Best years and models

[tony1z]

I'm looking at boats with Jonson motors and would like to know the models and years that were the mots dependable.
Which ones should I avoid?

 

[mark1961]

Re: Best years and models

Which ones should I avoid?

The electric shift models......

 

[oldybutagoody]

Re: Best years and models

The 60 and 61 40hp were known to have weak cranks and a reputation for breaking flywheel keys. Also, steer clear of electic shift models. I'm partial to the mid to late 50's Johnsons and Rudes because I like the styling, you can still get parts, they're easy to work on and very reliable if you put the time and cash into tuning them and THEY'RE CHEAP.

I'm looking at boats with Jonson motors and would like to know the models and years that were the mots dependable.
Which ones should I avoid?

 

[LongLine]

Re: Best years and models

From checking this section regularly, I see very few repairs being done on 84 models. I don't know if that's because everyone of them is still running strong; they're all in the junkyard or I bought the only one made that year.

Tom B.
(LongLine)

 

[AEROCOOK]

Re: Best years and models

I'm looking at boats with Jonson motors and would like to know the models and years that were the mots dependable.
Which ones should I avoid?

What kind of boat? what size? what hp range? what age?
No point commenting on how reliable a mid 80s 9.9 is if your in the market for a 5 year old boat with a 100+ hp motor

 

[hidef]

Re: Best years and models

Pretty wide open question what size engine are you looking for? Any two cylinder two stroke under 35 horse are going to be reliable and will run a long time if it has been and stays maintained.

The electric shift outboards and early 70s electronic ignition outboards are probably the worse of the bunch as are the 1997 and later FICHT fuel injected outboards (they are costly to repair).

 

[Davem3]

Re: Best years and models

aviod ANY 10HP motor, the 9.9 and 15 were great ............. i forget what years the 10's ran in, but OMG total junkkkkkkkkkk

 

[55Crestliner]

Re: Best years and models

aviod ANY 10HP motor, the 9.9 and 15 were great ............. i forget what years the 10's ran in, but OMG total junkkkkkkkkkk

Unless you're talking 1950's. The '55 10 horse is wonderful.


So, why do so many hate the electric shift? Is it the motor itself or the control box?

 

[JB]

Re: Best years and models

aviod ANY 10HP motor, the 9.9 and 15 were great ............. i forget what years the 10's ran in, but OMG total junkkkkkkkkkk

Strongly disagree.

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Best years and models

We had three electric shift motors. First was a 1963 40hp, ran it from 1972 thru 1974, 3 summers, never had any trouble with it. Next was a 1964 90hp. Had that one from 1975 thru 1977 also 3 summers. Worked fine in 75, halfway thru 76 it piled up. It was never right after that. It would slip/grand on first holeshot of the day and was fine the rest of the day unless it sat for 5-6 hours. My uncle also had the same engine and I remember picking up a box of parts from the distributor for him. He rebuilt the unit and it never gave him any trouble. I boat the boat from him in 1998 and ran it a few times, without any trouble, prior to selling it. When they worked I thought they were great, others here think they just grate.

As which ones are good motors. the post 1963 40s were almost bulletproof. I think the V4s prior to 1969 should be avoided as anothe brand was miles ahead engineering wise. The post 1968s were good engines with parts for the gearcase getting hard to find. The 5 1/2 hp and its successor the 6hp were also great motors as were the 18/20hps. The V6s especially the looper models are good just avoid the FUCHT models, I mean Ficht.
I really like the 1971-1975 50hp. lots of torque and swung the same props as the V4s. Didn't like after the switch to 55 and smaller gearcase.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Best years and models

aviod ANY 10HP motor, the 9.9 and 15 were great ............. i forget what years the 10's ran in, but OMG total junkkkkkkkkkk

What are you basing that information on?

Anyways, as stated, really depends on what you are in the market for. Johnson made a few motors

Regarding Electric Shift lower units, I would say they are grossly misunderstood. They are actually a pretty good design, the trouble is finding parts for them, which are now expensive, and finding someone to troubleshoot it. Most new mechanics would not have a clue what they were looking at. That being said, unless F_R is your neighbour, they may not be a great idea.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Best years and models

Can't go wrong with just about and OMC motor from the mid 50s-early 70s, except for the electric shift jobbers. I especially love the '58 models for their aluminum cowls and reverse two-tone paint jobs. Once they hit the early/mid 70s they started using electronic ignitions and other forms of black magic that can be harder and more expensive to fix. I also have to respectfully disagree with the opinion of the 10 hp. I had a '61 that was great. It did need a clutch dog, but the dang thing was 50+ years old after all. Otherwise, it was a great little motor. Very zippy and light weight. I also loved my '66 33 hp. Very torquey and not too heavy, but it did like to eat gas, a lot. Right now I have a '66 20 hp that is literally the best of both. It's strong, light, reliable and very easy to work on. The old 18-20 hp FD models are arguably the best pound-for-pound motors ever made....ever. A forum member, 1946Zephyr, just got a neat old '58 18 hp which is my dream motor. The "Big Twin" motors probably come in a close second for the same reasons, but they are thirsty.

 

[1kruzer1]

Re: Best years and models

Strongly disagree.

+1. In the mid 50's I believe the 10's lower unit was the same as the 18's, which means well overbuilt for a 10 and extraordinarily durable. Somewhere around '57-'58 they changed to a slightly more compact gear case that wasn't as robust as the old model, but still adequate for 10HP. In good mechanical condition and properly tuned all of the 10 HP models over the years are torquey, idle super slow and smooth, run out strong, and have basically a bullet proof power head. What's not to like about a 10???