feature but what is the reason for this.

 

[James R]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

Pleased you're pleased. Unless you know for sure that the water impeller and lower unit oil has been changed in the past year you should address this right away. Carburetor should be stripped and cleaned also. Do not use spray cleaners on your carb unless you want major problems. Check that the motor is running at a nice temperature around 135F. Up or down a bit is not a problem. Well above this could indicate a water or oil problem. You must run the motor in the pond or a barrel. Ears wont work.
Always use Marine Stabil in your fuel. Use it religiously to protect your lines, Carb and your motor.
Can't answer your question re intakes but you know that Suzuki engineers are not dumb.
Good luck.

 

[woodsailboat]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

When I said that the whole motor was gone through, I ment every last moving and non-moving part in the motor including the pump and L/U oil, as for cooling, I can hold my hand on the power head so its pretty good. I have the list of things done to it that he got from the mechanic. He spent more on it getting it tuned up than I paid for it.

 

[99yam40]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

Makes you wonder why someone would spend that kind of money on it and then sell for less than he just spent on it. Does it have other problems he is not telling? hard to tell

 

[woodsailboat]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

When I ran it it sounded realy smooth and had plenty of power for my 14 ft jon boat. Also I was wondering if this motor can be converted to a steering wheel and remote throttle.

 

[James R]

Re: 1988 15hp suzuki reliabilaty

Motors of that size were not considered suitable for a boat of size using remote steering and therefore were not equipped to do that.