1973 135hp confused on ID

[sheboyganjohn]

I have purchased the above motor on a boat. I have purchased the manual for the motor and have started to collect some of the parts I plan on replacing. However, in the manual it shows the 135 with a bubble back on the power head, but mine does not have it. I have a few picks, any help in telling what it is? The tag on the transom mount is for a 73 135 as is the motor cover. Could it have been a power head swap and if so is there any way to tell what is on it now?

 

[rabeck5792]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

you can pull the coil bracket assy off, look on the top of the stb cylinder bank,there should be a core plug with the motor identification

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

Thanks for the info. I went out and lifted the coil bracket the best I could with out taking the whole wiring assembly off and using an inspection mirror I have these numbers (from what I read backwards) One line is 115393N (not sure on the N, the rest are right) and the bottom line is 10001042. Am I right in asuming that it is a 115 powerhead since the first line starts in 115, and is there any way to tell what year it is? I did notice that the harness from the controls is a red plug and the one on the powerhead is a black plug. I hope that is not a problem.

 

[rabeck5792]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

1973 115 hp

 

[rabeck5792]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

plug should not be a problem,back then it didnt make a diff as i remember.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

It makes a difference. The engine is a 115, not a 135. The 1973 135 is definitely a bubbleback, not a flatback.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

ezeke,
Are you saying that the main wiring plug on the engine being black and not red is a problem? I am just trying to figure out what I need to get done to get this motor running. I bought it (along with the boat) from a charity that does a basic test, no trouble shooting. It has good compression but they could not get it to fire. I want to make sure that the 115 powerhead in a 135 case is not going to be a problem before I put a bunch of work into it.

One more question, other then some part numbers, will the 135 manual be sufficent for working on the 115 powerhead. I am mainly looking at the electrical test procedures along general disassembly, and assembly. I am not planning on tearing it down to the bare block, just the normal maintenance items. The farthest I plan to go in the forseeable future is possibly head gaskets so I can check the water passages.

Thanks to all for the help thus far.

 

[rabeck5792]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

i need to check for sure on the plug color. the only thing i can think of is,if it is a 135 lower unit,i think the gear ratio is diff from the 115 & propping may be difficult.

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

I just looked at shop.evinrude.com and the pinion and gear in the lower unit in the 135 and the 115 have different part numbers so it looks like it is geared different. Looks like I may need to play with props once I get it going, assuming that the lower is actually the 135 lower and not the 115 lower. The joys of buying old boats.

 

[ezeke]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

The plug does not make a difference. That may be a red engine side plug anyway; I was referring to the bubbleback. The 115 was bored differently for the intake and exhaust ports. High speed jets are different.

The gear ratio difference is 13:25 vs 13:26 on the 115. That's not much of a difference (.52 vs .50).

 

[sheboyganjohn]

Re: 1973 135hp confused on ID

Thanks again. Once I get the battery charged up and have time I will start the trouble shooting of the electrical system. Hopefully it will not take much to get this one running. I will post up if I run into any issues.