62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

I have just acquired a classic 60s fiberglass boat with a 62 Johnson super seahorse 75hp model #V4AL-14L. According to the previous owner the engine seized during storage. He tried to run it the next spring and it just wouldn't turn over. Has any one heard of this happening and what would some possible causes be? Also, I cannot seem to get the Electric gear shift to operate. As I understand it should be able to shift with the engine running or not. I'm wondering if there could be some sort of simple mechanical failure that could be locking the engine rather than the bearings having run tight or rings rusted in?

Thanks Nicholas

 

[F_R]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

I have just acquired a classic 60s fiberglass boat with a 62 Johnson super seahorse 75hp model #V4AL-14L. According to the previous owner the engine seized during storage. He tried to run it the next spring and it just wouldn't turn over. Has any one heard of this happening and what would some possible causes be? Also, I cannot seem to get the Electric gear shift to operate. As I understand it should be able to shift with the engine running or not. I'm wondering if there could be some sort of simple mechanical failure that could be locking the engine rather than the bearings having run tight or rings rusted in?

Thanks Nicholas

Remove the drain plug from the lower unit far enough to let a bit of fluid out. If water comes out, junk it. If oil comes out, your best bet is to remove the lower unit and see if it is frozen or if the powerhead is still stuck. At least you will know which end to attack with further exploration.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Welcome to the iboats.com forum. The experts here like F R can help you solve any problem. While I'm no expert, I do have a service manual that covers your motor if you need some technical information before taking things apart. If you would like a copy, we can work something out. Good luck!

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

I have the owners manual for this motor and have ordered a parts list from Johnson and a generic Chilton book to cover repair info and so on. Hopefully I should have the necessary books. This is such a nice looking outboard with very few all fresh water hours on it, I would hate to junk it, but I'll know more once I get it apart. I do intend to remove the lower unit and see if its the power head. I remember a smaller outboard of mine once froze up due to the impeller coming apart. I'm wondering if that could be a possibility or would a 75hp just chew the impeller up?

Thanks Nicholas

 

[Evinrude Boater]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Any rubber impeller with toast in seconds if the motor is started out of water. If it got hot enought to seize, the paint would likely be peeling too. An engine can rust internally from condensation if it's not sprayed with engine storage spray (oil). The driveshaft spins all the time the motor is running so you have to pull the lower unit to isolate the problem.

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

The lower unit looks like it may be in bad shape. No oil at all, also no water. I tried oil and it ran out of the cracks in the gear housing where the water had presumably frozen and split the casting. I suspect everything down there may be seized up but cannot figure out how to disconnect the Electromatic shifter cable and cannot fully withdraw the unit with it in place.

Nicholas

 

[James R]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Not too difficult. There are two "knife connectors" in the shift wire. I think these are a pain to disconnect and I take a knife to the rubber sleeves and slit them to remove them. The disconnection of the Knife connectors is easy then. Use shrink sleeves on assembly. Lubricate the grommet area with WD40 where the wire goes through the casing and wiggle the grommet to get the lub' under it. Tie strong thin twine, or something similar, to the wires to assist in pulling wires back in. Use a blunt small screwdriver and carefully work the grommet down through the casing. Once through you can remove the lower. Leave the twine in the casing.

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

[Tie strong thin twine, or something similar, to the wires to assist in pulling wires back in.]

Your suggestion was a life saver thanks so much that's the best advice Iv had all day. The unit is off and open now. more corrosion than I would have expected to have seen in fresh water. the frost swelling of the housing is so bad I don't think it could be rebuilt things look to fare out of spec down there. so I'm looking for a new lower unit for this now. there is an outboard graveyard not far from me that I will check out first I believe this electromatic lower unit was used on Johnson Evanrude and OMC from 1960 threw 1968 when it was replaced with a more robust electromatic unit for the larger horsepower engines. hopefully there is something out there. anything I get will want new seals and gaskets. I can make gaskets if i have to but the seals and impeller where would a good parts source be for such things? will also want to do points plugs and condenser just to make sure.

Thanks again for the help.

Nicholas

 

[James R]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Try The following.
BRP Vintage Parts. Seattle. 336-906-0790.
SeaWay 206-937-7373.
Vintage Outboard. Spokane. 509-747-9960.
iboats may have some parts so do check.

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Thanks Ill check in to it.

Nicholas

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

As usually happens for me this reverse coil job has turned in to a total rebuild of the lower unit and I need to replace the forward coil now too. Just out of curiosity dose any one out there know what sort of puller is used to remove the forward drive coil in this lower unit? the Clymer book I have (Out Board Shop manual 1956-1972, I do not recommend this book the information is poorly organized and supplemented) only tells me to use a suitable puller. It dose not say if there is a special purpose tool for this or give any information on how to extract it. My slide hammer 3 jaw internal puller cannot reach under the coil as there is only a small 1/16th inch ridge behind it. there are no threaded fittings or places to grip the coil. I'm at a loss unless I can make special jaws for my slide hammer that would fit and be strong enough to remove it.

Nicholas

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Get a block of wood, or a piece of wood that you can set on something solid. Slowly heat the nose of the gearcase where the coil, and forward bearing are located with a propane torch. It does not have to get very hot, just hot to the touch. Rap the back of the gearcase on the wood block, and the coil, and forward bearing will fall out. Be sure the coil wire is free. Getting the case to hot could damage the coil, but you need no where near that much heat. I have done this many times' even though I have the correct puller. Heat also makes' it easier to put back together.

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Heating it sounds like a good idea. I did make a puller (the advantage of having an engine lathe) like a blind bearing Collete with a wedge shape foot that when inserted can expand behind the coil once it is seated. I don't know how it will work yet but heat will help. I have a NOS coil as the old coil is a dead short so I'm not worried about it being overheated or damaged.

Thanks for the info.

Nicholas

p.s. How dose the ranking or insignia work? I see that I am a cadet and some people are of higher rank but haven't found on the web sight how rank is assigned or how one moves up a grade.

 

[Nicholas Wiedenhoeft]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

The heat worked like a charm, used my puller and after a few taps of the slide hammer it came right out.

Also wondering if any one knows what the wear limits are on the drive springs?

Thanks for all your help

Nicholas

 

[64osby]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

Nicholas, Welcome to the site. Rank comes from postings. If you look F_R has close to 13,000 posts, Supreme and very helpful, This will be my 100th post, Maybe I'll get a rank change.

I wish you best of luck with your Electramatic. I just saw one on line for sale and am researching, for a possible purchase. They look interesting but I don't know if the smooth shift is worth the possible headache.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: 62 super Sea horse 75hp Electramatic troubleshooting

There are those on this board with a post count in the 1000's who never stepped foot in a repair shop, or heard of factory service school.