Re: 1989 Johnson 20HP "So I went and checked it out and..."
Re: 1989 Johnson 20HP "So I went and checked it out and..."
A film of oil under the cowl is no biggie at all. Fuel/oil will run out of the carb if you prime it too much or for a million other reasons.
Just make sure the compression on each cylinder is very close, preferably within 5 psi of the other. Within 10% is o.k., but I usually find a good motor is much closer than that. My '99 30hp johnson has 125psi on both cylinders, my '57 18hp has that on both cylinders as well. If yours is 100psi on both, don't freak out, as those gauges are known to be inaccurate pretty often. The recoil spring probably just needs a little lube from sitting for so long. Changing the impeller is not bad at all, just ask how before you do it or search some old threads on how to remove the lower unit properly. Basic tools is all you'll need. DO IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! A motor sitting for 4 yrs. will almost surely have a "set" impeller. (the rubber hardens and makes the blades less flexible.)
If it were me, I'd be MORE interested in what the lower unit oil looked like after a good run in the barrel for a few minutes. If it is milky or you find water in there, you might consider passing on the motor at that price, since the lower unit seals are bad and although the parts are cheap, the labor to fix them isn't. If it's been sitting with water in it, the bearings could be shot. Also, the dent you mentioned in the lower unit is interesting as well.
Good luck,
JBJ
Good thoughts.
The guy seems pretty legit to me, quiet spoken guy but I dont think he is trying to hide anything from it. It's clear the motor has sat unused for a bit due to some saw dust on the choke face plate etc. His story lines up, the prop does infact look brand new. I thought about the dent as well and that is probably why the new prop is on there, likely hit a rock with it. But I am sure the dog gear, forward and reverse would prove to be fine after seeing it run in both gears in a tub on the back of my boat right?
Thanks on the advice on the residue issue
This is all going to be done in my back yard tomorrow, -4 for a high, I am sure the motor will be "cold" from sitting outside, so do you think I am going to run into any issues?
I would be interested to see the lower unit oil as well, but I am not sure the seller would appreciate me doing that
especially having him stand around in the cold. He said he replaced the lower unit oil every season "owned the motor since new" and would replace the plugs every year, that is all he has ever done to it by the sounds of it, said it has been used a hand full of total hours since buying it new due to its weight. He said he had a boat in which he put in his pick up, so I am taking it that a heavier motor like this, would have in fact been of a hassel thinking of his situatioin of lifting the motor out of the truck, carrying it to the boat and getting it on there
which explains the hand full of scratches in the decal on the crowl as he said it had sat on the floor of the boat while in his truck
Man if that we're my motor from brand new I would have treated it with better respect in that aspect.
But it looks pretty good though aside from all of that, when I said the dent in the foot, I wasnt refering to the fin, but the casing, I observed it, it wasnt cracked or repaired.
Guess I will see how she runs tomorrow, rather glad that him forgetting to buy the brass fitting, and him not being able to feed the motor fuel to test it for me at his place, with him coming here it works out better as I can stick the motor on the transom and try out the gears, whereas at his house we had nothing to hook it onto and I would have been holding it in garbage can lol.
PS
If worst comes to worst and I cant get a compression tester from my neighbour, as long as it idles nice and revs nice and goes into both gears and revs, I should be OK eh?
PPS
Going to be the first time I am going to be fiddling with one of these newer johnsons. I know on the tiller arm where the throttle is, at the last inch or so, that would be the low idle adjustment correct? would clockwise increase the idle and counter clockwise decrease it? I know I will get the hang of it and also once reading the owners manual he is giving me with the motor.. but just wanted to know incase I am the one who is firing it up tomorrow
