Never allow a used boat motor purchase to turn into an Outboard Motor Repair
. Read below for some vital checks you can perform yourself. There are a few steps you can take to prevent getting ripped off and lessen the odds of purchasing someone else's problems.
When in the market for second hand motors it's crucial to have them inspected before you purchase them. It's not a huge cost to get an outboard repair shop to check them over. The money saved in the long term is well worth it. I have seen time and time again people buy second hand outboards on good faith. The previous owner swears that they are in first-rate shape and running order. As soon as the new owner brings the motor in for a tune up or check, frequently there is something wrong with it. I have observed many motors purchased in good faith that are in reality very badly damaged and require an high-priced rebuild. An outboard motor repair may be extremely pricey.
A workshop can inspect the motor from top to bottom. They will test the motor mounts and bushings, the propeller and gearbox condition. They should also run the motor and check the tuning, gear shift operation, charging and get a close listen to the sound of the outboard, listening for some internal bearing racket or excessive piston slap etc that could force an outboard motor repair.
A compression test can be performed on the outboard and most shops possess the capability to look inside the motor with a small flashlight or bore scope. The state of the cylinder bores or liners will be noted, and this gives a pretty important indication of piston and ring condition. The time it takes to carry out an inspection is about 1-2 hours. With service shops charging around $75 dollars an hr, it is a very cheap and prudent step to take to protect yourself against possible unforeseen expenses.
However please bear in mind- there is no assurance that your service technician can notice everything that could possibly be wrong with the motor. There is only so much they can test to preclude an outboard motor repair.