4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

River - Runner

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Mar 26, 2005
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343
What years did Johnson - Evinrude build the 4 hp. Deluxe.

I was wondering where my pictured 1991 fit in. Thanks.

Dcp_145040.jpg


Dcp_145940.jpg
 

waterinthefuel

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Nov 15, 2003
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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

I can't answer your question but I can say that your engine is in fantastic shape. It looks like it scoots the little boat its on quite nicely also!
 

Chinewalker

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

Towards the end of the run. It started out as a 4.5hp in 1980. Not sure when they killed the design (my reference book ends in 1991), but I haven't seen many into the 1990s. Don't worry, you're not missing .5 horsepower - they rerated it in the mid 1980s when they started rating motors at the propshaft instead of the powerhead. Same motor, same power output...

Your motor uses the same basic powerhead configuration (bore & stroke) as the older 3s and 4s. Great design from the get-go back in the early 1950s!

FYI - do not run it at the 100:1 recommended in your manual or on the sticker on the motor. OMC rescinded that and bumped all their kickers back down to 50:1 in the early 1990s.
- Scott
 

JB

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

That basic powerhead first appeared as the JW-10 in 1952. It was a bored out development from the 2.5hp HD/HS series that began life in 1940. It was rated at 3hp and was direct drive. Over its model life it was arguably the greatest outboard engine ever made.

Over the years it was improved, power rating was increased and the optional FNR and FN gearcases were made available.

Like Scott, I don't find reference to that engine series after 1991.

Same basic engine lasted 51 years. Must have been a great engine to do that.
 

Scaaty

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

Best motors made in all varieties. I haven't had to pull one down completely yet. I've got 3 JW 3hp weedless drives, sold the neighbor 84 4hp. I'm not sure if the rod big ends are rollers, but pretty sure (anyone can butt in here) the piston pin ends are bushed. So if you don't run a good oil mix in it, not enough gets tossed up at the rod little end, and there goes the bushing. That 100 too 1 oil idea was simply stupid. I just pulled down a 10hp QD16, after just a little too much flywheel slop for my liking. Yep, rod bushings shot, rest fine. And those motors ran 24-1.
 

bassboy1

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

I have a 1988 4 deluxe and love it. Starts first pull and never misses a beat. It has reverse, whereas other fours don't.
BTW, what kind of boat is yours clamped to?
 

River - Runner

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

Thanks guys for the info!

I looked in my box of brochures from boat shows. I then grabbed 1987 thru 1996 Johnson and Evinrude brochures, have them all. I didn't think I had so much literature.

The last year they made the Deluxe was 1995. I don't know the first year though.

I bought my motor new and my '91 owners manual says to run the motor at 50 : 1 gas oil mix, which I do.

bassboy..... Your the reason I'm interested in knowing what years they were made, with your 1988 Deluxe. In the '88 brochure they brag that..... "their powerheads include bearing surfaces coated with silver for long wear. And not just any silver, either. It's actually a purer alloy than the silver used in fine jewelry".

This is the boat I use mine on. A 1968 FD AlumaCraft, 14 ft. with 4 1/2 ft. beam, 207 lb. utility, rated for 40 hp. I bought it new when I was 18 and picked a lot of apples in an orchard for it.

You are a amazing kid at only 13.

Dcp_143940.jpg


4 hp. at WOT. A running speed.
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25 hp. at WOT.
Dcp_141940.jpg


40 hp. at 2/3 throttle. To scary for me to take a picture like that at WOT.
Dcp_146740.jpg
 

Drowned Rat

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Jan 20, 2004
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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

Ha ha ha, I bet that is scary with the 40 on there. Great rig by the way. Thanks for the pics.
 

bassboy1

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

You are a amazing kid at only 13.
You can't give me all the credit. My dad loves fishing and boating (almost) as much as me. He just has very little spare time, so you will never find him on forums like this. Hopefully he can change the work hours of his job so we get a little more fishing time. This once a month deal is killing me. Were it not for him, I would probably have an old beat up jon boat and trolling motor as opposed to what I have now.
 

bassboy1

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

Could you post a pic or two of the tilt lock mechanism? The previous owner must have stripped it all off.
 

