9.9 Evinrude Update

[Carl]

Got a chance to work on my “new” 1985 Evinrude 9.9 this morning. Broke out the spray lube and loosens things up.
She runs! Strong spark. 75 psi on both cylinders. Pees like a champ. Just won’t idle. I suspect a clogged low speed jet. But the idle adjustment knob on the side may also be set too low, it’s hard to turn. Lean/rich mixture was easy to adjust.
I’ve got a new fuel pump, carb kit and water pump kit, will do more work next weekend.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Carl,
You do as you wish but,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, it might be easier to store it in a vertical orientation.

 

[Carl]

keeping yall on your toes!

 

[Steve Sanford]

Got a chance to work on my “new” 1985 Evinrude 9.9 this morning. Broke out the spray lube and loosens things up.
She runs! Strong spark. 75 psi on both cylinders. Pees like a champ. Just won’t idle. I suspect a clogged low speed jet. But the idle adjustment knob on the side may also be set too low, it’s hard to turn. Lean/rich mixture was easy to adjust.
I’ve got a new fuel pump, carb kit and water pump kit, will do more work next weekend.
View attachment 76787View attachment 76788View attachment 76789

Carl~

All sounds good!

My Evinrude is a 15. I believe the only difference 'twixt the 9.9 and 15 is the carb jets (but trust a real OB mechanic on that!)

Some inspiration. I used stock paints to force me to take the seconds required to don/remove the cover whilst gunning.



The Cloak of Invisibility....(I make a sleeve to cover the tiller, too.)



Cautionary Tale: I bought this several years ago. Fired right up and ran smoothly. So, I made it look real nice.



But - when in actual use - it was very hard to restart. Two real OB mechanics told me was time for a new one. They could detect an internal sound that escaped my ear. I do not recall the malady - maybe main bearings? So - I gave it to the second mechanic for parts. That experience is always in the back of my mind when I see this classics up for sale. (I also recall that they weighed just 78 pounds - and my 9.9 served me well over many seasons and memorable hunts.)

All the best,

SJS

 

[Huntindave McCann]

My Evinrude is a 15. I believe the only difference 'twixt the 9.9 and 15 is the carb jets (but trust a real OB mechanic on that!)

Carb jets, reed valve plate and exhaust manifold

 

[Carl]

Are all the work and parts worth the extra 5hp??
I bet the parts guy I got my lower unit from has the part. But I hesitate to break down the entire block to replace the exhaust manifold.

 

[RM Anderson]

Are all the work and parts worth the extra 5hp??
I bet the parts guy I got my lower unit from has the part. But I hesitate to break down the entire block to replace the exhaust manifold.

Forgive me for saying this, but maybe it is time to start looking at at the cheap Chinese knockoffs. It is our own governments fault for outlawing one of the best designs ever created for a small engine. I don't admire the Chinese for outright patent infringement but I think that these two stroke outboards are legit, ie. patents expired.
RM

 

[Ed L.]

Forgive me for saying this, but maybe it is time to start looking at at the cheap Chinese knockoffs. It is our own governments fault for outlawing one of the best designs ever created for a small engine. I don't admire the Chinese for outright patent infringement but I think that these two stroke outboards are legit, ie. patents expired.
RM

I've considered one of these although it's to big for my 12' boat.... Legally. Of course it's a gamble but supposed to be a reversed engineered older model f15 Yamaha.

 

[Huntindave McCann]

Are all the work and parts worth the extra 5hp??
I bet the parts guy I got my lower unit from has the part. But I hesitate to break down the entire block to replace the exhaust manifold.

Carl,
It's been quite awhile since I regularly wrenched on these older motors. I never owned the factory manuals, depended on my local library for my reference materials when needed. The factory website is no longer available on the internet. Going to boats.net shows the breakdowns and parts. Listed are (3) different jets, with one of those being unavailable. For the other two, there is no size specification, just a parts number (same numbers shown for either motor) Your guess is as good as mine as to which part is the larger size orifice. They run $30 each. The reed set itself, is no longer available (for either motor). The exhaust housing shows two different options available, but both options listed for either motor, priced @ $100 and $123 Again, your guess as to which option is used for 15hp. The upper gasket is available @5.40 but the lower exhaust housing seal is no longer available.
My advice might be to refrain from tearing into it unless it is woefully inadequate for your task.
A donor factory built 15hp motor has historically been the cost effective way of obtaining the needed parts. (a seized complete motor) I suspect those may be getting scarce.

EDIT; FWIW Years and years ago I tried just swapping out for the bigger carb jet. The motor did not seem to produce any more HP but it went thru fuel faster. I'm fairly confident the lack of increased power was due to not swapping the inner exhaust housing. By NOT changing the exhaust, the engine was not breathing properly.
I might also add, the motors I've had personal experience with, were from the mid 1960's thru about the late 1970's manufacture.

 

[Steve Sanford]

Carl,
It's been quite awhile since I regularly wrenched on these older motors. I never owned the factory manuals, depended on my local library for my reference materials when needed. The factory website is no longer available on the internet. Going to boats.net shows the breakdowns and parts. Listed are (3) different jets, with one of those being unavailable. For the other two, there is no size specification, just a parts number (same numbers shown for either motor) Your guess is as good as mine as to which part is the larger size orifice. They run $30 each. The reed set itself, is no longer available (for either motor). The exhaust housing shows two different options available, but both options listed for either motor, priced @ $100 and $123 Again, your guess as to which option is used for 15hp. The upper gasket is available @5.40 but the lower exhaust housing seal is no longer available.
My advice might be to refrain from tearing into it unless it is woefully inadequate for your task.
A donor factory built 15hp motor has historically been the cost effective way of obtaining the needed parts. (a seized complete motor) I suspect those may be getting scarce.

