What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

[nobleprime]

Hello all,
I just got back from a day of looking at a 1999 Yamaha 75hp outboard engine. The thing started up like a dream, idled well with earmuffs, "peed" well, had compression of 115/108/112 (after letting it idle for 10 minutes), and shifted into both forward and reverse gears with what seemingly was a normal clank/chatter. Also, the engine was in immaculate condition with almost flawless paint as it was stored in a heated garage for most of its life. All this for a price tag of $1500 with controls. Sounds almost too good to be true right? Well not quite.

I did find one problem with the engine which was that when I went to look at the lower unit oil, it was very very dark. I managed to take some home with me in a SOLO cup in order to post it here to see what you guys think, but it does have me a bit worried. It should be noted that there only seems to be a tiny bit of metal shaving specs here and there and that there is no evidence of any water being in it. It just is very dirty and the guy who had the engine admitted freely that it hadn't been changed in over a year and a half.

So, what I am looking to find out is this something that is going to seriously harm the engine? Would I be taking a chance with it or do you think if I got it home and put some new engine oil in it that things would be okay. I know that the price is right but I don't want to purchase a lemon. Please..... Any advice would be much appreciated. Thank you in advance

 

[jevery]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

A red flag that he wasn?t always on time with maintenance, but unless the plug had shavings on it, I wouldn?t think a big deal. I?ve used Quicksilver lube in my lower unit at last change. It?s dark like that.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

I tend to agree. Dark just means used and dirty and is not a sign of a problem.

 

[JB]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Sounds like a healthy engine that hasn't had the best possible care, noble.

Very few engines get the best possible care and they just keep on going.

I would try to get him down closer to a Grand.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

if you can get him down, good. but if it fits your needs it sounds like a good motor. expect to change the impeller before using.

 

[haskindm]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Looks pretty normal to me. The oil has done its job and is dirty. Change it and go on with life. Also second the advice to change the impeller.

 

[nobleprime]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Hello all,
I really appreciate all the quick feedback. I already tried talking him down. I offered him $1300 after I saw the oil and he unfortunately said he is firm on his price because he priced the engine to accommodate for things like this. I want to mention that there was a little bit of shavings on the drain plug (maybe about a mm worth), but as I understand a little bit is to be expected. I know when I changed out the gear oil in the differentials on my truck that there was a little bit of shavings in it as well. Is this true or should there be none at all??

Hey Tashadaddy and haskindm, is changing the impeller a difficult/expensive process? I am somewhat mechanical, but am really only an amateur with minimal tools. Is this something a do-it-yourselfer can accomplish or would I be taking it into the shop?

Again, thank you so much.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Do yourself a huge favor - don't change just the impeller. Get the water pump kit and change it all. No more work or time except you might have to do it all anyway. And plan on cleaning the carbs.

 

[matt2002]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

If the inner cup of the water pump isn't scratched up just replace the impeller.That's what I did with my Yamaha 75 Enduro.I just cleaned off some deposits.
I would grab it for 1500.00.
I have the factory manual for the 75 if you need any info.

 

[ftltony]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

I know when I changed out the gear oil in the differentials on my truck that there was a little bit of shavings in it as well. Is this true or should there be none at all??

There will ALWAYS be metal shavings in the gear lube as that is the EXACT reason they put the magnet on the screw on the bottom of your unit. The shavings aren't from the gears running against each other, the shavings are from what is left after the gears were machined and the involute spline gears take a MAJOR machining to get them to do what they do.

In addition, I am assuming that you have never changed lower unit fluid before. If it was bad, it would be more "milky" and brown in color from water leaking in the seals as opposed to the normal color that your fluid is. And if your lower unit was bad, You would DEFINATELY know about it!

You don't need a lot of tools or "know how" to change a water pump. Its really simple to do and if you just follow the procedure, you'll be done in no time.

 

[nobleprime]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Hello again,
Thank you all for your help. This really is a great site with a lot of generous people on it.

I'm leaning towards getting the engine at the price of 1500. Here in NJ, outboards aren't available that cheap these days and this seems to be the best that I am going to be able to do.

Just for piece of mind, is the general consensus that even with a mm of shavings on the lower unit plug and dark lower unit oil that the engine is worth it. I've been ripped off before and I just am trying to be as safe as I can be.

Thanks again

 

[matt2002]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

That's a steal at that price ! You better go see the guy in a hurry and at least put some money down to hold it for you before somebody beats you to it !

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

If you think you would buy the motor at that price if given some peace of mind as to its condition, tell the buyer that your are serious about it but would like a mechanic's inspection. If the motor passes, you are good to go!

 

[triumphrick]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Buy it!! Good Yammi, acceptable compression numbers, good shifting, normal gear lube color and looks decent as well. In 1986 I bought a 90, used it for ten years, normal not overly agressive maintenance and it never saw a shop. Great motors from my standpoint.

 

[triumphrick]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Back to back posts....by the way if you buy it I am about to install a new water pump kit on Yammi 85. Kit costs $42 with a new housing and new bolts. Will do digital pics of the install for you. PM me.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Just a comment as an afterthought - since a gearcase is not subjected to combustion by-products, as would oil in a four stroke crankcase, the lube should not become "dirty." While it might be discolored due to excessive heat or water intrusion, I wouldn't think it should be substantially different in color than when it was put in the gearbox. If it is, it seems to me that it would have been used for a very long time, or that there is some sort of a problem present.

That is not to say that this gear lube shows signs of problems. As someone mentioned, there are gear lubes that are somewhat dark to begin with. I think what I would be looking for it excessive metal content and lack of viscosity, indicating exposure to excessive heat or prolonged use.

 

[nobleprime]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Thank you all for your help. It is very much appreciated.

I've been driving myself crazy trying to look around the internet to find out what EXCESSIVE metal shavings would look like. As I said in a previous post, there was a small amount of shavings on the bottom drain plug of the lower unit. All total, I would say that there was (the best way I could describe it) about a half of a pea's worth of fine shavings on top of the plug. These shavings looked like a fine wet metal sand on top of the plug. Would that be excessive or would that be normal?

As I have said before, the guy admitted freely that he never checked the oil and that the last time it was done was by a marina about a year and a half to two years ago. Its obvious that the seller neglected the engine maintenance somewhat, I'm just trying to see if I can revive it and make it a tip top shape engine once again. Is it doomed??

He has another buyer coming tomorrow to look at the engine so I need to decide quickly. Please help. Much Thanks

 

[jbjennings]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

Just my opinion,
I would get it. Black oil in the lower unit is not uncommon at all after a year or two of use. As a matter of fact, I didn't change mine in my '99 johnson 30hp for about a year and a half and it was black. I was suprised at the color, too, but it doesn't leak a drop of water.
I think that's a reasonable price, too. He let you check compression and lower unit oil---he's not trying to put it to you. The only thing I would worry about is it having a worn clutch dog but there's only one way I know of to test it is to run it wide open or break apart the gearbox. Ask him point blank if it jumps out of gear and if he says no, I'd probably buy it.
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[jevery]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

about a half of a pea's worth of fine shavings on top of the plug.

This is normal. Excessive would be a string of shavings an inch long.

 

[avenger79]

Re: What would you do in my situation. Please help!!

this would be my advice, if I lived closer to NJ I would be asking you for the guys address. If you're not going to get it right now I sure would.