I am an OMC man myself, but Dad used to run the old 20's like your's because the lower unit was so tough and we have lots of stumps. Myself, I think when a person has a 20 that's "right" like your's, they're hard to beat. Boy, do they crank easy when warm and put out the power! The only problem we had is that it had so much torque it was hard on the transom corners. FAST, too. I also like the unique hummmmmm of those '70's 20 hp's on wide open. It had kind of a cool "rolling" sound. Brings back memories of when there were some ducks coming south.
I will say that Dad always had to crank the crap out of it on cold mornings and he was a roughneck in the oilfields for years and had arms like oak trees. One morning I was sitting on the second seat like an idiot when I was about 12 while he was cranking on that danged thing and he caught me under the chin with a hard pull and I wound up on the front seat of the 15 foot duracraft we used. Boy it ran good when warm, though.
By the way, that impeller is pretty easy, but I can see your point....I screw up more than I fix sometimes and would be worried I'd booger it up, too. don't think that your mechanic is infallible, though. It happens to everyone.
Looking forward to the pics,
JBJ[/Q
When i was cranking the other 20hp which I never really got running ihad my friend behind me well you can guess what happened he almost lost lunch.
The "new" twenty start on half a pull warm. And also my friend is coming over this weekend he has video camera so I also post a video if i can.
i know what were saying on how they run the Johnny rudes have a completely different sound this one has the hard to explain rolling sound like you said and it sounds cool. Also aluminum boat is rated for 18 but its all i got and all i can afford at this time only being 14 so being just a little overpowered won't hurt anything unless i get into some accident with another baot then i might have a law suite but other than that and a impeller i should be good to go! i'm still debating weather i Should change the impeller myself though it depends on how much support i get from the merc Forum. I wish the impeller i replaced in the other 20hp was same one required for this one because if that were the case i wouldn't have to put it any money into this money but hey i better not push my luck its already running nice!!
