irish24
Seaman Apprentice
- Joined
- Jun 29, 2009
- Messages
- 49
I received a 1987 Starcraft open bow project boat & trailer with a 1985 Johnson 115 V4 VRO. When I say "received" it was a freebie. My upmost priority is cost efficiency here. Previous owner started all the hardest work already. Pulled the floor in its entirety and stringers replaced and glassed in. Thats it. Then his wifey said "Get that crap outta my driveway," and the rest is history.
The current condition of the boat is great and the fiberglass hull is in perfect shape. What I've done is: traced but not replaced template for floor (intend on using marine grade ply), replaced all the hose connections, checked the bilge is good both on manual and auto, tilt/trim wiring issues resolved, unfroze the steering which really sucked, greased all visable fits, new NGK plugs and I've got it running with the muffs and it sounds pretty good. Exhaust is coming out and the impeller seems okay. Cooling had to be unclogged at the motor housing port but good now. I don't have any compression on one cylinder but the other three are good. Damn, too good to be true, almost. The cylinder head does move though, so it's not frozen. So, should I run the engine till it dies and say that was fun, or do a PowerHead rebuild? I know the right thing to do is a rebuild but they cost like 700 bucks. Will it toast the engine to run it in it's current state? I've heard great things about these mid 80's Johnson Outboards as being very solid motors that run forever and I really want the boat. Fix or not to fix, drive or not to drive? Any opinions?
I am also having some issues investigating this motor cause I cannot find a serial #. All I can find on the head is RSM6260V 85 115...Please help.
The current condition of the boat is great and the fiberglass hull is in perfect shape. What I've done is: traced but not replaced template for floor (intend on using marine grade ply), replaced all the hose connections, checked the bilge is good both on manual and auto, tilt/trim wiring issues resolved, unfroze the steering which really sucked, greased all visable fits, new NGK plugs and I've got it running with the muffs and it sounds pretty good. Exhaust is coming out and the impeller seems okay. Cooling had to be unclogged at the motor housing port but good now. I don't have any compression on one cylinder but the other three are good. Damn, too good to be true, almost. The cylinder head does move though, so it's not frozen. So, should I run the engine till it dies and say that was fun, or do a PowerHead rebuild? I know the right thing to do is a rebuild but they cost like 700 bucks. Will it toast the engine to run it in it's current state? I've heard great things about these mid 80's Johnson Outboards as being very solid motors that run forever and I really want the boat. Fix or not to fix, drive or not to drive? Any opinions?
I am also having some issues investigating this motor cause I cannot find a serial #. All I can find on the head is RSM6260V 85 115...Please help.