TOPIC: Should I purchase this 197X? 25 Evinrude?

Heres the deal, I was previously looking to purchase an 18HP, but while going with a friend to purchase a trolling motor the guy he was buying it from had this 25 Evinrude in his garage. I asked him what the deal was, he said it runs but the starter stays on due to a PO hack job wiring. What would be a safe price to pay for it knowing hardly anything about it. Basically parts value, I'll at least try and run a compression check. It does shift forward and reverse but you can't really know 100% until it's in the water. I think it's about a 1975? Not sure, but here are all the pics I snapped of it. It's in really decent condition, tiller steer. I asked him how much and he said prolly $150, and his wife looked at him and said you dont need that S**t, give it to him for $100. So what do you guys think?

$100 I would be on that like a duck on a June bug

I have a wiring diagram and will post it if you buy the motor...got to look for it

And looking at the cowling..it seems to be a 1975

Well worth it at $100, especially with electric start.

The "haywired" solenoid should be easy enough to fix, big thing on these is worn-out clutch dog, if the lower unit is in good shape and doesn't jump out of gear, it alone is worth quite a bit more than the asking price.

If the compression is even, it's a true winner!

Let us know how it works out.........ed

You didn't get it yet? It's worth it.

Haha, if there wasn't and impending thunderstorm and there had been an ATM close by I would've had it today. I wanted to get an opinion before I purchased and had to dig it out of that hole. He's trying to find the gas tank for me(It would be an added bonus). I'll probably pick it up next weekend.

Jump on it! The tiller handle alone is worth the price. Parts are abundant and reasonable.

Tell him to throw in the minnow bucket too.

I thought that I had a 75 wiring diagram ...it only went to 72

Check and be sure that someone did not put an auto starter solenoid in ..one that ground through the frame of the coil... cheaper but a big no no

I have a 79 25hp Evinrude short shaft electric start with the tiller. It is a great running little motor. Just don't have it on a boat right now. Non prop exhaust(sp)
I also own a 89 30 Johnson long shaft thru hub exhaust. It runs great. Too many motors not enough boats!

63 Sabre wrote:

Jump on it! The tiller handle alone is worth the price. Parts are abundant and reasonable.

How many tiller handles would you like at $100.00 ea I have a bunch!!

AL. A few years ago when I needed one they were scarce as hens teeth and were going premium price on ebay. Now I don't need one and you have a bunch?? go figger.


Either way if there is good compression on the 25 it's a buy.

Is the tiller bracket broken? First photo it looks like there's some open metal on the starboard side - could just be a fluke of the photo?

In any case, an electric start 25 is well worth $100. The electric start bits work on a number of years of 18 to 25 horse models..

Only downside of the 1975 model is the low tension magneto. When they work, they work alright, but getting them set-up can be a pain at times. Not as good a system as the old magnetos (coils under flywheel) or the CDI ignitions that came afterwards...

Not a picture mistake, it is missing a bit of metal, when I inspected it, it didn't seem to affect anything TOO much, but I'm not sure 100%. Im going to try and talk him down to about $80 because he can't find the gas tank, and that piece of metal is missing.

If you do get it, I think I have the bracket for you...

Got the motor for $80 today, it has good compression when I pull the handle about 110+, if I can get the starter to spin Im sure it'll be more. I really need a wiring diagram.

Got the compression test with the starter.

Not bad. A 10psi variance is about the max I'd like to see, though. Might want to try some Sea Foam Deep Kreep through it once you get it going, to help free up the rings if there's any carbon build-up.

I wouldn't take that gauge's word as the gospel as it's from harbor freight haha. If it lake tests alright, what do you guys think as far as value. I'm being scolded to get rid of this one to turn a profit before I become the old outboard man. Thanks!

Looks and sounds like it runs pretty darn good. I don't think it's pumping as well as it should and changing the impeller is an easy and cheap repair even if your just going to sell it. A good running motor should bring $400 to $600.00 just about anywhere but with as little as you have invested it would be hard not to triple your money at least. Try to find an investment that is going to do that for you on the stock market!
Al