A lotta motor and VA trailer inspection questions....

[rme25v]

Ok so first of all the motor is a 15hp Johnson Sea Horse (late 70's model I think 1978?)


After getting the lights to finally work, I thought Id see if I could get the motor to fire.

My best memory serves me to believe its only not run a year so I figured some gas in the carb and it'd fire right up...well to my great dismay heres what I found:

Carburetor needs rebuild badly (All gummed up )

Lower unit prop bearing and seal are jacked (I know because if I turn the prop in neutral grease seeps out and the bearings sound like total crap)

Water pump is likely 86'd to

Plugs need replaced.

** So my first question is: Who here owns, works at a Marina? Anyone got any junk motors I can salvage some parts from, and or order stuff for me? I'd much prefer to deal with a local parts / service dealer. I'm on a tight budget as well hence the "salvage" question. I need a bunch of other little bits and pieces, could really use a new idle mixture knob, maybe a spare set of ignition coils, some other silly stuff like that

**Also do they make like a "Chilton" or "Haynes" manual for these engines?  I am totally capable of doing the work, just need a good source for parts mainly.

Onto the legal stuff...


** Didnt realize but tags have been dead for like 2 years no problem renewing them..

**Do I have to get this trailer inspected though? Its registered as "homemade" its just a little one axle Jon boat trailer.


Basically, I have an engine rebuild project on my hands now, and its going to be my winter break project. Any help would be really appreciated and I suspect Ill have a flood of other questions as this project unfolds over the next couple months haha. I guess a new outboard would be the simplest fix but that's totally out of the question since these motors are prohibitively expensive.

Thanks in advance!

[johnr]

You might be able to use a seafoam shock treatment to clean your carb. It usually works like a charm.

If you can find a water pump, it'll be around $50.

The bearing seals could be a different story. Usually the shafts need replaced too because they will get grooved from the seals themselves.

I don't know much about the trailers.

[johnr]

It might be more cost effective to sell yours and replace with an early to mid 90s 15hp Yamaha. Probably get one for under $1200 and it'll run just about forever.

[steviejayvaughan]

Only trailers that have a gross weight rating of 3k pounds or more are required to be inspected unless your trailer is equipped with brakes then it is also required to be inspected.

[rme25v]

Sweet! So no worries on inspection that's good.

New prop shaft sounds expensive...I guess I won't know till I tear it down.

Agh! this is so disappointing. As if over 100 dollars worth of wire, trailer lights, and tires wasn't enough to make me choke...

In the event the shaft has a bad groove on it is there any market for used parts on these old motors? 

Seriously if any of ya'll need parts on the chance it gets scrapped Ill make a part out thread. 

And unfortunately, the motor won't run so I can't get seafoam into it its so crappy.