Old motor

[Chopperbill]

Posted this in motors but thought I would see what you folks think.

I found the motor in the title on Craig list for under $500. The motor looks like it's in excellent conditions from the picture, best appearing one I have found. Just tuned and carb cleaned ready to run, according to the add. My question is even if it starts and seems to run would you guys\gals trust a almost 40 year old motor on your boat? Is it priced right?
9.9 HP. JOHNSON O/B (1976) fresh tune up!! Short shaft/ 2 stroke

 

[Guest]

Re: Old motor

Posted this in motors but thought I would see what you folks think.

I found the motor in the title on Craig list for under $500. The motor looks like it's in excellent conditions from the picture, best appearing one I have found. Just tuned and carb cleaned ready to run, according to the add. My question is even if it starts and seems to run would you guys\gals trust a almost 40 year old motor on your boat? Is it priced right?
9.9 HP. JOHNSON O/B (1976) fresh tune up!! Short shaft/ 2 stroke

like I said in the Johnson forum, I do not like engines that old but these guys on Iboats would bet there house on it. I personally think its a good price if the engine is in 7/10 shape the least. #1!!! thing you need to do when you go see it is check compression. Go to sears and buy that 50-70 compession tester. Return it after if price is steep. Make sure the spark is there by uncrewing the plug from the block put it back into the jacket and when pulling the start cord you should see spark. then let him run it in all gears. After that take it out and open the drain plug to see if there is any metal or water coming out with the oil. Once all those things are checked and verified there is a very good chance you will have yourself an awesome outboard. I wish i did the reseach like your doing now when i bought my first outboard.
VERY IMPORTANT!!! IF THE OWNER OF THE OUTBOARD GETS ANNOYED OR DOES NOT LET YOU DO ANY OF THESE TESTS DO NOT BUY!

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Old motor

Posted this in motors but thought I would see what you folks think.

I found the motor in the title on Craig list for under $500. The motor looks like it's in excellent conditions from the picture, best appearing one I have found. Just tuned and carb cleaned ready to run, according to the add. My question is even if it starts and seems to run would you guys\gals trust a almost 40 year old motor on your boat? Is it priced right?
9.9 HP. JOHNSON O/B (1976) fresh tune up!! Short shaft/ 2 stroke

I would not buy it.
It is too hard to get parts for something that old

 

[fbpooler]

Re: Old motor

If it was used in salt water, I'd probably back off. Motors are seldom worn out, so a compression and spark test would be in order.

Try to shake the flywheel in relation to the block. One wear point seldom noticed is the upper end. Then check the lower unit lube, but if it were re lubed recently, it may pass even though there was wear present. Look under the hub of the prop to see if there are loose lower unit bearings which allow the prop to ride against the lower unit.

You will have trouble finding some parts for it, but if it checks out okay, I would have no problem buying it at a reduced price. $500 seems high to me.

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Old motor

No salt water within 1500 miles of here. Probably a good buy but decided this was to important of a purchase and will go with a new one. $1800-1900 isn't too much to have any doubt about it.

 

[Guest]

Re: Old motor

No salt water within 1500 miles of here. Probably a good buy but decided this was to important of a purchase and will go with a new one. $1800-1900 isn't too much to have any doubt about it.

Make sure weight is not an issue. It is almost impossible to find a 2 stroke 2008 and up. I am actually looking to trade my 2006 15 4stroke for an older 2 stroke (from like 99-2003)

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Old motor

Make sure weight is not an issue. It is almost impossible to find a 2 stroke 2008 and up. I am actually looking to trade my 2006 15 4stroke for an older 2 stroke (from like 99-2003)

New Tohatsu that I am looking at around 81lbs and the used Johnson is around 75lbs.

 

[ronaldj]

Re: Old motor

A 4 stroke is usually going to weigh twice as much as a 2 stroke for the same HP

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Old motor

NADA lists the old "77" (that's as far back as they go) 9.9 hp Johnson at 74 lbs. and Tohatsu current listing has the 9.8 hp at 81.5 lbs. For only a difference of 7.5 lbs. doesn't seem like enough to be a concern unless I am missing something?

 

[midcarolina]

Re: Old motor

Thats because in 77 they built the motor to last 40 years.......modern lighter/cheaper materials bring the weight down, but also bring the life expectancy down.........All modern machinery have a engineered built in service life, some will go much further some not.

 

[Chopperbill]

Re: Old motor

Thats because in 77 they built the motor to last 40 years.......modern lighter/cheaper materials bring the weight down, but also bring the life expectancy down.........All modern machinery have a engineered built in service life, some will go much further some not.

I'm 68 my life expectancy is equivalent to T-bone in front of a starving dog. :laugh:

 

[midcarolina]

Re: Old motor

haha......... I hear the new 68 is 58.............. that works for me!!

 

[Guest]

Re: Old motor

haha......... I hear the new 68 is 58.............. that works for me!!

if you want to go hands on go for older. If you want to buy it and have no headaches or worries for at least 3 years buy brand new. My friends 1999 johnson 15hp 2 stroke weights 78lb, my mercury 15 4stroke weights 112. I'm fairly young (28) and figured i can curl the difference so carrying will be much lighter. Booooyyyy was i wrong. I also have a 87lb merc 6hp 2stroke (so heavy due to 20" shaft). i carried my 15 up and down 1 flight of stairs twice and almost hurt my self. NOOO thank you currently building a dolly to support it. The 87lb merc i threw on my back and walked down the stairs no problem. If you have a trailer and plan to keep your boat inflated at all times 4stroke is fine but other wise 2stroke is way to go considering you want a 15hp outboard.

BOTTON LINE: learn from my mistake and search, search and search some more for a clean 2stroke

 

[Brian B.]

Re: Old motor

I have had many old OMC motors and they have all been bulletproof motors, old is relative, to me late 70's isn't "old" at all as long as it checks out.

It's not difficult to get parts for those motors, they are readily available. That design is a tried true engine they ran for decades. If you like it buy it.

 

[fbpooler]

Re: Old motor

Friend has a '74 9.9HP Johnson and '75 4HP Evinrude which are ready to go anytime he wants to use them. If they are taken care of, they last quite a few years.

Nothing wrong with the new four strokes but the weight, but weight is not your friend with a portable motor. Weimed is talking from the point of view of experience.

 

[flukesofnature]

Re: Old motor

haha......... I hear the new 68 is 58.............. that works for me!!

I lost about 10 years in the sixties...does that still count ?

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Old motor

Go to sears and buy that 50-70 compession tester. Return it after if price is steep.

or go rent one free from O'reilly's or similar. Don't be the guy who buys something, uses it and takes it back to be resold as 'new'.

 

[fbpooler]

Re: Old motor

I agree with you, Joe.

 

[Guest]

Re: Old motor

or go rent one free from O'reilly's or similar. Don't be the guy who buys something, uses it and takes it back to be resold as 'new'.

#1 I do not condone buying with intent to return. #2 not all places has O'reilly's auto parts store. #3 most autoparts stores rent you the cheap crap where you will not even get an accurate reading. So your 15-25 bucks in and you accomplished nothing. No Thanks, I stick to my previous statement. Buy, resell online or return if you feel the good compression tester is over your budget. What sears does is there business. FYI IBOATS sells the testers also and will likely price match

 

[redneck joe]

Re: Old motor

If over your budget, do not buy in the first place.