Many people consider buying used outboard motors because they believe it will be cheaper than buying a new one. While this is true, you need to be careful when buying used outboard motors because they could end up costing you more than you expect. If you do not know how to buy a used motor, you could end up with a motor that you need to repair or one that does not work. There are a number of tips and points that you need to know about when looking at these motors to ensure that you buy one that works for you.
Looking At The Price
A mistake that many new boat owners make is spending too much on their used outboard motor. Some of these people have paid more for the used motor than they would for a new motor. The reason why this happens is the lack of guides for outboard motors that you would find for cars. This is one of the reasons why you need to take the time to research and look at the prices you are offered.
The more research you do into used outboard motors, the more better the deals you are going to find. You should look at as many fixed price adverts as you can and make a spreadsheet to compare them. The spreadsheet will help you keep track of the prices and compare them to find the best deal. The spreadsheet you have should include the price of the motor as well as the age, warranty, extras and when it was last serviced if this information is provided.
When buying used outboard motors, you should also look at buying outside of the peak seasons. This will decrease the price of the motors because the demand will be much lower. It is best to look for a motor between November and March because this is the low season for these motors.
What You Get With The Motor
While the price of the motor is important, you need to consider what you are getting along with the motor. There is no point in buying used outboard motors for the same price as a similar motor which comes with additional items. Of course, when you look at the extras that you get with the motor, you need to ensure that you actually need them and they will add value to your purchase.
The first extra that you should look at getting is a warranty from the seller. This is particularly important if you are buying the motor from a deal and should cover at least 3 to 6 months. This is not something that you will be able to get with a private seller, but you should ask them for the working state of the motor to be provided to you in writing. This is particularly important if the working state of the motor is not included in their advert.
Another vital extra that you should look for is the wiring loom. This is due to the fact that wiring looms are expensive to purchase and should not be kept by the seller. If the wiring loom is not included in any communication with the seller, you should ask about this.
There are many other extras that you should look at getting which are not vital to the use of the motor. These will include engine cables and controllers, spare service parts, rev counters and other gauges. These extras will save you money and can help you use the motor, but they are not as essential as the warranty and wiring loom. Of these other extras, the one that you should focus on is the engine controls.
How You Are Getting The Motor
There are many myths about how a motor can be damaged during transportation. A used outboard motor will have been on the back of a boat for a while which means it is less likely to be damaged during transit. However, this does not mean you should not consider how you are going to be getting the engine.
The first point you should look at with transport is whether or not you will have to pick up the motor. Many private sellers will require you to collect the motor from them and this should be reflected in the price. However, it is important to note that most engines can be posted if the oils have been drained. There are some companies that require the gearbox oil to be drained as well.
If the engine has been posted, you should never sign for the delivery until after you have checked the engine. Once you have signed for the delivery you will be accepting the motor in the condition that you have it. This means that if something is incorrect or the motor is damaged, you will have a harder time getting recompense for it.
Where To Buy
Where you buy the motor is important because some sellers are more reliable than others. The best place to buy a used outboard motor is from a dealer that offers a warranty. This does not mean you should buy from the first dealer that offers a warranty. You should also ensure that they have a good reputation and that you know them.
If you cannot find a good deal from any dealers in your area, the second best option would be to buy the motor from a boat owner that you know. The boat owner should be someone you have met on the water or through a boating, fishing or sailing club. These sellers will generally have a reputation within the club that you can check which helps you determine if you should be buying from them.
If you are not a member of a club, you should look at buying an ex-commercial motor. These motors will be sold by companies on certain websites and will generally be as described and have a full-service history. If these options are not possible and you need to look at private sellers, you need to be careful.
There are many people who buy used motors from private sellers without any problems. However, you need to be aware that when you buy privately, you will not have much in the way of recompense and this could be a problem is the item is not as stated. When buying privately, you should look at paying through PayPal and having the motor delivered by courier. eBay is a good option because they will refund you if the item is not as described.
Does The Motor Work?
Before buying a used motor, you need to ensure that it actually works. There are certain mechanical problems that you can determine without having to take the motor apart and you need to know about these. These are some of the most common issues that used motors have and you need to know how to identify them.
Compression is the first issue you should look at and you will be able to test for uneven or low compression with a compression tester. These are the same items that you would use on cars and you will need a socket set to take out the spark plugs. You will need to remove the fuel hose and take off one of the leads going to the spark plugs. You should unscrew the spark plug then screw in the tester and turn the engine over for a few seconds then repeat on the other cylinders.
If there is a problem with the compression and the motor is more than 10 years old, you should not buy it. The costs to repair this issue on an older motor will be more than the motor is worth. It is important to note that you should not start an outboard motor without removing the fuel hose unless it is in the water because this will cause damage to it.
Ex-commercial and motors over 10 years of age could have a problem with the gearbox. Before you buy the motor you should ask for muffs to be put on or for the engine to be put into a take so it can be started. You should then push the accelerator or controls to put the engine into forward and then into reverse. The seller should not have any issues with you testing this and if they do you should look at going to a different seller.
It is important to note that this is not the perfect test for the gear box as it will only highlight obvious problems. However, it is recommended that this is completed to ensure that there are no problems that you would want to avoid. If these are any issues with the gearbox you should not buy the motor.
The power head can tell you how the engine has been maintained and it is worth a closer look. You should first check that all the gaskets are in working order. These can be found where 2 metal plates have been bolted together to create an airtight seal. If the seals appear to be in good condition, this is an indication that the motor has been well maintained or repairs have been properly completed.
You should also look at the tubes and wires of the motor to see if they are in good condition. They should be secured and there should be no frayed wires. The fuel filters should also look clean and well maintained. If you are looking at a 4 stoke engine, you should also check the oil filter and the color of the oil. The oil filter should have a date on it stating when it should be replaced.
Looking at the impeller is important because it is a vital test for the health of the engine. To check this you will need to have the engine running and check if there is a strong stream of water coming from the pipe at the bottom of the engine hood. If there is a weak stream, this could indicate that the engine is overheating and the impeller will need to be checked for problems. If the impeller fails, it will cost you a lot to repair the damage it can cause.
If there is a weak stream, you should ask the seller if they will be repairing this before you buy. If they are not going to repair the impeller before you buy, you should look at a different seller. Engines which have been in the sea a lot could be clogged which causes the weak stream.