eavega
Lieutenant
- Joined
- Apr 29, 2008
- Messages
- 1,377
So, I have gotten my recently acquired Johnson 20 HP (20R70) into the garage, and under a wrench or two. I have a few questions based on what I have found.
1. I pulled the flywheel, b/c per the previous owner he had been told that the motor was running rough due to bad ignition components. My observations; the coils were intact, but the wire that came off one of the the coils was frayed, probably from contact with the flywheel. The points were set incorrectly, but I couldn't get them into proper adjustment with the adjusting screw. So my question is, should I just replace the suspect coil and the points, or should I go ahead and change out coils, points, and condensers since I already have the flywheel off?
2. The previous owner told me that the LU oil had been changed within the last month, so I did not even think to check the LU before putting the motor in a tank for a start test. When it didn't start I took it out, and thats when I noticed the drain screw was not completely in. I could back it out by hand, and what I found was that there was a cork gasket on the drain screw that was really the wrong size, and wouldn't let the drain screw seat completely. Some water may have gone into the LU, but maybe not. when I fully pulled out the drain screw, no water came out of the LU, but also no oil. More alarming was that the screw (and the drain hole itself) had grease all over it. Not oil, but a grayish green, viscous grease. I pulled the top vent screw, and didn't see any of this grease, but now I am wondering if the previous owner's idea of changing the LU oil was pumping grease into it. The lower unit is not frozen, and the gears correctly engage in forward and reverse. My question is should I assume no damage to the LU gears and just fill it with proper oil per proper procedure, or should I open up the gearcase and verify that the gears are in good shape? Is there a concern if there is grease all up in the gearcase? If so, how do I clean that out?
I am starting to regret having traded my 1960 10 HP Johnson for this motor. It seems that bad, uninformed, or indifference maintenance is more of a danger to the health of outboards than their age.
-Eric
1. I pulled the flywheel, b/c per the previous owner he had been told that the motor was running rough due to bad ignition components. My observations; the coils were intact, but the wire that came off one of the the coils was frayed, probably from contact with the flywheel. The points were set incorrectly, but I couldn't get them into proper adjustment with the adjusting screw. So my question is, should I just replace the suspect coil and the points, or should I go ahead and change out coils, points, and condensers since I already have the flywheel off?
2. The previous owner told me that the LU oil had been changed within the last month, so I did not even think to check the LU before putting the motor in a tank for a start test. When it didn't start I took it out, and thats when I noticed the drain screw was not completely in. I could back it out by hand, and what I found was that there was a cork gasket on the drain screw that was really the wrong size, and wouldn't let the drain screw seat completely. Some water may have gone into the LU, but maybe not. when I fully pulled out the drain screw, no water came out of the LU, but also no oil. More alarming was that the screw (and the drain hole itself) had grease all over it. Not oil, but a grayish green, viscous grease. I pulled the top vent screw, and didn't see any of this grease, but now I am wondering if the previous owner's idea of changing the LU oil was pumping grease into it. The lower unit is not frozen, and the gears correctly engage in forward and reverse. My question is should I assume no damage to the LU gears and just fill it with proper oil per proper procedure, or should I open up the gearcase and verify that the gears are in good shape? Is there a concern if there is grease all up in the gearcase? If so, how do I clean that out?
I am starting to regret having traded my 1960 10 HP Johnson for this motor. It seems that bad, uninformed, or indifference maintenance is more of a danger to the health of outboards than their age.
-Eric
