Sketchy Yanmar 3JH

[Celestialsailor]

I am looking on ebay at a recently listed Yanmar 3JH for sale. I want a reality check here. I immediately saw a cracked (multiple) exhaust mixing elbow. On closer examination, at least 3 of the 4 right angle mounting brackets for the motor mounts appear to be bent.
The first thing that came to mind was that a crane perhaps lifted the engine out of the boat while it was on boat stands in a yard and a catastrophic failure happened sending the engine 9.8 meters per second, squared, to the ground.

The seller told me the elbow rotted out and nothing else is wrong.

Here is the link...
https://www.ebay.com/itm/265186846715

[Compass790]

I'm not sure the motor mount brackets are bent, maybe its just an optical illusion as mounts are not square to engine. Thats my guess anyway.
Would have thought if exhaust elbow was cracked from dropping it there would be other damage.

Price doesnt seem cheap but I have no idea of US market.
I would want a video of cold start ( verified with laser thermometer ) & it running if you are too far away to check it out.

Sorry my post is not much help.

[sailingabe41ds]

I too do not know the used value of something like this. The engine mounts and mixing elbow is the least of your problems unless you can have this thing running and a good mechanic can thoroughly check it out. I rather spend more for a better engine than one that is crap shoot and not know what you are getting. Looks like that engine lacked TLC.

IMHO

Abe

[Bellinghamster]

Wow, those mounts are definitely bent... I can't fathom how that would have happened. The exhaust elbow looks terrible - I'd be worried whatever caused it to rupture may have leaked into the exhaust manifold, but otherwise the engine looks fairly decent. For price comparison - I recently purchased a 2018 4JH4-TE (75hp w/ turbo) with 600 hours on it for $7k. It was a running takeout from a boat in California that had to upgrade to a tier 3 emissions compliant engine. It didn't come with a transmission, tho.

[Celestialsailor]

Thanks everyone. The seller just got back to me a second time and stated that he repairs outboards and received this Yanmar from another engine dealer. I have rebuilt a few engines. My latest was a Westerbeke 46 (Mitsubishi engine). So they don't really scare me that much. Although Yanny parts are expensive.
It's been a bad month for me with marine diesel engines. Two weeks ago I purchased a Beta 38 (Kubota) and had it shipped from Florida to California. I felt I had hit the lottery as they are hard to find. I received a call from the shipping company that their driver was involved in a multi vehicle crash and the trailer was totaled. It's under investigation but that could take weeks since there is currently an investigation.

[Compass790]

Actually on 2nd look agree with post #4 the mount is bent & oil filter is a bit crushed & air intake is crushed by the looks of it. Without seeing it running it's a crap shoot as post #3 suggests