Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20 Now What

[Jacob645]

My dad just happened to be in the junkyard when a guy drove in with two 50hp Johnsons on a trailer to throw away. My dad offered him 20 bucks for the better looking one. The guy said that it ran, but he had taken it off of a party barge because he was just using the barge in his pond. I have a 1975 Evinrude. Will the parts interchange for the most part? If not, would it be worth it to see if it will run? It came with no controls, and I think it is electric shift. Model Number 50ESL71.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

No idea if the parts will fit but what a good deal... Too bad he didn't get both. I cant believe folks throw these things away. Don't they believe in re-use and re-selling.

 

[Jacob645]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

I know right? It was probably just getting broken in! Anyone know a way to check compression if I have no controls? Wouldn't that be the true test to see if it's worth it?

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

it is 1971, electric shift. you can mount the motor on a stable base. run jumper cables. ground the block, to the neg side of battery, then pos side of battery, you can touch pos cable to the large post on the starter, this will turn the motor over for a a compression test,, take both plugs out. and can also check the spark this way. i have a 71 50 myself. determine what the compression is, and quality of spark. then we will go from there. remove the prop for testing as these motors, default to forward, and the prop will turn.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20

save this link for the future. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=240278

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20 Now What

To save my bolt on the starter though I would connect the positive to the starter first and then touch the neg jumper cable to a good ground to get it to spin. Thus the arc is away from the starter.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20 Now What

but closer to the battery fumes, really the best way to to connect to the top of the solenoid, and use a remote starter button connect to top big post and top small post.

 

[Jacob645]

Re: Just Bought a 1971 50hp Johnson for $20 Now What

Wow! Thanks guys! Great Link! I'm going to buy a new compression tester tomorrow...my old one might have been left in a toolbox full of rainwater...it also might be veeerrrryyy rusty