1990 175hp Johnson

[hoser4]

I just purchased a used boat with a 1990 175 hp Johnson. On the first outing eveything was fine for over an hour then one cylinder head got hot so we shut it down. As expected with the motor hot it wouldn't turn over very well. With time it got better but never would turn over fast enough to start. Got home and checked thermostats and they worked, put them in boiling pot of water and they opened at approx.150 deg. or less. Motor still not turning over well enough to start. Is not lock up. Can be turn flywheel by hand, not easily though. like it should be. Suspected batery, on charger over night ,no help.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1990 175hp Johnson

Hoser4..... You didn't say anything about the overheat warning horn sounding off. If that warning horn didn't sound off, there is a possibility that the tightness is not in the powerhead, but rather in the lower unit. Drop the lower unit to determine where the problem is.

 

[hoser4]

Re: 1990 175hp Johnson

No horn, earlier in the day the control didn't waht to go into reverse. After a while the control would go back but would not engage the gear. Motor reved up and all but the prop was not engaging. How does one head get hot and nothing else? Could a thermostat "act up"?

 

[hoser4]

Re: 1990 175hp Johnson

Capt. Reeves, you are the man. Lower unit had about 2 oz. of oil. My fault I guess for not checking but who would think someone would sell a boat with zero lower unit oil.