Johnson 112 HP SPL is it a good motor?

[bilobob]

I looked at a used boat very recently. It is advertised as a 1998 boat but it has a Johnson 112 SPL outboard. My research shows the last year of manufacturer was 1996. Is this correct? Anyone know much about the reliability of this motor?

 

[12Footer]

Re: Johnson 112 HP SPL is it a good motor?

OMC was in flux durring those years. But the problems they had were major, and if you have a used one, chances are it's "one of the good ones". But do NOT buy it without having a compression test performed in your pressence. Look for all the normal signs of bad news, such as a dot of oil on the ground under the skeg,and an oily prop/skeg area.<br />Remove the cover, and make sure the engine was not "touched-up" with paint, or paint which has scorched,bubbled or blistered on or near the head (signs of engine overheated at one time).<br />If it looks clean,albeit the patina of it's age, the compression test shows good and equal compression, it IS one of the good ones.

 

[Dunk]

Re: Johnson 112 HP SPL is it a good motor?

Very possible it's 98. The last year for the crossflow V4's was 98 not 96. The Spl's came without VRO oil injection. That's probably the best engine OMC ever made. It's basicaly the same engine from 1958 when they first introduced the V4.. It was also probably one of their dumber moves discontinuing the crossflow for the loopers.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Johnson 112 HP SPL is it a good motor?

Ditto Dunk! The crossflows were very good engines with some untapped power left in the front.<br /><br />Good luck!