Resurrecting The Beast

My brain is about dead at this point, time to go to sleep ... but I want to get a question "out there" to the more knowledgeable motorheads ... the 18 StarCraft originally came with a Johnson 125 that spun, and had compression and no spark ... I didnt check the compression at the time because I was more interested in going fishing in freshwater with this giant yet lightweight boat ... its amazingly wide and deep for 18 feet ... and I was focused on the SeaFari 25 at the time for saltwater fishing. I am a half fast auto mechanic, but I never did get into outboards. I have rebuilt several auto engines, but outboards seem to be alien creatures, I suppose due to the 2 cycle deal, not sure where that phobia has its roots eminating from, but not important .. I have basic skills, is "ripping into" that thirty year old motor something that can turn into a nightmare? or do most of the rules of car rebuilding apply? Hell, it just might make enough compression to not need an overhaul, if it only makes 100 horses, it should shoot that boat like an aluminum bullet. Reading about rooster redoing his motor has me going a bit, would a book like a Clymer be of any assistance in troubleshooting / rebuilding this monstah? I have the controls, just have to figure out how to make a strong enough stand to plunk this thing onto. do you jump solenoids like in the old fords, bridge it with a screwdrive to get the starter to spin?<br />Thanks for any info<br />Ray

Re: Resurrecting The Beast

you can use one of those remote starters. spend the money on a factory service & parts manual.<br />what year and model is the 125?

Re: Resurrecting The Beast

They're REAL easy to work on, and no metric bolts. I have the Seloc manual (1958-72 50-125hp), it's decent. The factory manuals are sweet if you can swing it. Haven't tried the Chilton's. <br /><br />Wild guess is either your powerpack (most likely) or sensor is gone, but it might be just something disconnected. You do need a battery to get a spark (that is, it's not a magneto system, like the earlier & later ones). Easy to test the powerpack. Post back if/when you're ready to mess with it. <br /><br />Don't run it (even for a couple seconds) without water to the lower unit.

Re: Resurrecting The Beast

A 125 will move an aluminun 18-footer right along.

Re: Resurrecting The Beast

Thanks for the help, Ive seen Seloc manuals out there, I guess its time to get one! The one OTHER thing that I am concerned about is the Selectric Shift gearbox, ive heard that they are real beasties to work on .. if and only if you can locate functioning parts to replace whatever is broken on it ... assuming (and I am assuming, the engine is presently buried in the garage awaiting my excavation of it) that it still spins and all, how tough a job is the power pack replacement, and could a GM ignition module be used in its place (its a 12 volt system, should work ... theoretically anyway)<br />I do want to get something going, I have a ten horse evinrude also awaiting repairs, (a helicoil in the lower plug is all that one needs I think, spins and creates some resistance on the top plug!) The thing is, I want to get the little lady out there too, and plodding along with the ten horse is going to last about 30 mins before she decides she hates boats and wants to go back to the dock. However ... with the 125 Johnson rocketing along ... <br /> of course, both running would be the ideal thing, ten horse kicker would be just the ticket if the Johnson conks ... can the selectric box be "jammed" into a fwd gear if it goes down in some way? I would hate to be out at Brandywine light house with the motor raring to go and no way to turn the prop!<br />Thanks

Re: Resurrecting The Beast

I'm not familiar with your engine, but would seriously doubt a GM ignition module woulk work. For one thing, 2-strokes fire every revolution of the crank, not everyother like a 4-stroke.