Older Johnson and evirude motors

[tgpfloat]

I am looking to buy a 14 to 16 row boat for fishing lakes and ponds. Will be bass fishing and trolling for trout and salmon. Do not have a big budget. I have found two guys in my area who specialize in older Johnson and evirude motors (1950 -1970's) are these motors too old to be bothering with? Both guys claim to go through them and Make any required repairs Why hp should I be looking at? I was thinking a 6hp min up to a 20 hp.
What do you guys think?

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

The old OMC 2-cylinder motors are fine, especially if you can handle maintaining them yourself. They are very simple to work on and can last forever. Parts are readily available.
The boat will have a maximum HP rating and it is wise to stick by it. It may even be against the law to overpower, depending on the state.

 

[bbstacker1]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

I agree with whaler the old OMC's are a very good motors, I would try to stay with something around 1954/55 or newer, parts are a lot more available. One other thing to look out for, if you get a motor that requires a pressure tank (generally an engine prior to 1960, there are exceptions) try to make sure you get a tank with it otherwise you will have to find one and they don't make new ones anymore.

 

[F_R]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

Visit the Antique Outboard Motor Club if you want to find a crowd of people with a passion for the older motors. Get one of those fine old motors and you will be hooked and become one of those aomci guys.

www.aomci.org See if there is an upcoming meet in your area.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

I agree with whaler the old OMC's are a very good motors, I would try to stay with something around 1954/55 or newer, parts are a lot more available. One other thing to look out for, if you get a motor that requires a pressure tank (generally an engine prior to 1960, there are exceptions) try to make sure you get a tank with it otherwise you will have to find one and they don't make new ones anymore.

I would suggest that you move up in year model above where the pressure tanks were required. Having had two, as they get older they are problematic that you don't have with engines with fuel pumps which can suck up the fuel through one line.

Other thing is the lower unit. Have them show you the oil in the lower unit. It should not look milky at all unless the engine was just run. Running agitates the oil making it foam which can be mistaken for water.

Have them run a compression test. 120 psi cranking pressure with plugs out is good for me. Main thing is they are within 10-15 % (depends on who is talking....my book says 10).

It should start up within a few pulls. Expect it to sneeze while idling in neutral. Once under load it shouldn't sneeze.

Shift lever over on the right side can be damaged by too much hauling around in the trunk of a car. Wiggle it and see that it shifts properly. In going into reverse, you may have to turn the prop while moving the shift lever. Forgot on omc reverse pawl....been in too many Mercs lately.

HTH,

Mark

 

[Willyclay]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

Here's some comments from a guy who wrote a book on this very subject. Good luck and let us know what you do!

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/02/columns/max/01/wawrzyniak.htm

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

If you were going to buy a car, and didn't have a lot of money for a new one, would you buy one from the 90's or from the 50's?

The 90's. The cars from the 50's will either be worn out or in the "collectors" category.

OB motors survive longer than cars, so move it back a couple of decades. I wouldn't go back before 1963, and I'd prefer the 70's.

ironically the OMC motors went through a pretty bad time, I guess in the 90's? I'm not sure.

In addition to the good advice above, try to sense if it shifts cleanly; you don't want one with a worn out clutch dog or other lower gear parts. If your seller shifts it slowly into gear so it makes a grind/rattle, walk away.

Also see if you can easily unscrew a couple of bolts. Many a well-running motor has hit the parts pile b/c the bolts were frozen.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

can't go wrong with a mid '50's thru early 70's OMC motors with good compression. They're readily available, cheap, reliable, easy to work on and most of all cool lookin' Best of all, you can get virtually any routine parts you may need right here at iboats. You're in the right place. Keep us posted. We love pics!

 

[nwcove]

Re: Older Johnson and evirude motors

If you were going to buy a car, and didn't have a lot of money for a new one, would you buy one from the 90's or from the 50's?

The 90's. The cars from the 50's will either be worn out or in the "collectors" category.

OB motors survive longer than cars, so move it back a couple of decades. I wouldn't go back before 1963, and I'd prefer the 70's.

ironically the OMC motors went through a pretty bad time, I guess in the 90's? I'm not sure.

In addition to the good advice above, try to sense if it shifts cleanly; you don't want one with a worn out clutch dog or other lower gear parts. If your seller shifts it slowly into gear so it makes a grind/rattle, walk away.

Also see if you can easily unscrew a couple of bolts. Many a well-running motor has hit the parts pile b/c the bolts were frozen.

theres nothing wrong with the motors from the 50.s . if you can find one thats not been neglected it will be every bit as good as a new one. in fact, when i go fishing, i take my 57 5 1/2.....my 91 8hp collects dust. this has nothing to do with nostalgia or having the only one on the lake, i just have more faith in the 57. ( i dont like rowing! but dont mind towing someones $10000 rig back to the ramp!)