1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

[knouse94]

I am thinking about buying a boat with this motor on it. I have been dealing with older Mercs for awhile but know nothing about these. When I looked at the boat he started it up and it sounded nice at higher RPMs but would not idle. He told me that when he runs the boat on the lake that the motor will cut out, but he pumps the primer and it fires back up. He said he has replaced the fuel pump and the tank and bulb are new. What else could this be. I do not want to buy a motor with issues. Also, how hard are the carbs to rebuild on these motors it appeared to me that one may be leaking a bit and they probably need it anyway. Thanks

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

the carbs are pretty easy and straight forward and since he changed the fuel pump it probably has gummed up carbs or fuel system parts

do a compression test on it - everything else is easily fixed... and for fairly cheap

 

[knouse94]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

Thank you I am a boating rookie and do not know much.

 

[j_k_bisson]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

Great motor, parts are available for pretty much everything. Like the previous poster, check the compression. Biggest thing with the motors is keeping the fuel system maintained. The carbs have fixed jetting and they gum up.

Also make sure the tack works and it charges the battery. The stator go, they will have black hard goo dripping from the stator if it is going, and the retifier will show up as the tack is not working. The retifiers are liquid cooled.

Everything else is maintence items. (impeller, fuel filters, etc.....)

 

[knouse94]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

He said that the tach was not working or any of the other gauges. The boat is an 88 Cajun bass boat and it has never had a cover on it. There was water in a few of the gauges. One thing I did notice is that the paint that is around the spark plugs was flaking. I was wondering if it may have been overheated at some point. He said he had not had it out this year and had only taken it out twice last year. I am not sure if it was winterized or not so I am assuming that it may need a carb rebuilt or possibly just fresh gas ran through it with some seafoam. It did not really smoke at all when he fired it up. I am taking it for a test drive on Saturday. Anything else I should know or ask before I buy. I am getting a great deal but will not have much money left over to put into the motor once I get it.
Thanks guys

 

[wilde1j]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

I would find a boat/motor w/o issues. There are lots out there at great prices.

 

[levi_tsk]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

if he only took it out a couple of times last season expect it to run like crap -use this as a bargaining tool tell him youll take it but that you know its gonna cost _____ to fix it and bla bla bla be smart about it, make up for the cost of carb kits, water pump kit , a couple extra coils and a power pack (spare parts ) and 3 or 4 hours labor and a fuel pump rebuild kit in your haggling.
i did that with my boat and got it for 800 bux... they wanted 1500

 

[knouse94]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

Hard to find here is western Nebraska. I am trading my 70s Venture bass boat with a 72 Merc 500 and $1350 for an 18ft Cajun bass boat with this motor.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: 1988 Johnson 175hp VRO

Take your compression gauge with you for the test run and check it while you are there. Compression should be in the 95-100 lbs range on all 6.

 

[SteveStarbuck]

I have a 1988 Ranger with the same engine, a Johnson 175 VRO, tach is also inop. Advise, need a rectifier?

 

[emdsapmgr]

You may want to start your own thread instead of resurrecting this old one.

 

[GA_Boater]

I have a 1988 Ranger with the same engine, a Johnson 175 VRO, tach is also inop. Advise, need a rectifier?

My advice is the same as emdsapmgr's. Start a new thread. Read the Help Tip on top of the page.

We don't even know if the OP bought the boat because he quit visiting.

Closed.