| Author | Message | ||
     86129squids |
OK, once again I'm turning to youn's for advice... I know bikes going back to the 70's, but next to nothing about boats. About 2 months ago, basically had one "fall in my lap", a 16' Thundercraft tri-hull, with an 85HP Evinrude V4 2-stroke outboard motor- the boat hasn't run in about 7 years. Bought a service manual and a new impeller, still gotta get new fuel lines, fuel tank, battery, clean the whole thing up too. I've got a whole $250 in the rig, including trailer, so I'm off to a good start with my hole in the water that I throw $$$ into... Spoke with 2 people who run repair shops- the first services Evinrude, but said the parts for electric shift gearboxes like mine are hard to find... the 2nd dude doesn't service the brand but said these gearboxes are pretty reliable in general, made me feel better about working on what I've got. Plan A is refurbish everything I need to with this motor, spend as little $$$ as I can, and hopefully get on the water before the leaves change (SOON!)- plan B is look around for a more modern motor and get it installed, which won't be cheap. I've got a little extra $$$, so I can do whatever's needed, but as a boating noob, I'm looking for all the good advice I can find. I have bought and read "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boating"... now I guess I'm a complete idiot. Bueller? I do appreciate the input... | ||
| Kenm123t |
Evinrudes are good motors I have owned 4 models of them 23-200hp . The new ETEC rudes are supposed to be better than the old ones. No Yamahas for me. Go fast guys buy Yamahasand change them every 2 years you dont see to many old Yamahas but old Rudes are every where. We Installed a Daikin vrv hvac system in the www.mcbmfl.org Maritime and Classic Boat muesum This is next door to Ralph Eveinrudes Home he was married to Frances Langford they lived at the Outrigger Resort in Jensen Beach FL The Muesum has an Evirude room check out the web site. Bombardier Still has the engine test center about 5 miles down the River from my place | ||
| Ulynut |
Johnson and Evenrudes are great. The Evenrude service manuals are really good. I've never had or worked on one with an electric shift, but I'm sure it's covered in the S.M.. I would find out what I needed for parts, search E=Bay and Craigslist for them, and go to work on it....depending on the age of the motor. Fasteners on outboards rust quickly, and consequently break easily. If it's ten years or older, I would plan on some spring time boating, or pay a pro to do it. The impeller is pretty easy to do yourself, and depending on your experience with carbs, it shouldn't be too hard to get it running | ||
| Fahren |
You can't have a boat without having a Big Johnson. | ||
| Mtjm2 |
86129 . What is the use and wear are you taking the boat ? Any trade options on a motor ? | ||
| Danger_dave |
Best way to understand boating? Stand in the shower and tear up $100 notes. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Drain the gearcase into a really clean container. If it is a nice clean color with hopefully no white guck, you are most likely good to go on the bottom end....remove the prop and make sure there is no fishing line wrapped around the output shaft. If the ignition coils are in good shape and the carbs are not corroded you will be good to go most likely. If you ever have the need to open up the gearcase to replace a solenoid...there is a snapring that takes a specially strong set of pliers to compress...if it flings loose, it can very seriously wound you. If it hasn't been run hot, or suffered a lube failure, it still has years of life. But me, I'm a Merc man...not much on the water can match the sound of a bridge-port at 8600 on a cool Sunday morning.  | ||
| Kenm123t |
fast I stillhave my 55 Kiehaffer 10hp long shaft Whoo hoo on my 10ft aluminum great fun for a kid! | ||
| Prowler |
Worked as a senior research designer at OMC (Evinrude/Johnson outboards) for 11 years. Was the best job I ever had with the smartest/sharpest group of engineers and techs I've ever seen. We did some crazy advanced engineering work on some really cool engine designs that still have never seen the light of day. We had the capability to cast engine blocks and machine all the components to manufacture a complete engine (pioneered lost foam casting technology), make a fiberglass boat hull from our own molds, pretty much capable of manufacturing anything for boating in house, was fun, really miss that job......... | ||
| Kyrocket |
How bizarre. Sorry, couldn't pass it up. | ||
| Etennuly |
Sorry Brad, I cannot be of much help on the O/B engines. I had a Johnson 110 on a bass boat several years back, but the previous owner had just hung that brand new 110 on it a year before I bought it. I ran it for six years only changing plugs once. Sounds like most of what you are doing is engine basics 101. Fuel, air, rotation, spark, compression. Make sure everything is cleaned out, replace fuel lines and filters. Good strong battery and wiring, new plugs, check wires and coils. Check compression. I found a company who makes steering and throttle cables for a way better price than factory. I can look them up for you. Does it have a steering console? Best game plan for boating with an older boat, cleaning is free, so clean it as good as it can be done. Unless you plan to keep it to your end, do not paint it with a brush, faded original fiberglass is way better than laytex house paint. Try to limit what you spend to just what is necessary to make it run until you get a good sea trial. If you can make it run, get it out to see if it is going to be what you are looking for before replacing the big dollar parts. I don't often advocate giving up on a project, but with a boat, jumping out with a grand in it is better than spending two grand and being in the same place with a boat that won't go. | ||
| Fast1075 |
Prowler, There used to be an OMC Performance Group facility 4 miles from my house on Lake Hamilton in Florida. I did A/C work there...some areas were "absolutely no entry" unless they stowed or draped over what they were working on. I fished a Muscular Dystrophy tournament once where I went in as a non-boater...The guy I was paired up with had an 18ft Shadow tunnel hull with an OMC V-8 that was built out by OMC Performance...Lets just say, it was fast (100+mph certified) and very, very thirsty for fuel and oil. Did you know that one of the most famous/reliable OMC engines (9.9/15) was designed by Kiekhaefer? In high school, I took an outboard motor mechanics course...one of the instructors was a retired OMC engineer...one day he brought in an outboard and ran it on the test stand...it was the wierdest sounding motor I ever heard...he took the cover off and revealed .... it was an OMC prototype rotary engine . | ||
| Prowler |
Fast1, OMC Research did a lot of work on the rotary powerplants in the seventies including a chainsaw among other things, but that was a little before my time. We spent most of our time working on lightweight advanced 4 stroke designs and EFI systems. We had a research facility in Stuart, FL. Was there quite a few times doing engine/boat evals, etc. |
