Vintage Boat Motor Problem

[fishinwrench]

Make sure the nylon drain screw washers are intact and in good condition and have the lower unit pressure/and vacuum checked. The shift shaft seal is most likely the culprit.

Those clam-shell gearcases are sometimes hard to keep water out of "entirely"..... the slightest wear on the driveshaft and shift rod will allow a bit of water in each time you shift it. If the lube loss isn't excessive just check/change the gear lube often and you'll be ok.

[Crippled Caddis]

Looks like it will be about $700 or more for repair. Found another one Evinrude 9.5 about same vintage, runs and alot less. CC, I pm'd last nite, did you get it? I did not know you could buy parts at NAPA, been stuck with local marine dealer. Charged me $9 for a spark plug last summer and I thought they must be something special. Found same plug at Wally for 2 something. I will take advice and change out impellor on this one before running just in case.

Something of an afterthought but I must comment on the repair estimate.

Dealers do NOT want to repair older motors for a variety of reasons. Not least of which is that they want to sell you a new motor. on which they will make a LOT more than helping keep your 'Old Faithful' serving you dutifully into a graceful old age. In addition they are more aware than most that the manufacturers do NOT support older motors with parts supply past @ 7 years in most cases. So they hit you with repair estimates intended to either steer you toward the purchase of a new motor (From them of course!) from which they will derive a quick and easy profit or an obscene profit margin should you be so attached to 'Old Faithful' as to go for it. For them it is a win/win deal. Either you will buy a new motor, you will go for the obscene profit of the estimate or you will take your old motor and get out of their life.

The fly in the ointment from the dealers' perspective is that they are bound by dealer agreements to use only factory authorized parts in thier service department. So the real culprit in the case is the manufacturers who often refuse to support their products with parts past 7 years. Anyone contemplating the purchase of a new motor that they intend to use for many years should ask some very penetrating questions concerning long-term support before spending their hard-won dollars!

All that said it should be recognized that the largest supplier of aftermarket marine parts and products in the world is Sierra Marine. While many auto supply stores can order from Sierra and you can get a Sierra parts catalog for yourself by logging onto their website and simply filling out the request form it should be widely recognize by outboard users that the NAPA dealerships ALL have Sierra parts available to them from their own warehouses. The part #s are listed in their NAPA parts books. You might well have to hold their feet to the fire to get them to admit it and co-operate but they DO have access! CC

[jdmidwest]

I don't think he was trying to fleece me with the old bait and switch. He is a friend of a friend and he was pretty straight forward. He said he was not trying to sell me anything as he did not have anything to sell. He had just sold a nice 6hp for 360 the day before. His son runs the parts and new sales as a separate business.

I found the Champion recommended plug online which is an 841 (j8c), he actually carries the old j4j plugs. Once again, who do I trust, what the plug manufacturer calls for or what the service manual calls for 40+ years ago?

I do try to buy local if possible and being in retail, I understand the concept of markup. But $9.95 for a plug was a little steep. Other parts were inline with other suppliers.