EDIT; FWIW Years and years ago I tried just swapping out for the bigger carb jet. The motor did not seem to produce any more HP but it went thru fuel faster. I'm fairly confident the lack of increased power was due to not swapping the inner exhaust housing. By NOT changing the exhaust, the engine was not breathing properly.

Are all the work and parts worth the extra 5hp??
I bet the parts guy I got my lower unit from has the part. But I hesitate to break down the entire block to replace the exhaust manifold.

Carl~

I was not recommending...mostly just curious (and I have learned LOTS here from you and Dave).

I had my 9.9 pumped up to a 15 in the mid-1980s - by an OMC mechanic. I think it was a 1978 - so less than 10 years old at the time. The extra 5.1 horses made all the difference on my 2-mam grassboat.



As much as I love these classic 2-strokers, I would hesitate to put much time or money into a motor that is now 45 or more years old. Old boats, of course, are a different matter............

All the best,

SJS

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Forgive me for saying this, but maybe it is time to start looking at at the cheap Chinese knockoffs. It is our own governments fault for outlawing one of the best designs ever created for a small engine. I don't admire the Chinese for outright patent infringement but I think that these two stroke outboards are legit, ie. patents expired.
RM

Ed L. :
I've considered one of these although it's to big for my 12' boat.... Legally. Of course it's a gamble but supposed to be a reversed engineered older model f15 Yamaha.

I've been looking at these for a couple of years. I researched them a bit, there are knockoffs of Yamahas, and I think both Mercury and OMC. There's quite a variety available at relatively small money if you're willing to take a chance. Reviews are all over the place quality-wise, but it seems that the larger HP's like the "Yamaha" 18 pictured are rated pretty good. I keep telling myself that if they come up with an OMC 40 HP I'll bite.

What I can't figure out is how they get them into the country? Why doesn't customs enforce the EPA regulations that they enforce on other ICE products? Not that I'm asking them to. I guess it's a sign of the times that you can buy one from Amazon.

 

[Carl]

Thanks for the input! I will just get her running smoothly. Still better than putting around with the trolling motor I currently have.

To be honest, while I love the reliability and simplicity of these old 2 strokes, if I didn't have other financial priorities, and could drop $3-4K on a new 4 stroke, I would never consider owning & running a 2 stroke again. Never.
The new 4 strokes are just as reliable, smoother and quieter, more fuel efficient, and the pollution out the exhaust is a fraction of a 2 stroke.
And the power to weight ratio of the new 4 strokes is approaching that of the older 2 strokes.

 

[Carl]

I rotated the photos!

 

[SJ Fairbank]

Thanks for the input! I will just get her running smoothly. Still better than putting around with the trolling motor I currently have.

To be honest, while I love the reliability and simplicity of these old 2 strokes, if I didn't have other financial priorities, and could drop $3-4K on a new 4 stroke, I would never consider owning & running a 2 stroke again. Never.
The new 4 strokes are just as reliable, smoother and quieter, more fuel efficient, and the pollution out the exhaust is a fraction of a 2 stroke.
And the power to weight ratio of the new 4 strokes is approaching that of the older 2 strokes.

Carl,

I agree the 4 strokes are pretty reliable and I like the better fuel economy. There are two things that keep me on the 2 stroke bandwagon...weight and easier cold weather starting. If those two issues can be resolved, I'm all in. As for quiet, I couldn't agree more after having a surface drive for a few years. Sounds like a stock car race.

 

[Capt Rich Geminski]

Never painted my my motors, just turned a potato bag inside out and split the bag 1/2 way up. Worked for over 20 years.

 

[Ed L.]

What I can't figure out is how they get them into the country? Why doesn't customs enforce the EPA regulations that they enforce on other ICE products? Not that I'm asking them to. I guess it's a sign of the times that you can buy one from Amazon.

There's loopholes that allow small manufacturers to import things like these motors. I've read that one of the loop holes is importing them as marine parts. That's why you see fuel tanks, hoses, extra pull rope (which I understand is a bear to replace) extra water pump impellers and carburetor repair parts in pictures like I posted. Also they do not have certificates of origin or bill of sale (when purchasing through Walmart or Amazon) so for those that have to register their outboard motors with dmv or DNR it's pretty much impossible.

 

[Carl]

On a related topic, as noted above, my analog compression guage showed 75 pounds in both cylinders.
This is definitely on the low range but these inexpensive gages are notorious for not being calibrated.
I assume that both cylinders being spot on 75 is more important than the actual number???

 

[Huntindave McCann]

I assume that both cylinders being spot on 75 is more important than the actual number???

correct

 

[Carl]

I've considered one of these although it's to big for my 12' boat.... Legally. Of course it's a gamble but supposed to be a reversed engineered older model f15 Yamaha.

I've seen a number of video reviews of these motors, seems like they are all copies of either the Yamaha or Nissan/Tohatsu 2 stroke motors. Or a mix of both. The quality control on the cosmetic stuff seems lacking but the engines seem to run fine.
Common complaint is the fuel lines are too small and very flimsy.

 

[Ed L.]

On a related topic, as noted above, my analog compression guage showed 75 pounds in both cylinders.
This is definitely on the low range but these inexpensive gages are notorious for not being calibrated.
I assume that both cylinders being spot on 75 is more important than the actual number???

75 psi is low but your right about compression in both cylinders. I was told by a mechanic that more than 5 psi difference is to much. Also the low compression will effect idling needing to increase idle speed.