1995 Johnson 200 Ocean Runners

[FreeBeeTony]

Thoughts on these engines.....said to have VERY low hours..... Very thirsty?

 

[JerEazy]

Very thirsty especially at higher RPMs. Torque for days - but my old ones never let me down.

only negative I can remember is it was sometimes finicky to start when cold. and, if you have the VRO removed, they’ll foul spark plugs with a lot of idle/ low speed.

 

[dingbat]

I run an 97 Evinrude Ocean Pro 200.

Very thirsty.... 1.9 mpg (4200 rpm cruise) on a flat day with the wind to my back on a 22’ Grady. Really sucks down the fuel while trolling.

To put it into today’s fuel perspective, a fishing partner runs a 275hp Verado on his 24’ Grady. Same hull as mine, just 2 feet longer. Fuel consumption is almost identical....tilting in his favor.

The only real gotcha at this point are the plastic carbs
They’re pricy and getting harder to find all the time.

I’ve had to replace 4 out of the 6 due to cracks developing at the base of the mounting flanges. Got lucky and found a used set on eBay. Not cheap, but a lot less than the $550 each from BRP. Warped fuel bowls are also a problem although I’ve yet has that problem.

I would be very leery of a 25 year old motor with “low” hours.

Fuel and ozone deterioration of the rubber and plastic parts continue if the motor is run or not. Count on replacing everything rubber on the motor. That includes rebuilding the carbs, replacing.the fuel pump and all the fuel, oil and vacuum hoses on the motor.

Unlike a 4 stroke, problems in the fuel and oil delivery systems on a 2 stroke can/will have catastrophic consequences.

 

[FreeBeeTony]

Maybe I should just stick w/ my SBC I/O............

 

[dingbat]

Maybe I should just stick w/ my SBC I/O............

I've owned outboards and I/O and will never own another I/O as long as I live.

I'll take worrying about the fuel system on a 2 stroke over the maintenance nightmares of an I/O any day of the week.

Having said that, my next motor with be a 4 stroke outboard. The reliability of a 4 stroke combined with the ease of maintenance outboards are know for

 

[FreeBeeTony]

So would you take a chance on a pair of 25 year old low hour OB's?

 

[JerEazy]

Depending on what they cost - If I was in NEED of 2 - 200HP engines and wanted to save money? Yah. I wouldn’t mind and would likely take the chance after at minimum a compression test, a solid visual inspection, and a check of the LU oil. But I enjoying wrenching and replacing parts as a kind of therapy.

Puzzles for adults right?

But there is a risk. So that’s for you to decide

 

[dingbat]

So would you take a chance on a pair of 25 year old low hour OB's?

No. I'm done with 2 strokes when this one gives out. Far too many newer 4 strokes from the re-power market these days.

I can get a F225 or BF225 with <1000 hours on it for roughly the same cost as new power head for my existing motor.

A 1,000 hours may sound like a lot, but that's barely broken in. I have a friend with 3000+ on a 2005 Yammi F225 and another with 5000+ on a 2014 BF225.