subject: Test That Used Outboard [print this page] Never allow a used boat motor purchase to become an Outboard Motor Repair. Read on for a few critical checks you can do yourself. Here are a couple steps you could take to prevent getting ripped off plus lessen the odds of buying someone else's problems.
When in the market for second hand outboards it is important to have them inspected before you buy them. It's not a large cost to get an outboard repair shop to check them over. The cash saved in the future is well worth it. I have seen time and time again people purchase second hand motors on good faith. The previous owner swears that they are in decent condition and running order. As soon as the new owner brings the motor in for a tune up or a once-over, typically there is something wrong with it. I have noticed a lot of motors bought in good faith that are in fact very badly damaged and require an expensive repair. An outboard motor repair can be very expensive.
A workshop can inspect the outboard from top to bottom. They will inspect the engine mounts and bushings, the propeller and gearbox condition. They should also run the outboard and test the tuning, gear shift function, charging and get a good listen to the hum of the motor, listening for some internal bearing clatter or too much piston slap etc that would call for an outboard motor repair.
A compression test should be carried out on the motor and as a rule shops have the ability to check in the motor by way of a little flashlight or bore scope. The state of the cylinder bores or liners will be noted, and this offers a very good indication of piston and ring condition. The time it takes to carry out an inspection is about 1-2 hours. With repair shops charging around $75 dollars an hr, it's a incredibly cheap and prudent move to take to safeguard yourself against possible unexpected expenses.
But always keep in mind- there is no assurance that the service technician can determine everything that could possibly be amiss with the motor. There is only so much they can check to preclude an outboard motor repair.
