I have a 1978 Johnson 6 hp and a 1974 Mercury 4 hp. They are very different in a lot of ways - some good, some bad for each of them. The Mercury has some simple features I need to have on the Johnson for shallow water.
#1. The Mercury tips up real easy if you hit a log or the bottom while it's in Forward gear. If you loosen the Johnson's pivot nut for this, you can't do #3 below.
#2. You can tip the Mercury up a little then flip a lever on the front, then let it back down. It will stop and be supported at about 25 degrees up from the usual vertical position. This keeps the prop and water pump intake in the water but gives you a little more clearance in shallow water. Tip it up a little, flip the lever back and lower the motor back down for normal use.
#3. You can shut the Mercury off, raise it all the way up and latch it up when you beach the boat. If the pivot nut on the Johnson is tight enough to do this, it won't do #1 above.
Is there a kit I can get for the Johnson so I can loosen the pivot nut but still hold it up in the positions I described in #2 and #3? Or do I have to make some hokey home-made latches, blocks of wood, ropes, hooks or other things?
Otherwise, I prefer the Johnson: smoother, much much quieter, fuel mixture can be adjusted easier, it can be started and run with the cover off, it doesn't leak gas once the tank is disconnected, better handles for carrying than the Mercury....
Brian
#1. The Mercury tips up real easy if you hit a log or the bottom while it's in Forward gear. If you loosen the Johnson's pivot nut for this, you can't do #3 below.
#2. You can tip the Mercury up a little then flip a lever on the front, then let it back down. It will stop and be supported at about 25 degrees up from the usual vertical position. This keeps the prop and water pump intake in the water but gives you a little more clearance in shallow water. Tip it up a little, flip the lever back and lower the motor back down for normal use.
#3. You can shut the Mercury off, raise it all the way up and latch it up when you beach the boat. If the pivot nut on the Johnson is tight enough to do this, it won't do #1 above.
Is there a kit I can get for the Johnson so I can loosen the pivot nut but still hold it up in the positions I described in #2 and #3? Or do I have to make some hokey home-made latches, blocks of wood, ropes, hooks or other things?
Otherwise, I prefer the Johnson: smoother, much much quieter, fuel mixture can be adjusted easier, it can be started and run with the cover off, it doesn't leak gas once the tank is disconnected, better handles for carrying than the Mercury....
Brian