too many hours on an OB?
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Rule of thumb, regardless of hours.
Never buy a used outboard that you can't afford to replace.
I have been lucky with buying a couple of used outboards, but they were very clean.
I have heard 400 hours on a two stroke is just about end of life, but I think that is old and 4 strokes are a whole nother beast.
Never buy a used outboard that you can't afford to replace.
I have been lucky with buying a couple of used outboards, but they were very clean.
I have heard 400 hours on a two stroke is just about end of life, but I think that is old and 4 strokes are a whole nother beast.
No way... if an outboard is taken care of 1000-1500 hours easy...
I never had any problems with my Suzuki 4 -strokes but I run them every day. I think that is the secret. The worst thing you can do is only use your motor every 3 or 4 weeks. Maybe the charter guys can chime in. They run em every day. I put 900 hours on my first one and sold it still running strong. Ive put 800 hours on my new (3 year old) one with zero loss of performance or repairs. Ive talked to bridge surveyors and comercial clammers who have put over 3,000 hours on Suzukis with out any major repairs yet. I imagine any 4 stroke from Honda or Yamaha will hold up as well. The e-techs have been around now about 4 or 5 years so there should now be a history on them. Maybe some owners can chime in.
Even up 2000 is not unheard of if cared for properly.
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15,606 Posts
What you really want to look at is the condition of the motor, look for corrosion and check the compression, if its within 10 psi for each cylinder that is good and you want it close to the normal compression, if there is an issue use DUNKS Sea Foam decarb method and then check the compression.
If the motor has 1500 or more hours on it then use that to negotiate the price.
If the motor has 1500 or more hours on it then use that to negotiate the price.
almost 500 hour without a hiccup on a 2002 yammie ox66 in service in 03
Granted dont troll so most hours are running 3500-4000 rpms
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2,561 Posts
WOW, you guys are scaring me. I have a 2001 Suzuki 4 stroke 50 with around 850 hours on it. Serviced every year professionally. Not thinking I need a new motor but 
1998 new in 99 150 Rude carb. Did lots of trolling for the first 6-7 years putting well over 100 hrs a year on it....The last few years been splashing her later in the season and doing less offshore stuff,,,Have over 1000 hrs on it ,my hour counter stuck afew years ago....Dealer winterized it and checked compression ,etc ready for another year,,,,
Joe R.
20ft Classic SeaCraft
Susie II
Joe R.
20ft Classic SeaCraft
Susie II
Holy crap....where do you guys get these numbers from?? No doubt the internet..and listening to jackasses that have more money than brains..
Over the years I've run OMC V4's way over 3500hrs after I rebuilt them and god only knows what was on them before I got them.. I haven't bought a new outboard engine since 1979 and since then I probably have 10-12000hrs on the water by outboards.
I have to laugh at guys saying I got 6-8-1000hrs before they traded them..
Carbon is the number one killer of outboard engines, both 2 and 4 stroke. Engines have to be kept clean on the inside. And it's not the oil 2 strokes burn... it's the damn fuel we are dealt. So that brings the new 4strokes into the same problem. How many times have gas/fuel formulas changed in the last 20yrs?? Damn fuel now smells more like bad cologne that something you can run an engine on. Different contents of MTBE then now ethanol and in the mean time the outboard manuf's have been chasing decent oil mixes to combat the crappy fuel. Then throw into the mix different fuels in different parts of the country..
Right now the outboard OEM oils have almost killed the carbon problems with themselves. It's the juice we pump into the fuel tanks causing the problems.. Again this drags the 4 strokes into the mess.
Once again, decarbon every engine you own... And I'm even talking about your cars and trucks along your outboards if you want them to live past the warranties on them..
Case in point. I drive an 07 Ford Sport Trac with a 4.6 V8. It has 33k on it. When it had 15k on it the mileage started to drop from 21-22mpg on the highway to 17-18. I ran the tank down, when the low fuel light came on, 50 miles left. I dumped 3 cans of Seafoam into the tank and drove it flat on the floor every time I had to stop and start for the next 30 miles.. Mileage came right back. Now at 33K the mileage has fallen again.. It's time for another Seafoam bath... Trust me, the fuel we are buying has problems... Treat your outboard the same way every 75-100hrs..
Over the years I've run OMC V4's way over 3500hrs after I rebuilt them and god only knows what was on them before I got them.. I haven't bought a new outboard engine since 1979 and since then I probably have 10-12000hrs on the water by outboards.
I have to laugh at guys saying I got 6-8-1000hrs before they traded them..
Carbon is the number one killer of outboard engines, both 2 and 4 stroke. Engines have to be kept clean on the inside. And it's not the oil 2 strokes burn... it's the damn fuel we are dealt. So that brings the new 4strokes into the same problem. How many times have gas/fuel formulas changed in the last 20yrs?? Damn fuel now smells more like bad cologne that something you can run an engine on. Different contents of MTBE then now ethanol and in the mean time the outboard manuf's have been chasing decent oil mixes to combat the crappy fuel. Then throw into the mix different fuels in different parts of the country..
