Best OMC motors?

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Best OMC motors?

yes the 60 degree ois motors are top notch..I have a 1999 115 now and use to have a 1996 150...both cranked, idled and ran outstandingly well. only problem is people want more $$$ for them. You can get a late 80s model for cheap and boy o boy do they last and run good.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Do I get a second on my vote for the '59 Fat Fifty? Just kidding. Very rugged motor, prototype for J/E future. Still lots of them around.

I have seen guys bring them to meets and cant even GIVE them away, lol

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Yea, a fellow member here local to me found a '58 Johnson Fat Fifty. What a cool looking motor.
They are pretty tough to handle, if you don't have the equipment.

 

[SparkieBoat]

Re: Best OMC motors?

I really do like the injection system over the choke also..big improvement, so was electronic ignition over distributor.

 

[64osby]

Re: Best OMC motors?

I'll chime in on the old 18's.

I just finished putting coils, condensers, breakers, plug wires, impeller, carb rebuild, fuel lines, head gasket and a few other incidentals on a 57 Evinrude model 15020.

Easy to work on, parts easy to find. The whole unit is made with quality parts. I think there is one plastic piece on the whole motor, the idle stop screw at the back of the tiller.

Can't wait to see if it runs as good as everybody says they do. Barrel test coming up soon, water test when it gets warmer.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Best OMC motors?

How about an honorable mention for the 90HP 90* V4 motor? They were made from the early 60s until the late 90's.

How about the same for the Evinrude 6HP motors? The rental (Crab) boats used them on the bay for years.

 

[kbait]

Re: Best OMC motors?

I'll chime in on the old 18's.

I just finished putting coils, condensers, breakers, plug wires, impeller, carb rebuild, fuel lines, head gasket and a few other incidentals on a 57 Evinrude model 15020.

Easy to work on, parts easy to find. The whole unit is made with quality parts. I think there is one plastic piece on the whole motor, the idle stop screw at the back of the tiller.

Can't wait to see if it runs as good as everybody says they do. Barrel test coming up soon, water test when it gets warmer.

Just finished a '58 FD-12 pristine 18hp barn find. Same service as above + gearcase seals. Runs and looks like new. Idles as slow as a JW!

My photo was too large, but here it is: http://www.old-omc.de/j_1958/seite_07.jpg

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Right on. The old 18's are top notch in my book. You guys with these etechs and stuff have nice motors, but these old classics will stand the test of time. A '58 FD-12 and a '57 Fastwin? here you go folks. 54 and 55 years of age and still going strong.

I just brought a '58 Fisherman back to life last weekend and it's a dandy.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Best OMC motors?

I enjoyed reading TN's post and am with all you guys on everything but the 9.5hp johnson. As far as the small OMC's, I think it was the worst they ever made. Reason: #1 UGLY #2 Exhaust seals/PITA to work on #3 Motor mounts #4 Poorly designed recoil starter that wears out cords really quickly #5 The darned thing wasn't within 1/2hp of the previous 10hp motors in my opinion. #6 AWFUL color combinations

I guess most folks either love 'em or hate 'em.....

I like the '56 15hp OMC's a lot. They just seemed to really run smoothly and had no bad points that I can find, other than the lack of a slip clutch in the prop, and shallow drive. The '53 -'57 10hp OMC's were awesome, too. The 18's are super nice as well.
A '56 15 electric start with a slip clutch prop and shallow drive would be just a wonderful motor....
JBJ

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Yep, the old 18's are among my top three favorite motors and like HighTrim, we think a lot alike. I like the '57 '58 models the best, mostly because of the classic design and the quality of the build.

I like the '56 15hp OMC's a lot. They just seemed to really run smoothly and had no bad points that I can find, other than the lack of a slip clutch in the prop, and shallow drive.
JBJ

Most of the seasoned OMC fans here seem to vote for the 56 thru 58 15hp's....

What changed as the 15hp evolved?

I have a '55 and I notice that it has a beefier lower (5 bolt) than the '53-54....

Can we get a year by year evolution of the Fastwin 15-18hp? What changed from year to year that made one better than another?

