Help Wanted (i.e. idiot?s guide to buying a used outboard -10 HP or less)

[chad101]

I?m seeking advice for purchasing a used outboard motor (10 hp or less). All suggestions are welcome and greatly appreciated.

Scenario:

1, Initial phone/email conversation: You find a good deal on Craig?s list (or news paper ad, boat trader, etc) and decide to call/email the seller.

1a, What questions do you ask the seller?

1b, What responses determine if it?s worth your time to look at this motor and potentially buy it?​

2, Inspecting the motor: You decide to drive to the seller?s property and inspect the motor.

2a, Again, what questions do you ask the seller? Also, what are some deal breaker responses that could mean this motor is worth its weight in scrap?

2b, What visual and physical inspections/tests are performed? AND, based on your findings, what would make you walk away?​

NOTE: I know this is a very vague question. You don?t have to answer everything; I?m just looking for good tips/advice when it comes to purchasing a used outboard engine.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Help Wanted (i.e. idiot?s guide to buying a used outboard -10 HP or less)

You should really post this question in the non-repair forum in order to get more responses.

If I were buying a used motor, ideally I would want to run it on the lake in order to see if it held gear and ran well and stayed cool. When I returned, I'd want the seller to allow me to check the lower unit oil for water intrusion. Last of all, I'd want to check compression.

Usually, you would only get to hear it on the muffs or in a barrel, which can be very misleading. After hearing it run in a barrel, looking to see if it pumped water well and stayed cool, I'd want to check compression and the lower unit oil. I'd also make sure nothing was broken or cracked on the transom bracketry, and make sure the throttle turned smoothly and the shifter worked. Using a cheap $6 spark tester to check spark on all cylinders would be handy as well. A motor can run really smoothly in a barrel on one cylinder but not have any power at all on the lake.

I have an old motor for sale right now and will gladly let a serious buyer run it on the lake and check compression and lower unit oil after the run. But then again, I won't let the motor go for $250 bucks since it's had all the bugs worked out of it. I'm lucky in that I live only 1/4 mile from the lake and let someone test it out with not much trouble.
Good luck,
JBJ