Any Outboard Mechs Onboard?

Im selling a 1987 evinrude 90 hp on a boat and the boat always ran great including the last time I ran it.

Now its been sitting for 3 yrs and I have had a guy come and do a compression test and he gets 90,95,95,100 psi. He tells me that that is low but everything I can find says its in the range especially since they are all within 10% of each other.

anybody have any ideas here? Is there maybe another more definitive test of motor health? Or maybe a site where I could find a more definitive answer about the compression values? BOATS!

If it has been sitting, the rings are sticky. Spray a mix of tranny fluid and #2 oil or liquid wrench into it, spin it around a few times and let it sit overnight.

Two cycle, correct?

If so, run it for a while and check it again.

Why did you check the compression in the first place?

Agreed that it would be good to get it running and recheck.

Not a mechanic but some of the best advice when a outboard sits is to put a water pump in it. They are a rubber impeller that when sits for extended periods dries out can in the worst case implode, motor burns up very,very quickly. The old 2 stokes kept cool and with the proper gas/oil mix run forever considering the amount of time they are run per season. MY bet its fine

Rob R. wrote:Why did you check the compression in the first place?

I wouldnt have but the guy looking at it wanted to, so I let him....

scalabro wrote:If so, run it for a while and check it again.
Roger that, Ill give it a try this weekend, thanx

coaledsweat wrote:If it has been sitting, the rings are sticky. Spray a mix of tranny fluid and #2 oil or liquid wrench into it, spin it around a few times and let it sit overnight.

Someone else mentioned Marvel mystery oil, but given your advice and Freetown Freds penchant for tranny fluid Ima give it a try.

Wont be able to do anything till this weekend but I will report back, thanx

Did You Winterize it 3 years ago ? In my time of doing these(1976 to 1980) using a fogging oil was common. I'd definitely go with the notion of hitting it again with WD-40 or Bomber fog right into the cylinders after removing the spark plugs. Put the Earmuffs on it and fire it up. I'm hoping You don't have an in hull fuel tank with 3 year-old gas in it.

Anywhoo,it's always a good idea to see what You've got to sell. A running motor,available to be cold-started,really helps. This V-4 of Yours has got some age on it,but You sure as Hell aren't going to give it away. As far as Compression numbers,Your's could be worse. We won't know anything until You get it fired. The water pump impeller advice was on the money,too.

Make Up Your Mind,You're either going to sell this thing As-Is/Where-Is,or You're going to spend money to re-fire it after a long 3 year hiatus......I'd do an AIWI on it and tell the man to get out of Your Yard if he tries to pick you apart and Low-Ball You to Death.

HB,

Well the gas tank is onboard and has 3 year old gas in it However it is non ethanol gas... I a, certain I can make the thing go, as it ran great the last time I used it.
the thing thats frustrating me is that I cant find a definitive # for the compression. Some people say 120 psi but thats the as new spec. some say the 87 and newer motors had a lowered compression out of the box . some say 90-100 is just fine. Bottom line is I guess the only relevant # is the one the guy lookin at it believes

Anyhoo, the thing standing between me and having the thing outa the garage to start is a ton of rice right in front of the door. So this weekend Ill haul it outa there and get the thing outa my hair hopefully at a reasonable price. Need cash as I think Im comming down with baseburneritis

Thanx again for the replies fellas

90-100 is just fine!
Anyone who says otherwise either don't know beans or is trying to beat you down on price.

There is a proper way to do compression checks and it ain't by cranking a dead cold dry rusty cylindered motor on a weak battery that ain't been run in 3 years.

+10 on the impeller, especially after all this time.
That and changing the gas, change the lower end fluid, it should run like a clock.

Thanks NK,

I did change the waterpump before I used it as well as the lower unit oil. As far as the compression goes, I talked with a Evinrude mech today and he said as long as it was over 80 and not more than a 15 psi differential that I was good to go , and that anybody that anyone that says different doesnt know jack. Too, he said that put three different gauges on the thing youll get three different results and none of those will be the same after you run it for five minutes. I already called back one guy and told him what I found out and he just him'd and haw'd and said he'd check into it. What Id like to know is why he didnt check into it before he wheeled in here with his test equipment and wasted my time....

Anyway , Ill wheel her outa the garage this weekend and fire it up and check it with a buddies gauge which is the one we'll be goin by from now on!

Did I mention f@%kin Boats? Ill drown before ILL OWN ANOTHER BOAT!

waldo

waldo lemieux wrote:Thanks NK,

I did change the waterpump before I used it as well as the lower unit oil. As far as the compression goes, I talked with a Evinrude mech today and he said as long as it was over 80 and not more than a 15 psi differential that I was good to go , and that anybody that anyone that says different doesnt know jack. Too, he said that put three different gauges on the thing youll get three different results and none of those will be the same after you run it for five minutes. I already called back one guy and told him what I found out and he just him'd and haw'd and said he'd check into it. What Id like to know is why he didnt check into it before he wheeled in here with his test equipment and wasted my time....

Anyway , Ill wheel her outa the garage this weekend and fire it up and check it with a buddies gauge which is the one we'll be goin by from now on!

Did I mention f@%kin Boats? Ill drown before ILL OWN ANOTHER BOAT!

waldo

My thoughts also after owning one for several years. I sold it and never looked back.

SWPaDon wrote:

waldo lemieux wrote:Thanks NK,

I did change the waterpump before I used it as well as the lower unit oil. As far as the compression goes, I talked with a Evinrude mech today and he said as long as it was over 80 and not more than a 15 psi differential that I was good to go , and that anybody that anyone that says different doesnt know jack. Too, he said that put three different gauges on the thing youll get three different results and none of those will be the same after you run it for five minutes. I already called back one guy and told him what I found out and he just him'd and haw'd and said he'd check into it. What Id like to know is why he didnt check into it before he wheeled in here with his test equipment and wasted my time....

Anyway , Ill wheel her outa the garage this weekend and fire it up and check it with a buddies gauge which is the one we'll be goin by from now on!

Did I mention f@%kin Boats? Ill drown before ILL OWN ANOTHER BOAT!

waldo

My thoughts also after owning one for several years. I sold it and never looked back.

Sorry you guys feel that way I'll never give it up, going on 30 years boating.
I just love this

Doby,

I think you misunderstood. Im just givin up owning and taking care of the damn things. Ill go along anytime!

waldo

Yea they are alot of work sorta like a coal stove Your welcome anytime my friend

A lot more work and money than a coal stove.

My boat was free. By the time I fixed the hole in the hull from being wrecked, replaced the steering cables and throttle cables that were hacksawed off, purchased a motor because the original was stolen, purchased a trailer and replaced tires and wheel bearings, replaced all wiring, lights and horn, purchased life preservers, fire extinguisher, then the license and insurance for the trailer and boat, it got very expensive for that 'free' boat.

1st trip out, my FIL decided to get too close to a sandbar, and the prop hit, snapping the sheer pin. He said where's your spare's. I said...........HUH.

Luckily we found a six penny nail still laying there from when the floor was replaced with 3/4 plywood, and cutters to cut it down to size.

Then the next time out, my motor quit in the middle of the lake, raised the outboard to work on it, and the latch didn't secure properly.......everyone but me thought it was funny that I took a dive..........had to be towed in then fight to get it back on the trailer with no power.

Enough for me............I don't miss owning my own boat at all, and never will.

But as Waldo says, I'll ride someone else's anytime.

I love boating, as long as it ain't mine.