Help?

Fellas shopping for used engine for my boat and need some help. Found an rebuilt 03 90hp mercury 2-stroke with control box and stainless prop and labor for 3k. Need some input on engine if possible. Found 03 mercury 90hp elpto for 2k with no control box. Don't know hours on it since carb engine. Guess just coin toss but trying to be cautious since I got burnt on last one a bought. Anybody know where I may can find good used motor in North Alabama area please let me know....

On the rebuilt one, any paper work on it? Any warranty? If no warranty I would at least want to verify who did it,what work they did and try to get some references on their workmanship. Unless you know it from day one there always a toss up.

If I was going to buy a rebuilt motor I would ask to see a list or work order on what type of work was done and why did a 10 year old motor need to be rebuilt? there are a ton of 20 year old motors out there that haven't been rebuilt so that is one thing that stands out, the other motor for a grand less well a Merc controll box with cables could run up-wards of 200-300 dollars plus the cost to de-rig/ rig your boat could get up to if not more than the rebuilt. If the rebuilt motor is a dealer ask if it has say like a 3 month 50/50 warranty if they rebuilt it , ( I Would ) but that way if something goes wrong then it wouldn't cost the full amount. Thats my best guess

This info might be helpful... had my '96 Johnson 90hp rebuilt, $4k, 2-year warranty, included new head/pistons, carb rebuild, impellor replacement, fuel line replacement, runs like a dream. Expensive stuff but not compared to the cost of a new one. Good luck.:twocents

Have you looked for a rebuilt powerhead for your existing motor? Just another option.

I would not buy a rebuilt motor unless I knew the rebuilder very well. There are lots of little, hard to diagnose/hard to find problems that can lead to a ruined powerhead that may remain undetected and can RUIN a fresh rebuild. I've rebuilt a few, but knew exactly what caused the problem that ruined it in the first place so that it could be corrected after the rebuild. If a motor is being rebuilt by someone with many years of experience, I MIGHT consider it. I would also want to know why it had to be rebuilt, as mentioned by another poster.
JMO,
JBJ

my experience with a rebuilt motor is not very good .just like a truck. there are some folks that know what they are doing and many who just have grease on their hands .:twocents