Re: Buying used
I have bought 4 used motors on ebay in the last year, mainly because they were old, cheap, and I always wanted one like them. They are a 53 johnson 10 hp, a 55 johnson 7.5 hp, an 18 hp johnson, and the infamous 9.8 mercury I'm on here trying to figure out. All 3 of the johnsons are great, reliable motors after just a little tinkering. An idiot could take the lower unit apart and reassemble it in 20 minutes. The ignitions on these motors is also very simple, easy and cheap to buy parts for, and the ignition parts for many of the lower horsepower johnsons for many years are identical. The carburetors are simple as well and very reliable and easy to tune as long as you never seat the adjustment needles very hard which is true of all of them. My mercury is a plague although it starts incredibly easy and accelerates smoothly it has cooling problems that are very difficult to diagnose and repair. Mercury put all kinds of different ignitions on their engines and they are difficult to work on as well. the electrical systems differences between johnsons and mercurys is kind of like the difference between fords and chevrolets. If you don't like fords, you won't like mercury outboard electrical systems. My suggestion is buy you a johnson or evinrude between the years 1955 and 1957. 1958 if its above or below a 10hp. the lower units weren't as good on 58 10hp's. you can find parts easy, they're simple to work on, and very easy to start. you can't wear them out if you take reasonable care of them. In my opinion, used mercs are for outboard experts. the lower units get leaks worse than johnsons as well. they have cast iron drive shafts an prop shafts that get rusty and pitted and you will have seal problems. 76 and later ones don't i don't think, they have stainless steel. I probably will receive a good scolding posting this on a mercury thread but I think you'll find this advise spot-on. When you buy one, see it run, preferably on a boat. the clutches on outboards can get chipped and jump out of gear on the lake but can't be detected when shifting in a tank. after running it, ask to check the lower unit oil for water. if you don't know how to do it, don't buy a used motor except from a dealer and make sure it has a warranty. also, 55 through 57 johnsons can be changed over to a modern fuel pump for about 35 dollars very easily. you can get directions on the internet on how to do it. i've done it to my 53 10 hp johnson and my 55 7.5 hp johnson and they work perfectly. this way, you won't need the high-dollar pressure tank. if you're interested post me and i'll find the website and give it to you.
hope this helps, jbjennings
