Is this a good choice of engine before I buy

[T4bus]

Hi

Your experience and advice is appreciated, I guess you get a lot of inexperienced new members like me asking the same ignorant questions so I'll try to learn quick

I hope to look at this engine tonight, is there anything I should know before looking, I'll start it up & make sure it pumps water, goes in & out of gear smoothly & check for any excessive corrosion.

My main interest is are these engines a sensible choice? Spares readily available, as reliable as other brands, noticeably more noisy or less reliable than others etc

Also apparently it's a commercial engine is this relevant?

[Landlockedpirate]

I accidentally bought the identical Evinrude in summer, I wasnt expecting much but ended up being pleasantly suprised by it.

It was quiet and smooth and started easily every time. It went well on a small zodiac futura. While its never going to be as popular as a Yamaha, I would happlily buy another at the right price.

Sorry cant help with the commercial aspect of the engine.

[slate1234]

I like johnson's I have a 6hp and 8hp but I cant find anything from the serial/model number, all I can say is johnson use's INTRODUCES for year of manufacturing i.e I=1 N=2 T=3 R=4 O=5 D=6 U=7 C=8 E=9 S=0 : so if the serial/model number ended in CE it would be 1989, as for parts they are found easily on fleebay, except the carb body they are quite hard to get hold of,
Slate

[slate1234]

shop.evinrude.com/media/document/ModelNumberReference.pdf.: copy and past I just found it, it is what he is saying 1993 commercial 15hp

[T4bus]

Thank you for all your help, I have just found out it's a long shaft Looked like a short shaft in the pics but apparently not the case...Looking on smalloutboards.com, they state that theseare the most simple and cheap to convert to short shaft? Puts the dampers on collecting it tonight but I'll try to get an estimate to do this before I rule it out.

[9D280]

Only on my phone so pic like a postage stamp, but looks like one with an extension piece in the leg.

In which case long to short involves procuring a short drive shaft, water tube and gear rod followed by some mechanical entertainment swapping them out.

[T4bus]

Originally Posted by 9D280

Only on my phone so pic like a postage stamp, but looks like one with an extension piece in the leg.

In which case long to short involves procuring a short drive shaft, water tube and gear rod followed by some mechanical entertainment swapping them out.

Think it'll be too much messing about so I'll wait for a short shaft to come up, it's on e-bay at the moment & he said he'd take £450 if anybody else is interested.

[slate1234]

he told me £500 lol

[Locozodiac]

Conversion fron long to short or viceverse is too costly, better find the right size that suits your needs. Used to have a 96 same model, worked ok, the only down issue now that can compare to newer Japanese ones is that thermo is a bit primitive and if not working in opt state will give overheating head issues specially at wot.

Buy a new thermo kit along engine and change it, as you will never know if previous owner correctly flushed engine after each use, just to be on the safe side of investment. Check impeller condition too before going to sea.

The difference between standard and ccommercial models is that the latter has more stainless steel bolts, minor parts, and probably a heavy duty water pump liner.

Happy Boating

[9D280]

Costly if you buy new bits, but find a short shaft scrapper and the chances are you will get a ton of "free spares" with your "new" shaft.