Thanks, Chuck

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Yea, you pretty much described it. The Fastwin alternate firing twin, actually started in 1950, as a 14hp. It was built through 1951, but it was a gutless wonder. The Fastwin was re-introduced in 1953 as a "Super Fastwin" and was the re-designed 15hp. Much better performer than the old 14's. The 55 and later had the 5 bolt lower unit and the improved cowling. In 1956, the 15 was added to the Johnson line, as an FD-10 model. The 15 was bumped up the 22 cube 18, in '57 and was in production till '73. In '74, the 18 was dropped, in favor of the newly designed 15 low profile motor.

There you have it in a nutshell. The '53 - '58 models were the best models, but they were all good reliable motors through the whole production.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Best OMC motors?

1946zephyr...

I'm curious. Is there an active AOMCI chapter in your area? Are they having any meets in Winter/Spring 2012? I might be getting up that way soon.

Thanks, Chuck

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Best OMC motors?

1946zephyr...

I'm curious. Is there an active AOMCI chapter in your area? Are they having any meets in Winter/Spring 2012? I might be getting up that way soon.

Thanks, Chuck

Here is a list of chapters

http://www.aomci.org/local.htm

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Best OMC motors?

"...A '56 15 electric start with a slip clutch prop and shallow drive would be just a wonderful motor....", JBJ what is a slip clutch prop and shallow drive, I'm not familiar with those items? Any pics? Also, anyone know why Johnsons only did the reverse two-tone for the '58 models? It's my personal favorite look, but the e-rudes are starting to grow on me. I had a '61 10 hp that was great, but it did have the, classic bad clutch dog syndrome. Once I got it fixed it worked like a champ. Unfortunately, they had the white, wedding cake cowls by then, but it was still cooler looking than most modern 10's. Very zippy little motor overall.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Best OMC motors?

By slip clutch prop he simply means a prop that uses a rubber hub which absorbs the force of an impact rather than the shear pins or slip clutch drive shafts.

Want to see extreme shallow drives? I watched this 3 times when I first found it. Duckhunters!

http://www.prodriveoutboards.com/

 

[nwcove]

Re: Best OMC motors?

By slip clutch prop he simply means a prop that uses a rubber hub which absorbs the force of an impact rather than the shear pins or slip clutch drive shafts.

Want to see extreme shallow drives? I watched this 3 times when I first found it. Duckhunters!

http://www.prodriveoutboards.com/

geez......thats the atv of outboards!!! lol

 

[kbait]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Nice Trim^! I saw one of those high hp/air cooled outboards on 'Swamp People'. Dude had to 1) - drive through a forest of SHALLOW vegetation (couldn't even see water), - then 2), jump a 3' high levee about 25' to get to the 'gators lair. Great TV!! (they got 3 big'uns that day).

Shallow drive is just a lever on 'newer' J/E's that let you leave just the prop/intake in water by 1/2way tilting the motor up. Instead of using a 1"x2" board My '80 15 Evinrude has shallow drive... and IS the best motor! (at least for my 14' deep/wide alumacraft..) It goes SLOW (to catch fish-like my avatar photo), and FAST (w/me and a buddy and gear and beer=18mph), and gallons/hr is AWESOME - significantly better than an 18 fastwin. But my 15 doesn't come close to the 18's torquey power...

Some folks wouldn't like the CD ignition mine has, but '74-'76 models w/points had marginal spark and liked to foul plugs). Plus - I just replaced the 31 yr. old original cd box.. Should be good to go for another 31 years then!

Best OMC motor? The one YOU have!

 

[64osby]

Re: Best OMC motors?

HT ^^^ Looks fun and expensive^^^

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Yes, we have the Oregon Webfooters here and Washington has the Puget Sounders.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Best OMC motors?

Ha... Just saw this thread now... All the great engines have been spoken for! Sigh... But I will highly support the 18's also. And the '56 15hp I also agree is an awesome engine. I had a couple of them and they were both much better than the previous 15's. And now I find I'm getting more and more big twins and 25-30 and 35's. Love points. Sorry CDI guys but I don't troll. I go flat out. I don't fish. I've never had a fouled plug in my life so points rule! And only a few bucks each to replace and go for another decade or two!

And that shallow water drive engine was wild!