100 to one?

[Riverok]

The 1988 Johnson 30 HP outboard motor I just bought may require 100 to one mixture of oil and gasoline? I'm uncertain. It's running good on 50-one. Any suggestions?

Also, there is a primer device operated by the ignition key but I can't tell if it is working or not. No clicking and not sound at all when the button is pushed. The manual primer device is disconnected. Any suggestions?

Thanks
Riverok

 

[GA_Boater]

Johnson changed from 100:1 to using 50:1 because motors were burning up for warranty claims. Stick with 50:1.

Can't help with the primer - Sorry.

 

[flyingscott]

No that was a bad mistake by evinrude stay at 50-1. DO NOT run 100-1 that tag should have been removed there was a service bulletin for that. If the motor starts good primer is probably working. The primer will only work with the key in the on position.

 

[jimmbo]

The 100:1 ratio was and still is a usable ratio, the engine gets enough oil to lubricate. The trouble with it was there wasn't enough oil left on the bearings to protect from rusting if the motor was not used every couple of days. So it was decided to go back to 50:1

 

[flyingscott]

The 100:1 ratio was and still is a usable ratio, the engine gets enough oil to lubricate. The trouble with it was there wasn't enough oil left on the bearings to protect from rusting if the motor was not used every couple of days. So it was decided to go back to 50:1

Well I guess according to this you just need to run your motor every 2 days and it will be OK. If your motor can't go more than 2 days without being run because there is not enough oil in the fuel mix or damage will occur then 100-1 is NOT a useable mix. It was not a storage issue either they had fogging oil back then and could have used it. These motors were burning down because it was an oil quality problem the oil was just not good enough for that ratio. People were running the standard evinrude 50-1 oil at 100-1 mix NOT good enough. Stay at 50-1 and run your motor for years to come worry free but it's your motor your choice. Here is my experience with 100-1.

!964 McCulloch 75 hp 100-1 running Mcculloch synthetic 30 weight factory oil. When that was not available we used Rooster Tail synthetic from Texas. When that was not available Amsoil 100-1 Synthetic premix and never had a problem. That motor ran until 1996 when I sold it the common thread here is all the oils on my list are synthetic.

 

[jimmbo]

I remember the Mcculloch 100:1 oil, little tiny cans. If you got it on your fingers it was very slippery. In the early 70s there was one lake nearby where it seemed everyone ran McCulloch engines, well maybe not everyone, we had a Johnson, but there were a lot McCullochs on the water

 

[Riverok]

Thanks for the replies. Now, on the 1988 Johnson fuel primer device: how is it supposed to work? I can't tell if my primer is working or not. The engine does start nicely except when the fuel hose has been disconnected and then reconnected.

 

[flyingscott]

If the motor starts nicely it's working. All it does is when the key is turned on push the key and it shoots fuel into the motor to help it start.

 

[sutor623]

Just like scott said if you dont have any issues starting then dont even bother testing.

What manual primer device are you talking about? These solenoids have a red lever that you turn, then you prime the fuel bulb, then turn the red lever back and fire it up. This is what you do when you have a bad solenoid, no battery, or bad keyswitch.

If it doesnt start nicely theres an easy way to check it. See if it clicks when you turn the key to on and push it in. If you cant hear it get someone to do it. If you still dont hear it you can disconnect the + and - wires and run a separate 12v set of leads to the solenoid and see if it clicks. You can also check the wire coming in for 12v when you push the key in. If you dont have 12v you at that wire you either have a break/short in the wire or a bad keyswitch. If you have 12v and there is no click from the solenoid, even with testing it with another 12v source, the solenoid is bad. Honestly, I have never seen/had one of these solenoids go bad. I have had the seals leak though.

 

[Riverok]

Great information here. Thanks. The manual primer is disconnected. It has a plunger protruding from the front of the motor. Inside the cowling it has connections for fuel lines but no fuel lines are connected.

 

[racerone]

Sounds like the motor was converted to electric start and the original manual primer pump was left in place !