River - Runner

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

4hp.jpg


DCP_154850E.jpg


The spring loaded plastic run-tilt knob rotates down only, 180 degrees. Left to lock and run. Right to release and tilt.

One shouldn't force it in the wrong direction. I suppose it broke and was removed.

I keep mine in the release or tilt position most of the time. If I run in reverse at high speed then I need to use the run or lock position.
 

danpemby

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Jul 24, 2006
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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

I have a 91. I love this motor. Here it is a WOT pushing a 16' fiberglass
FL000019.jpg
 

River - Runner

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

It truly is a great fishing motor. For me and with a light load it will plane my boat. When I ordered the motor my dealer thought the 6 hp. motor would be better. Some people think bigger is better. For how I use it, it's the best.
 

Lowranger

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May 8, 2003
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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

I'm looking for a motor for my new inflatable and I've learned alot in just the last week since I bought it. It seems that the 4hp Deluxe is just what I need. Throttle on the tiller. F-N-R. Can anyone provide the weight of these little gems ? Does anyone have a nice one they'd like to part with ?
 

River - Runner

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

My 4 hp. Deluxe weighs 49 lbs., somewhat heavy for the hp. but to be expected because it is a full featured motor. Compare that to my above pictured 25 hp. that weighs 78 lbs, which is very light for the hp.

If weight is a big concern, the 4 hp. standard motor is 33 lbs.
 

bassboy1

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

I doubt you are going to get anyone to part with theirs. Even when we get a 9.9 to use on some of the larger hp limited lakes, this isn't leaving. It will still get plenty of use on the local river, in which it is too shallow to run any faster than this will push us. I came by mine, because the original owner died, and it was sold to someone who knew nothing about boats. Unless you find a deal like that, it may be tough to find one. His first trip out, he got something in the carb and had to paddle back. Gave up and sold it for what he got it for it, which was a lot less than it was worth.


BTW, Riverrunner, I guess I was unspecific in my original post. I needed the picture of the underside of the mount, with the motor tilted up, to see what actually held it up. All that was left on ours was that little knob, and a small piece of 1/8 inch wire connected to the backside of that. If it is not to much trouble, do you mind getting another pic of that? If it is any trouble, don't worry about it. I am sure that if I can get any replacement parts to fix it, I can find a pic. Sometime in the next few years, I would like to get it back to original condition so 40 years from now, I will have a classic in original condition.
 

bassboy1

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

Lowranger said:
I'm looking for a motor for my new inflatable and I've learned alot in just the last week since I bought it. It seems that the 4hp Deluxe is just what I need. Throttle on the tiller. F-N-R. Can anyone provide the weight of these little gems ? Does anyone have a nice one they'd like to part with ?

I just remembered seeing one in the Atlanta Craigslist recently. It was bought new, and sat in this persons garage and never got used. He is asking $1000 for it. If it is still there, I will post a link for you.
 

River - Runner

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

bassboy1..... Sometime I'll get you a picture and post it here. For now my motor is stored and not on the boat.

It's nice of you to post the above 4 hp. Deluxe motor from Craigslist. It's a 1995, the last year made and it's a beauty. I think it would be a good buy for $1,000.00. I hope the new owner will appreciate it as a motor to be proud to own for its quality, performance, history and potential. For reference, I paid $788.73 for my above pictured 1991 Deluxe, that I bought new. I have the receipt, literature and all papers. I even kept the Outboard Marine Corporation cardboard box that the remote 3 gal., low profile, metal gas tank came in. The motor will out last me and I use it often.

If someone knows, I don't know the year when the first 4 hp. Deluxe was made.
 

River - Runner

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Re: 4 hp. Deluxe, first & last year ?

bassboy1 said:
You are a amazing kid at only 13.
You can't give me all the credit. My dad loves fishing and boating (almost) as much as me. He just has very little spare time, so you will never find him on forums like this. Hopefully he can change the work hours of his job so we get a little more fishing time. This once a month deal is killing me. Were it not for him, I would probably have an old beat up jon boat and trolling motor as opposed to what I have now.

I just see it now, on the 15th..... Happy belated 14th Birthday!, bassboy1. So glad your here! and hope you get your fishing time in with your dad, that's priceless.
 
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