65 40hp Johnson RIP

[jim_in_day]

65 40hp Johnson on a 60's Dorsett 14 footer. It has been running poorly all summer. While getting the trailer ready for taking the boat on vacation, I measured the distance between the bottom of the hull and the top of the cavitation plate. The cavitation plate was 3 inches below the bottom of the boat. Ahhh, I see the problem, too much drag. The solution was to build up the transom. I had an aluminum transom rail built that sandwiched the transom and lifted the motor 3 1/2 inches and installed it the day before leaving on vacation (Did I say I was hurried?). When I put it in the water, it still didn't want to perform, getting just 11 mph on the gps (sorry no tach). Oh well, I was going to fish no matter what. The wind was blowing and it was a toasty 42 degrees and the sun was going down on what was otherwise a great day fishing when we headed back to the dock. Bucking the wind and waves and making our slow way back I noticed that i was having difficulty turning right. Just about that time I heard a loud bang and the boat stopped. Turning around to look, there was no motor on the transom. After MAYDAYing my buddy back at the dock I reached down and tied a rope to the handle of the motor as it hung below the boat. With a great deal of difficulty and a lot of help from my buddies nephew, we wrestled the motor back into the boat and I got towed back to the dock. Since I was at full throttle when it sank, we figure it's toast, so I am thinking about pulling the lower unit and trying to install it on a 33 electric we have laying around with no LU. Any thoughts on the success of that. AND yes, I should have bolted the aluminum bracket to the transom (did i say i was rushed?).

 

[i386]

Re: 65 40hp Johnson RIP

Well, if it's fresh water and you act quickly you may be able to save it.

 

[Skyler2]

Re: 65 40hp Johnson RIP

Hi, sorry to hear about that. It happens hear in florida alot.
My 1972 50hp manual says get it to the shop within 3 hrs to prevent water and or salt from etching machined bearing surfaces. Electrical components should becompletely dissasembled flush with fresh water if exposed to salt, and thoroughly dried before reassembley,
OR
1) Remove water cover, rinse motor with fresh water.
2)remove spark leads and plugs. Re-attatch leads to plugs and ground to block..
3)remove highspeed jet screws and drain bowls.
4) Place motor horozontally spark plug openings down.
and work out all the water by pulling the motor over app. 25 times using the emercency rope. If the motor was running when submerged,look for any binding when flywheel is rotated with the cord. That can indicate the possibility of a bent connecting rod and no attemp should be made to start the motor.
If ok, reassemble parts and follow starting instructions.and let motor run a half hour.
If it doesn't start, check plugs for water on the surface of the plugs, and reinstall or by new. If it doesn't start. have it serviced immediateley. (wihin 3 hrs.)
5) Go to the nearest bar.
Good luck, Skyler

 

[F_R]

Re: 65 40hp Johnson RIP

Since it was running at full throttle when it went over, there is a good chance that there are some bent parts inside (water doesn't compress). If there is any sign of binding when you turn it over by hand with the plugs out, do not attempt to start it. It has to be disassembled if that is the case.

 

[itstippy]

Re: 65 40hp Johnson RIP

The powerhead is most likely toast. Hydrolocked and stuff bent and rusting as I write this. Don't dispair. The world is full of 1960's 40HP Big Twins with superb powerheads and crapped-out electric shift lower units. Marinas have them in back rooms, and they show up on eBay pretty often. Look around to find one near you so you don't have to pay shipping. $200 will get you one. Swap out the powerhead. There are experienced folks on this board who'll be able to tell you exactly what years will bolt right up. I'm sure any '65 will work and I'm pretty sure a span of years will. Somewhere in there they switched from double water tubes to single and that complicates lower unit swaps, but I don't know what year or if it will make a difference when swapping powerheads.