Johnson/Evinrude 4hp 71 and 73 parts swappability

film495

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
285
I have some seals and gaskets coming for the Evinrude 73 4hp, and i think it will probably run fine. The PO or someone painted it like some odd green color, I think to make it look like Johnson a bit, or maybe duck hunting color. Anyway, it doesn't look great, and there is the 71 4hp Johnson looking pretty good, cowling is a bit worn, but aren't they all. Cosmetically it is superior, but the top of the drive shaft is cracked off. The flywheel nut goes on it and it ran in a tank, but I saw that and my brain thought parts motor, not worth running/fixing. and it has the weedless drive, which is fine, but so uncommon around here I didn't even know what it was, just looked funny. Well, If the 4hp Evinrude runs good, is it possible to take the lower unit, exhaust housing and the motor, and put it on the 71 4hp Johnson? So, basically all I'd be using out of the 71, is the cowling, bottom cowling, and then the first stem of the lower part where the steering bushings are, and controls.

Not sure I'll do that, just wondering if it is possible if anyone knows before I really consider giving it a shot. maybe there is a way to take that paint off and leave the blue finish underneath?

I was going to upload a photo, but the upload failed, got message people have been seeing.
 

film495

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
285

this guy did a good video of the power head, I thought so anyways never having thought of taking these things apart that much before

looks like the parts numbers line up far as I can tell, the swivel brackets are the same, so I guess the whole exhaust housing would come with the lower unit, and then I'd just have to swap out the power head, which I've never done before.
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
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38,168
At least he has learned to drive the tapered dowels out in the right direction.----Have seen him struggle with the tapered dowels in some other videos.-----Tried to POUND them out in the wrong direction.
 

film495

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
285
At least he has learned to drive the tapered dowels out in the right direction.----Have seen him struggle with the tapered dowels in some other videos.-----Tried to POUND them out in the wrong direction.
watching someone else do it is priceless. learn from other mistakes.

I did have some luck with an eco friendly citrus based paint stripper I found in my basement. I'll mess with it more tomorrow and maybe I don't need to swap anything, which would be ideal. I'm not a purist, but original is better if I can have it that way.
 

film495

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 8, 2009
Messages
285
how hard is it to replace the steering bushings. seems like that assembly comes apart with 4 bolts. I wiggled the lower unit and the exhaust housing moves back and forth a good 1/4" give or take. I'm hoping that's just those bushings. If I can get it to run I'll probably want to replace or fix that.
 
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