1973 65hp Johnson outboard Servicing required

[dazwitten]

Hi guys, i have one of these engines i brought second hand a few months ago and i sent it to seamark marine in bassets pole near Tamworth, I took it there 8 weeks ago today for a full service and tune up and impeller change, As the weeks have gone by they told me they had done service but they was busy and would take longer, and then they said they had done the impeller change and was gonna do carbs, Well after lots of phone calls, and never no reply i finally spoke to someone who works in the workshop who kindly told me that NOTHING HAD BEEN DONE TO MY ENGINE AS THEY DID NOT HAVE A MANUAL grr, so i am going to go and collect tomorrow with no charge of course, So what i am asking dop you know anybody in the midland area who may be able to carry out a service on this engine. Obviously 8 weeks ago i was hoping to take me boat out but no joy as of yet, Please help and advise. Cheers

[Ed]

Are you any good with spanners at all? Its really not too hard on an engine that age.

[dazwitten]

not to bad, i have a mate of mine who is a mechanic and mot`r but even he said he seems a bit worrying, and plus i think the carbs need setting up as what a bit spluttery the last time it was started, i would happily pay anyone and drop the boat and engine of anywhere to have it taken care off, i was really hoping to take it out this year

Cheers

[Ed]

Hmm have to see if there is anyone close to you, I'd offer to help but a bit too far.

As for tune up, you can only change idle mixture, the main running jet will be fixed so that - if the carbs are in good condition (perhaps clean and reassemble) shouldn't be a problem.
Impellers are usually straightforward to change, you'd be looking at around half an hour, and its a good idea to change gearbox oil too.

Then change the spark plugs, and attend to anything else that looks like it could give problems (areas of corrosion, check wiring etc). Unless you want to start getting invasive there isn't a great deal you can do with one of these.

Do you know the serial number of your engine?

[dazwitten]

No idea of the serial number and model number, I think i have found someone who can try and have a look, left it with him for the weekend and he is gonna get down to it and quite inexpensive apposed to the first place i took it, will keep you guys informed and thanks again for all your help

Daz

[dazwitten]

The guys had a look today and told me the gearbox is siezed in gear and would notbe worth the repair and parts bill to sort out, but i have been offered a johnson 35hp do you think this would be enough hp for a 15ft fletcher speedboat ?> and if so would it be underpowered ?

Cheers

[dazwitten]

He tried to split the box but had no joy he thinks if he puts any more pressure on it the bolts are gonna shear off, This engine i had never used so its not like om going from a 65 down to a 35, i wont notice the difference, i only want something for a bit of fun, maybe tow the odd ring, but thats about it, providing it can get the boat on the plain ill be fairly happy lol

[Ed]

35 on a 15 foot is not a lot of power> It might just be enough to get up on plane if not too heavily loaded. It wouldn't be an amazing ride. I'd guess 50 at a minimum.

What kind of budget do you have for an engine? 50hp manual tilt/trim engines in a serviceable condition seem to go from about £300 upwards on ebay for example.

[dazwitten]

I looked on E-bay but they are going for a lot more money than that, the johnson 65 i already have i brought off there and look where that got me lol another knackered engine, to be fair i was looking around the £400 mark to get me started, ive added a pic of my boat, its an old Fletcher fiberglass, With the old johnson now not worth repairing i thought the johnson 35 my be ok, ive seen the engine running, and will get it for £250 part ex with my old engine, mine is a 72, this one is a lot newer than my one, ive looked on youtube with people who have the same engine and they look like there going pretty fast, Unless any of you guys have a cheap outboard for sale ?/

Cheers

[JORIDAPILOT]

35 on a 15 foot is not a lot of power> It might just be enough to get up on plane if not too heavily loaded. It wouldn't be an amazing ride. I'd guess 50 at a minimum.

I agree, we used to use 40HP Yamahas on inflatable Zodiacs and they could struggle when heavily loaded. 50 or 60 HP minimum and being an older engine it won't be producing its stated power anymore.

[Ed]

Ebay you do have to be SO careful. I have purchased quite a lot of engines from there now, kind of got addictive, but mostly small ones. >10hp. They vary between irreparable, to repairable but parts no longer made so far. I did get lucky the other week and sell one for twice what I paid for it after a little playing around with it.
I picked up a mercury 50 about a year ago for 250 which with quite a bit of work I sold on the back of my old fletcher. That would probably have made ok money if sold separately. If I can advise anything however keep away from engines with parts no longer available. That's why I was asking about your engine. However with your engine you should still try a few things in my opinion. Keep your eye out for a gearbox for your engine, but check yours can be removed first.

One thing however I just did a little reading on Johnson engines of that year. Some had an electronic gear shift. No idea how that works- never seen one but all the info says to AVOID them, do you know what yours has?

[dazwitten]

The 65hp which is broke had something called a hydro shift, which i think is still mechanical box, i looked around for a box and managed to find one in irleand for £329 pplus vat + £47 postage. The engineer that has looked at my engine said he can not get the box off, He thinks its been standing for a long long time before i had it and can not seperate, Remembering that i took it to a dealers who messed me around and after ringing round other engineers nobody will touch my engine due to the age of it, shame really as it is a 65hp. But if i finally find someone who may be able to split at what cost would it be and would it be value for money, i have noticed the parts for one of these is quite rare, Oh and also noting that the impeller is not working either, The 35hp i was told would be ok, but again im not sure as this is kind of my first boat for about 10 years and i think back then it only has about a 15hp on it

[Ed]

I guess the 35 might be worth a play with and then get a larger engine later, especially if its promised working/serviced. Just if anything be cautious as if your engine is not worth repairing seems strange perhaps that he would offer part exchange for it, unless some other parts of value can come off it...

[dazwitten]

Yeah i agree, well he did tell me to put it on e-bay but i asked if he would take it part ex, and knocking me £100 off, he has showed me where it is stuck in gear and seen what he has done, i dont think he is trying to con me, His dad owns a boat yard so i guess the parts for him would be good, So all i gotta pay is £250 and he is gonna show it me working then take the old one off and replace with new one and all controls

[Ed]

Well if he is doing all that for essentially £250 then that's fine to be honest.