Anyone know of any Mom and Pop outboard repair shops near Harrisburg PA?

[TimMurphy]

Dear Board,

I have an early 1990's Evinrude that was running when parked and properly winterized but hasn't been run in 6 years. It needs to be gone through and made right.

I know that there is a repair shop in the Hershey-Hummelstown area that always has older outboards posted on Craigslist, but I've never been able to get a response from him because I'm asking about getting a motor repaired rather than asking about buying one of his running motors.

Does anyone have his contact information?

Likewise, if anyone knows of a small shop to recommend in the Central PA area I'd like to hear from you. I know there are dealers who would do the work but I'd rather deal with someone who is known to be a reliable source for outboard repairs.

Any suggestions will be welcomed.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[salvelinus]

One I know of is JLC Marine on PA743 outside of Etown. (717) 367-6838

 

[TimMurphy]

One I know of is JLC Marine on PA743 outside of Etown. (717) 367-6838

Dear salvelinus,

Thanks, I'm pretty sure that is the place I described above that advertises on Craigslist.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[ROVERT]

One I know of is JLC Marine on PA743 outside of Etown. (717) 367-6838

That is very nearly in my backyard. I bought a fuel tank there 25 years ago but haven't had a need for anything since then.

 

[poopdeck]

What size is it? It’s tough to find someone to work on old small outboards because the work can be more expensive than the value of the motor. That and, just like cars, if you can’t hook a computer up to it nobody knows how to diagnose and fix things.

If it was properly winterized and running when put up, I would just start it up. It will be fine. If not, I use Pasch Marine in Easton. Not sure how close that is to Harrisburg but the guy keeps my 1991 Johnson 115 running perfectly. Their website says they have been repairing Johnson/Evinrude motors for 70 years. The guy is real good with fair pricing. I drive 1 1/4 hours for him to work on my motor.

 

[Mike]

Tim,
I would think that it would run as is if it was properly winterized six yrs ago. It’s likely that the fuel was run out of it, the plugs were replaced or gapped, a little oil (tablespoon) put on the head of the piston(s) via the spark hole, and lower unit oil changed. It was probably also fogged while running.

Sometimes the engines are hard to start the first time after having been winterized so you have to play with them a bit without flooding them, which is a bit of a trick in itself if they have a manual choke. If you have a manual choke, some engines do not like to have the choke pushed all of the way back in right away when first started. You have to go to half way, wait a few seconds to perhaps 20 sec and then push the choke in the rest of the way. Usually the winterized engines eventually start and smoke like heck for about a minute, then run well after that. After that period of time, however, the fuel line from the tank to the engine may be bad and if it is the kind of fuel line with a bulb, the bulb is probably either very hard or rotting.

 

[TimMurphy]

Dear Mike,

It had the fuel line pulled and it was run dry every time I used it prior to storage. It was also run dry and fogged when I put it up. I've hauled it out and pulled the plugs and given it a spritz of fogging oil and turned it over with the rope start 3 times in the six years it has sat.

It's a 1992 Evinrude 15 HP L/S motor with electric start. I know it needs the electric start switch replaced because I tried it 2 years with a fresh battery on it and pushing the starter switch did nothing. It probably needs the lower unit oil changed, and I really don't have the proper workspace to do that.

I'd like to get it running and get rid of the Yamaha 25 HP 4-stroke I have on my boat now. The Yamaha is decades newer, and a much better motor, but it's more than I actually need for modest fishing use. Most times the boat has been on the water here in Central PA it's been propelled with a bow mount and stern mount trolling motor.

I may try seeing if I can get it going myself next weekend, otherwise I'll probably wait and try again in the Spring.

Regards,

Tim Murphy 🙂

 

[Paul6.5]

Tim, having worked on a few outboards in my day, I would almost guarantee it's the carb.

Get yourself a set of gasket jets and float, a can of carb cleaner, Take lots of pictures of the linkage (I always struggle putting it back together)

Probably this kit is what you need, just check PNs: Carb Rebuild kit

 

[dudemanspecial]

If you ran it dry of gas it may fire right up with some fresh stuff. If I wasn't about 3 hours away from you Tim I would gladly come over and help out.