Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

[swing]

Hi everyone - Im new here, but have visited many times and am always impressed with your collective knowledge!!


Here goes:

I have a 1967 V4 80hp Electramatic shift Johnson longshaft.
(first year with the green lower unit)
http://www.old-omc.de/j_1967/seite_08.jpg
Good compression, runs great.


You probably know that this specific "rounded" upper unit style began in 1961.
http://www.old-omc.de/j_1961/seite_15.jpg

..and carried thru 1968 (the year they increaded to 85hp RPMs & Pulse pack ignition)

You are probably ALSO aware that for all these years, Johnson produced the 80, in two shifting configurations:

---The one i have, Electramatic -aprx 240 pound unit
---And the simpler "manual shift " (clutch dog style) at aprx 225 pounds


Now for the 64 dollar question!:

Being the fact that these were all identical motors,
with just slightly different parts "bolted on"
...and if i have a mind to:

>> in your experience, what do you envision it would take to change over to the manual shift version, offered for so many years alongside the Electramatic?

Me?
---I imagine i need a good donor manual lower unit
---I know i would need the dual stick (which i prefer!) helm / cable assembly
---what else?

Those of you who know this motor - can you tell me your thoughts as to the process, and what, if any, issues or "gremlins" I might encounter in it.

Or is it actually an easy swap?

Very interested in any perspectives, and even any help with the parts i would need (i dont mind painting a white leg green, if it would work, etc)

Thanks in advance for this experts "brain teaser"!

Jon in CT

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

Here's my thinking on how to do this:

If you have a good powerhead on yours, hunt for a complete manual shift engine with a bad powerhead. It should come fairly cheap. Put your good powerhead on the other one and you're golden.

Even if it's possible to swap out all the parts, I believe the powerhead has to come off to install the shifter hardware anyhow. I just suspect it would be a shorter job to switch powerheads.

Note: I haven't done this, so it's speculation.

 

[swing]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

See- theres a thought right there! - Thanks!

Frank / others thoughts?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

I looked at the 68 85 hp models, and the exhaust housing and parts are different between the electric and manual shift models. Very different. That indicates to me that you can't turn an electric shift into a manual shift. The powerhead assembly, though, is the same.

So, if that's true for your year, then the powerhead swap to a manual shift unit would be your only bet. If I'm not mistaken, you can go several years into the 70s and still swap powerheads. I'm not certain of that, though.

 

[swing]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

Thanks CAtrans.

This also sorta begs the question - with its constant solenoid pressure on the gear, does the Electramatic offer a more reliable gear engagement than a manual clutch dog?

Well, maybe. As long as you have good battery voltage keeping the solenoid engaged...
-and no water intrusion
-and the right lube in the housing
-and the hair-thin solenoid wire doesnt fail
-or its connections
-or the other associated wiring / other connectors dont crack, age, corrode, short out....

see what i mean???!!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

There was absolutely nothing wrong with the electric shift Johnnyrudes when they came out. They worked reliably, had that cool push-button shifting dealie, and all that. Very popular. Very nice.

Now, though, they're old. The switches are broken, the lower unit has had water in it, and maintenance hasn't been what it should. So, they're a poor choice as a n older used motor for your boat, in most cases. Parts are expensive and hard to get, etc.

But, they were OK back in the day. Boaters loved them. Today...not so much.

Lots of old manual shift Johnnyrudes out there of similar and even older vintages that still have their original clutch dogs in them and still working reliably. It it's working reliably when you buy it, it'll probably be working five years later.

 

[F_R]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

Swing, it has been pretty much covered concerning the swap. Short story is you need to install the shift linkage. That involves the lower motor cover and midsection housing, plus all the parts and doo-dads.

As for the Electramatic lower unit, there is no "Solenoid". But there is an electromagnet coil. Shifting is accomplished by a spring wrapped around a hub. When the spring is relaxed, it does not grip the hub. The electromagnet coil attracts the spring end to the hub. That makes it grip and drive. The harder the pull on the spring from more horsepower applied, the tighter it grips. Just like wrapping a rope around a tree. If the rope were strong enough you could twist that dang tree right out of the ground.

As indicated, when new, they were great units, far outselling the mechanical shift where I worked. Properly maintained, they are more reliable than the dog clutches and all the linkages and stuff. Trouble is, this is a different time and parts are obsolete and/or expensive, and nobody will work on them, mostly because they don't know how or they don't have the tools if they do know how.

 

[TN-25]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

I would think that the Electramatic would have been a more ?foolproof? motor to shift when talking about an inexperienced boater. With the electric shift, it will shift at the proper speed for engagement. With a mechanical shift combined with an inexperienced boater who might be afraid to snap the shifter into position, they might shift slowly, grinding the gears and wearing them and the shift dog. I?m not referring to you and your piloting capabilities, rather I am stating what I have seen with my own eyes.

BTW, Swing, you do know how to phrase a question well. You provide all pertinent details and write them in an easy to understand way. Welcome to i-Boats!

 

[swing]

Re: Attn: 80 hp 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

Re: Attn: 80 hp 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

Thanks everyone!

1) So, if i were to persue this folly? Who are the best Johnson guys or yards you guys know about to refer me to call for a donor manual-shift '67 80hp?
(i happen to be in CT, fyi)

2) Meantime... I will check the lower unit on this new purchase - what should i be looking for to ensure good operation on this motor - whether lower-unit related, or other...
PS - what kind of ignition is the 67?- points?

 

[swing]

Re: Attn: who know 1960's Electramatic Johnsons?

Thanks all -

Indeed - they trick is to find a manual donor motor, and put my good head onto it - im working with a few old motor places - if u hear of a 1967 lower in manual - let me know!