Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

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Will be documenting my process of re-painting my outboard.

First question, any thoughts on if I should take it off my boat or not. From what I have seen it looks like it might be difficult, but I think it might benefit from being removed.

Second, any thing I should disassemble that isn't too difficult to put back together? I'm good at taking stuff apart but that sometimes gets me into trouble.

Note how bad the prop was!

(this is based off my original post: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=515815, but felt it would help if I created a new topic)

 

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The guy I bought it from really did not want to change the prop! Look at the difference. Can't wait to see how better the ride is next year!

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

I'm painting mine now.....full restoration, actually.

I would not even consider for a second "painting it on the transom". Don't you want to take it as "apart" as you possibly can?

The secret to good paint jobs is "surface preparation", and how can you do that with the engine mounted? Are you going to wire-wheel the loose crap & corrosion? Are you going to do a complete naptha scrub? Acetone scrub? Are you going to prime?

My 15HP is, indeed, smaller than yours, but it's fully stripped & hanging from a garage rafter...

If you're not going to "do it right", why do it at all?

 

[timg19]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Seaman,
I should have specified that i only plan on doing the lower half. The top half is in great condition (you can see in the pics). But you are right, if i want to get it done right I probably need to take it off. Any suggestions on going about that?

I plan on sanding down, and prepping per the following:
- base: Zinc Phosphate Primer, Yellow - Moeller
- color: Johnson White Engine Paint, 1977-80 - Moeller
- clear coat: Clear Coat Marine Lacquer - Moeller

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

So rather than "painting", we should discuss "dropping the lower".

Not hard, but not something to be done without a.) a manual and b.) some level of mechanical wherewithal....

Personally, I'd drop the lower to check the impeller, etc., anyway....

 

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That sounds about right, except I wanted to paint the transom mount as well. Sounds like I need to drop the lower, take the engine off, and take mount off the engine.

I have the oriental engine manual, but guessing I need a mechanics manual for it.

Any suggestion on the order I perform the above?

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Step 1, in my view is to get some 2x4's & casters and make a rack for yourself, so you can work in the comfort of your garage...

Next, get an english manual. They're available....iboats & other sites sell them.

 

[timg19]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Thanks Mark, going to start working on taking the engine off.

Looks like you're doing a great job on your engine! Look forward to seeing the finished pics in your album!

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

It's a labor of love.....

I wish I had taken more "before" pictures. Oh well.

It's coming along, but there's no hurry, really...since I don't own a boat!

 

[timg19]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Quick update on my progress. I just got the lower unit off last night which was very rewarding. Unfortunately the lower mount covers (rubber mounts that connect to the boat engine mount) had some week bolts and I snapped 6 of the 8 off. So once I get the exhaust housing off I'll start working on that.
Will post pics and more details on where I am at later today or tomorrow morning. I need some advise on where I have the engine and if I should take it off the boat at this point.

 

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I took another look at the engine while taking these photos and think I'm going to need to take the engine block off to take the exhaust housing off... Let me know what you guys think.

 

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Just got the exhaust cover off and started working on those broken bolts using a screw extractor. Drilled a hole and put the extractor in and it snapped right off!

Any suggestions on getting these off would be great. Problem is I have nothing to grip, they are flush.

 

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Got the engine off! After getting the lower unit off I took the exhaust housing off and then my brother and I just lifted the rest off the mount. Was much lighter then we thought. Going to start prepping to paint now.

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

It's never as easy as the book makes it out to be, huh?

 

[5150abf]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

When I did mine I used a paint scrape to get off all the really lose paint then went to sand paper, if you have paint that is still stuck to the engine it is fine to leave it as long as you feather the edge really well, alot of newbie painters think you have to remove all the paint and they normally use way to aggresive sand paper, if the paint is good and still stuck the engine it just need to be scuffed for the new paint to stick.

You don't want to use anything bigger than 220 and that is to start, you will need to go back over it with 320 or you will see sanding swirls in the finished paint.

Prep is 90% of a paint job, I spent 12 hours painting mine, 10 1/2 of that was prep, stripping, cleaning, sanding the rest actually painting, the difference between a $100 paint job and a $10,000 paint job is about 300 hours, everything else is the same.

And before you touch this with any kind of paint or primer IT HAS TO HAVE etching primer on it or the paint will flake off in about a year, aluminum does not like paint, the etching primer is actually acid based and eats into the aluminum to give you a good bond, you can get it an any auto parts store and no, washing it with vinegar won't work, etching primer or you are wasting your time.

 

[Mas]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Just got the exhaust cover off and started working on those broken bolts using a screw extractor. Drilled a hole and put the extractor in and it snapped right off!

Any suggestions on getting these off would be great. Problem is I have nothing to grip, they are flush.

I would suggest taking it to a machine shop to see if they can remove the extractor & bolt. Most people do not like to use extractors because they break and cause a bigger problem because they will not drill out due to their hardness.

Mas

 

[dazk14]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Seaman,
I should have specified that i only plan on doing the lower half. The top half is in great condition (you can see in the pics). But you are right, if i want to get it done right I probably need to take it off. Any suggestions on going about that?

I plan on sanding down, and prepping per the following:
- base: Zinc Phosphate Primer, Yellow - Moeller
- color: Johnson White Engine Paint, 1977-80 - Moeller
- clear coat: Clear Coat Marine Lacquer - Moeller

We paint single stage and base coat clear coat at my shop. We also do simple, wire wheel, sand, prep wash, zinc chromate rattle can, BRP rattle can and white is the easiest to blend, touch up. You could do the same for about $20. It's Lacquer paint and can be touched up easily in the future. Forget the clear.

The motor should "Absolutely" have remained on the boat. If you wanted to service the water pump - fine - pull it.

Frankly, it's ridiculous what you have pulled apart and the mess that's been made. You got bad advice for someone looking to eliminate an eye-sore.

A shop will probably weld a nut to the broken bolt to extract the mess. Call around, few shops line up to do that kind of work. Next time if you snap a bolt or 2 STOP. There are MANY tricks of the trade to avoid your broken bolt predicament. Frankly, I'm writing this for future readers.

I'm rooting for you to get that all back together and enjoy your nice rig.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Painting 70hp Johnson outboard

Ooooooh boy it looks like that motor seen a lot of salt water. You might find that the lower unit is badly pitted and needs replaced. I had to replace the one for my old Johnson 35 recently because of that.

 

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Thanks for all the feedback. Taking the engine off has actually been really fun and a great leaning experience for me. So I'm pretty happy I did it. Ill probably end up taking those broken bolts to a shop but might give it one more try. There was no rust on the bolts so having them snap was a surprise.

 

[timg19]

Ooooooh boy it looks like that motor seen a lot of salt water. You might find that the lower unit is badly pitted and needs replaced. I had to replace the one for my old Johnson 35 recently because of that.

It actually has only seen freshwater...one lake only . Crazy uh! I'm guessing it just never got repainted in the 31 years it has been in service.