mariner 48 hp, 2 cyl, ca 1978 - general advice

Jan/Norway

Cadet
Joined
Aug 18, 2004
Messages
6
Ive been offered a late seventies one-owner Mariner (yamaha?) 48 hp, with self starter and all auxilleries. The engine is well maintained, not much used and the price is just right (ca 600 euro). When checking this engine, what shall I look for? (Common faults etc). I also need some more technical information about this engine - and if possible, user experience. Any answers may also be send by e-mail if preferred: janhm@start.no<br />Jan, Norway.
 

wazz57

Recruit
Joined
Mar 17, 2013
Messages
4
Re: mariner 48 hp, 2 cyl, ca 1978 - general advice

Ive been offered a late seventies one-owner Mariner (yamaha?) 48 hp, with self starter and all auxilleries. The engine is well maintained, not much used and the price is just right (ca 600 euro). When checking this engine, what shall I look for? (Common faults etc). I also need some more technical information about this engine - and if possible, user experience. Any answers may also be send by e-mail if preferred: janhm@start.no<br />Jan, Norway.

Mate it just falls on if the person selling the motor has knowledge of these. Do you know the history of these motors ???
Well in short there were 48, 55 and 60 all two cylinder, I might be a bit out on dates and years comes with being 56 I think? Anyway in the early 70s ( They were good years) Mariner wanted a motor that would work in any condition and cop any abuse so they went to Japan and together made an agreement for these motors to be made in the Yamaha shed but labelled a Mariner, I have seen a 60 with both Yamaha and mariner tag. So these motors were great but they seemed to be more under the equator? So after their contract came up for renewal Mariner decided they could get a better deal if they went with a company in Indinesor now I believe they changed the engine by making it a 3 cyc and they had untold problems, so then to save the name of Mariner they went to making them in USA and of course the mercs and Mariners were virtually the same. Now forgive me if I got something wrong as it was a heap of years ago.

So back to your question I always do a compression test if I'm buying one running, seeing if there is any oil coming out from the drive shaft behind the prop, check the rev, forward and neutral with the motor running if rev seems to crunch then it might be the rev teeth need replacing. Pity the motors are not white because the likes of Johnson you can see if the white looks like it has been very hot, back to the Mariner. Look if things have been removed and a make shift item has been put on obviously there was a problem corrosion is also a big problem. I turn the motor over with the fly wheel etc just want to feel if big ends are slack and you get a feel to the motor.
Okay prices are in Australian I bought a running one for $200 and not running for $100, you see one every now and then on eBay they go anything from $ 600 to $1,500. You will find if someone has a Made in Japan motor there either know what they are talking about or not and then by the time you have gone over it and checked everything thell drop their price I have been asked if I was a boat mechanic and I always say yes its saved me a bit of money.

So have a read and if you want any more info I will be pleased to reply.

Wazza
Down under
 
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