Right now the outboard OEM oils have almost killed the carbon problems with themselves. It's the juice we pump into the fuel tanks causing the problems.. Again this drags the 4 strokes into the mess.
Once again, decarbon every engine you own... And I'm even talking about your cars and trucks along your outboards if you want them to live past the warranties on them..
Case in point. I drive an 07 Ford Sport Trac with a 4.6 V8. It has 33k on it. When it had 15k on it the mileage started to drop from 21-22mpg on the highway to 17-18. I ran the tank down, when the low fuel light came on, 50 miles left. I dumped 3 cans of Seafoam into the tank and drove it flat on the floor every time I had to stop and start for the next 30 miles.. Mileage came right back. Now at 33K the mileage has fallen again.. It's time for another Seafoam bath... Trust me, the fuel we are buying has problems... Treat your outboard the same way every 75-100hrs..
Joe, that engine is a PUP... Too many guys throwing away perfectly good engines to repower for a few tenths of mpg...
Here's another thing... The new DFI engines, any make won't run with the carbed engines of the same horsepower.. Not even close.. That alone is 20% why the new DFI engines get 40% better fuel mileage...
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5,728 Posts
Holy Sh*T Glad You told Me that!!!
We are going to have to repower every Year
The Adam Bomb is going to have to do it twice a year:razz::razz:
Your numbers aren't even close!!!
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5,004 Posts
i bought a 70 horse in 98 and she still is a beast. just had bearing go on lower unit ,i love her she never let me down.knock on wood
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911 Posts
How many hours?
Got a friend retired down in Costa Rica. He talks to the charter guys down there and thay laugh at 2000 hours. Best advice has already been given, run them often and keep em clean.
Got a friend retired down in Costa Rica. He talks to the charter guys down there and thay laugh at 2000 hours. Best advice has already been given, run them often and keep em clean.
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1,729 Posts
Over 500hours on a 2005 Yamaha 225hp 4stroke...regularly maintained by a cert dealer when needed and end of year...no problems what so ever...knock on wood?
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11,263 Posts
Wow! I don't know where some of you guys got your numbers from either!
On my 2800 Vector, I just repowered with 2008 Yamaha 250 four strokes. Previous engines were 250 HPDI's. Both the boat/HPDI's brand new in 2005 and had right around 3000 hours on them near the end of 2008. At near 3000 hours, starboard motor ran strong, but port motor melted a piston from a lean out condition caused by a hole that had corroded in to a fuel barb coming off the port side shut off valve on the fuel tank(aluminum fuel barbs, replaced with brass). Engines were NEVER decarbed and rarely had Ring Free. New motors are 2008 250 four strokes and inside of 1 year have just about 800 hours on them. Looking forward to seeing how many hours I can crank out of these motors. Charter boat out of Marathon that I know runs year round and just had a set of Yamaha 250 four strokes(2005 model year) that he ran to 4100 hours. Sold the engines and repowered because 2007 was the last year of the push/pull 250 prior to the 250B which is a fly by wire motor. The 4100 hours 250 four strokes were still running strong when sold and still are. These engines were also NEVER decarbed and zero Ring Free. This isn't to say that everyone shouldn't decarb or use a carbon additive, as running the engines every day definitely reduces your carbon build up - especially when you don't troll(although Brian down in FL trolls a lot).
Moral of the story - toss them other numbers out the window! :wave:
On my 2800 Vector, I just repowered with 2008 Yamaha 250 four strokes. Previous engines were 250 HPDI's. Both the boat/HPDI's brand new in 2005 and had right around 3000 hours on them near the end of 2008. At near 3000 hours, starboard motor ran strong, but port motor melted a piston from a lean out condition caused by a hole that had corroded in to a fuel barb coming off the port side shut off valve on the fuel tank(aluminum fuel barbs, replaced with brass). Engines were NEVER decarbed and rarely had Ring Free. New motors are 2008 250 four strokes and inside of 1 year have just about 800 hours on them. Looking forward to seeing how many hours I can crank out of these motors. Charter boat out of Marathon that I know runs year round and just had a set of Yamaha 250 four strokes(2005 model year) that he ran to 4100 hours. Sold the engines and repowered because 2007 was the last year of the push/pull 250 prior to the 250B which is a fly by wire motor. The 4100 hours 250 four strokes were still running strong when sold and still are. These engines were also NEVER decarbed and zero Ring Free. This isn't to say that everyone shouldn't decarb or use a carbon additive, as running the engines every day definitely reduces your carbon build up - especially when you don't troll(although Brian down in FL trolls a lot).
Moral of the story - toss them other numbers out the window! :wave:
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4,909 Posts
My last 2 stroke 115 Evinrude FICT had 3400 hours before it croaked,current 2008 115 Evinrude Fict has 1800 . This engine had the powerhead replaced at 500 hours due to a manifold defect and was under warranty ,since than running great
I agree the fuel is a major problem BUT using the best oil and not trying to save pennies pays off in the long run
I agree the fuel is a major problem BUT using the best oil and not trying to save pennies pays off in the long run
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