35 hp johnson making a strange noises

[santander]

While fishing yesterday, my motor made a noise like it hit something (which i don't think it did) and then after that ran rough and made a knocking sound. I checked and noticed i was very low on fuel(empty) so I limped back to the dock using the trolling motor. Today i fired it up after getting gas and it runs perfect in neutral but when i put it in gear it still made a bit of the knocking noise and i noticed the boat rattles more than it normally did. Also there appears to be some cream like liquid that comes out of the carb. What could this be, the motor is a 35 hp sea horse. Please help me because i just puchased the boat and i am a newbie.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

Did you add oil to the gas that you put in initially?

Mark

 

[santander]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

yea i had the 50:1 mixture. Tonight i decieded to check out the lower unit oil to see how it looked since i forgot to check when i bought the boat. Guess what i found? No oil and about a 1/4 cup of water. This means the boat was run with no lower unit oil for a couple hours. When i tried to fill up the lower unit oil started oozing out of the propeller. What does this mean, is there a gasket that needs replacing, how do i fix it. I am assuming that no oil would result in the noise that i heard a vibration. Please help
thanks

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

If you ran it without oil you're going to need more than a gasket. The propshaft seal is toast,but I'll bet so are the the propshaft, bearings, gears, pinion, and any other internals that had contact with moving parts. It is going to have to come apart.

BTW, welcome to the board

 

[santander]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

dang, so pretty much im screwed. I have owned this boat for less than a month and i think it might already be time to get rid of it because i'm a broke college student with no mechanical know how.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

What year is it? you might be able to find another gearcase on ebay. However that to can be a pig in a poke

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

Is it paid for? Maybe sit on it until you can fix it.Not worth a whole lot the way she sits.

DHP

 

[santander]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

The motor is a 77 sea horse 35 hp, runs great, runs down to very low idle and runs strong. I bought the boat cheap for $900. The boat is in great shape no leaks, installed brand new cables, it has electric start, and a side console. I converted it into a semi flats boat by building a carpeted deck in the front and back it looks really good. I think i might be able to sell the boat as is with the work i put into it for around how much i bought it for. I am defiently going to disclose the info about the lower unit to any potential buyers. I checked on ebay for used lower units and they did have a few but im not sure what would fit and how to install it. If i could fix t his problem for under $150 using a used lower unit i will keep the boat for sure.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

Man, I tell you what. My heart bleeds for you but an education costs money period. You either pay up front or pay out the ass (scuse the french, but tis ture). A lot of my education is from Hard Knocks University, but learning the hard way bakes it into your brain and it's there......well maybe while you're young.

One of the things a man needs to learn is to go through used purchases before, or immediately after acquisition. I always have and I have usually been lucky.....I seem to have this knack for thinking I just gotta have this thing that is somebody elses abused crap, from people who don't take care of their stuff and then want premium price for it and most of the time, by doing what I said, I was able to salvage it. There have been one or two rare occasions where I made out, but that is the exception.
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Your noises are obviously metal on metal and as it runs (as it ran), it just gets (got) worse and galling occurs and all the bad stuff. Lack of oil and the presence of moisture are two killers.
One is bad enough, but with both. :'( Like jimmo says, you can kiss this lower unit off as dead meat.

Mark

 

[mikesea]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

First,was there ANY sign of oil,if so things MIGHT not be totaled,but either get it apart now or put some kind of lube,even used car oil will keep the air off it to protect from further damage.I would bet there was oil,but when the leak came ,oil left,water came.there were a couple guys on the site with engine around your era with problems,you might try and touch base,either sell them parts,or,you might could find a lower unit .

 

[jimmbo]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

1976, 77, 78, and 79 35hp lower unit should fit, In 1980 OMC made some changes to the water inlets and how the shift shaft came apart.

 

[santander]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

Thanks everyone for their help. I havent decieded what to do yet, i can either sell the boat for cheap and cut my losses or save up and replace what needs to be fixed at a mechanic which could be as much as i paid for the whole boat. I wish i knew how to fix it myself but i am totally new to boats so i wouldn't trust myself for such a big job. How hard is it to swap out the lower unit on this motor would it be expensive labor for a mechanic to do it?

 

[iwombat]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

Pulling the LU is part of the procedure for replacing the water pump - a routine maintenance item. It's pretty simple.

 

[iwombat]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

You might want to just sit tight and wait for something to come up on either ebay or craigslist. I see parts motors all the time for less than $200 most of these have at least serviceable LUs.

 

[mikesea]

Re: 35 hp johnson making a strange noises

so happens there have been a couple on ebay,after seeing your post and while doing my daily ebay routine I cjhecked and saw at least 3.if I recall the prices were about 150,but one was 50,the guy said he thought it needed seals though.there is nothing to pulling a lower unit and installing another,providing it is a good one and right one.If you buy a manual,just about everthing you need to know will be in it.I have been lurking this site for about 9 months and there is alot of great help here.Its too bad the guy that listed his 78 35 hp lives in sweden.I guess it might get costly to ship,but might be worth looking into,after all ,your weather is not prime for boating so if it takes a month to get here ,Im sure you would be fine with it ,should the price be right.Otherwise ,keep looking on ebay.Getting to the engine parts on ebay is a few steps,but once I got to the parts I just typed in 35,no yr no make and seemed to find more then being too specific,good luck