Need a new OB for my dink

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rfrye1

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Jun 15, 2004
589
Hunter H376 San Diego
After 20 yrs my Nissan 5hp 2 stroke has given me its last answer. I spent 3 hrs on it this morning w/o a sputter. Think it's time to upgrade to a new 4 stroke. Since its been 20 yrs since I last bought one, I was a little surprised to see these new ones cost $1500-1800.

My question. Are there any deals out there?? Where do you buy yours?
Is a Tohatsu as good as Honda as good as Mercury? Heck I'm only looking for a 6hp.

Thanks. Bob.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
maybe a complete overhaul is worth while.
 
May 27, 2012
1,152
Oday 222 Beaver Lake, Arkansas
You said 20 years old? I looked up parts for a 1992 Nissan 5hp (same as Tohatsu). I checked Nissan outboard parts and boats.net. There are no parts available for those motors, nothing at all. Everything is listed as obsolete.

I would cut your losses and find a good used motor off CL. Just make sure the seller shows you it runs well (run it at least 10 minutes) before you hand over cash.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Bob:

How many hours do you have on that unit? I have seen 40 y/o outboards still running. Our Tohatsu 15 is still running strong and it is a 1994 model.

I would stay away from Merc's.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
You said 20 years old? I looked up parts for a 1992 Nissan 5hp (same as Tohatsu). I checked Nissan outboard parts and boats.net. There are no parts available for those motors, nothing at all. Everything is listed as obsolete.

I would cut your losses and find a good used motor off CL. Just make sure the seller shows you it runs well (run it at least 10 minutes) before you hand over cash.
We bought a carb kit for our 1994 last year.
 

Ross

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Jun 15, 2004
14,693
Islander/Wayfairer 30 sail number 25 Perryville,Md.
what can wear out a two stroke engine? it runs on fresh oil all of the time. there is no dust out on the water. New spark plugs and sometimes a new ignition module is all it takes to keep my 25 year old 2 cycle lawn mower going.
 
May 27, 2012
1,152
Oday 222 Beaver Lake, Arkansas
On further digging, it depends on if its a two or four stroke. Parts are still available for the four stroke 5hp, but the pipeline is dead on the two stroke.
 
May 27, 2012
1,152
Oday 222 Beaver Lake, Arkansas
what can wear out a two stroke engine? it runs on fresh oil all of the time. there is no dust out on the water. New spark plugs and sometimes a new ignition module is all it takes to keep my 25 year old 2 cycle lawn mower going.
The CDI ignition module, in fact every ignition part, and virtually every single part on the entire outboard, is no longer available for the Tohatsu 5 hp 2 stroke. At least that's what im finding.
 

MrUnix

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Mar 24, 2010
626
Hunter 23 Gainesville, FL
I've never had any problems finding parts for my 1985 Nissan 5hp.. (which are pretty much identical to the 1992 models).

Cheers,
Brad
 
Sep 26, 2008
566
- - Noank CT.
Nov 18, 2010
2,441
Catalina 310 Hingham, MA
The CDI ignition module, in fact every ignition part, and virtually every single part on the entire outboard, is no longer available for the Tohatsu 5 hp 2 stroke. At least that's what im finding.
I just bought parts for my 94 2 stroke Nissan 9.8 hp this morning. I would recommend you talk to your local guy and maybe not just rely on the Internet.
 
Sep 5, 2007
689
MacGregor 26X Rochester
Just speaking in general terms here, but you didn't say what the malfunction was, i.e. no spark, no fuel, well, there's not much else to a simple 2-stroke. Reed valves, or maybe rotary.

My last OB was a '79 2-stroke Evinrude (same as the Johnson, with different paint) 9.9 hp. While there were a lot of finicky parts under the hood, it was pretty butt simple in essence.

Of course, if you want a new OB, that's another story. :dance:

And if parts are so hard to get for yours, it should be worth something on the open market for rebuilding or for parts, which will help offset (a little) the cost of a new one.
 
Feb 17, 2006
5,274
Lancer 27PS MCB Camp Pendleton KF6BL
I purchased a Suzuki 2.5HP 4-stroke outboard from a boater on my dock around the first of April. He purchased it from http://www.newoutboards.com/. He purchased it new in the beginning of March (all this year). He sold it because his wife could not get into the dinghy easily so they decided to just not have a dinghy and outboard. Not sure if 2.5HP is enough for your needs since you last had a 5HP.

The cost of the 2.5 was around $707. I see on their website the price is still the same. I agree that you should check Craigs List or put up a notice at your marina that you are looking for one. Someone is always selling something. LOL

Good luck
 

caguy

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Sep 22, 2006
4,004
Catalina, Luger C-27, Adventure 30 Marina del Rey
Ebay is good for searching parts, especially if you know the part number. Craigslist is better for used motors. Have you check the compression yet ? if you don't have a compression gauge you can borrow one from O'Reilly's auto parts. is there water in your gear case ? if your compression and your case is OK then the motor is worth fixing my opinion.
 
Oct 26, 2005
2,057
- - Satellite Beach, FL.
Bob:

How many hours do you have on that unit? I have seen 40 y/o outboards still running. Our Tohatsu 15 is still running strong and it is a 1994 model.

I would stay away from Merc's.
Aren't Tohatsu, Nissan and Merc all made by the same mfg now?
Merc had a bad rep about 20 years ago and I've owned a couple small ones and the Force 50 on my pontoon and have found them to be good engines.

edit: just checked it out, Tohatsu makes Mercury and Nissan under 40hp. but Mercury are not the same parts as the other 2. Still a heavier duty engine.
 

CarlN

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Jan 4, 2009
603
Ketch 55 Bristol, RI
The biggest problem with a new four stroke in California is that you'll get to contend with ethanol fouling. The new small four stroke outboards seem to be especially sensitive as they have very small carburator jets. You'll find plenty of threads on the topic.

I'd fix the two stroke.
 
Dec 2, 1999
15,184
Hunter Vision-36 Rio Vista, CA.
Merc is great if you can start them and keep them running (not). Even the shift mechanism is crap.

One of the charter groups in the SF bay is getting rid of their inventory.
 
Oct 26, 2005
2,057
- - Satellite Beach, FL.
Do you have personal experience with this or is this just more "internet knowledge"?
 
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