Buy an old Electric Shift?

[ThePartsMan]

Would you consider buying an electric shift Johnson?
I see a lot of posts on repairing these motors.
Should I steer clear of this one?

http://tulsa.craigslist.org/boa/2092966807.html

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

Not without the controls I wouldn't!

 

[ThePartsMan]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I wondered about that.

So is it more of a $100 parts rig than a good deal on an old reliable motor?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

If you had everything and it was running, I'd certainly run it till it wasn't, but I don't think I'd lay out much more than $200-300 for it even then.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

No. Pretty worthless without controls except to part out. Barely worth 300 in good running order with controls.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I would look on Ebay and see if you can find a set of controls cheap enough. If you can, then it might be worth buying a good running motor.

What kind of motor is it and what year?

 

[watergecko]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

Nope.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

Way too much for a motor like that. Find a better choice.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I own a '72 50hp johnson.
I agree with everyone above. I can't believe he doesn't have the controls! As said, it's worthless other than for parts without the controls, and the switch for the hydroelectric shift, if it did have controls, had better be working or.....
I wouldn't dare pay ANYTHING for one unless it was running and shifting correctly, and could be shown to do so.
JBJ

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I wouldn't buy one. It's bad enough having to deal with electronic ignition let alone electric shift! But I'd listen to someone that had one like JBJ.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

He has a hydroelectric motor with no controls and no title. Do yourself a favor and pass.



???

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

The last electric-hydraulic shift outboard made was 1972, which was 38 years ago.

The last electric-magnetic shift outboard made was 1968 - 42 years ago

Do you really want to play with something that old and unreliable?

 

[merc20076]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I have a 1966 40 HP electric shift and it still works very good. Ok, it was used in fresh water only and was well maintained. Just put the good oil in (Type C or BRP Premium blend) and change it every season, have a good fully charged battery and it will last long.

But if it doesn't come with the controls box, it's a different story, they are NLA or the rare ones are pricey.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

The last electric-hydraulic shift outboard made was 1972, which was 38 years ago.

The last electric-magnetic shift outboard made was 1968 - 42 years ago

Do you really want to play with something that old and unreliable?

I have a 1972 hydroelectric shift Johnson 65hp motor that I have run extensively, over the last five years. The difference in my situation and his, is that it was a working unit when I bought it and it came with the remote. He is contemplating a motor that he has no idea to be functional and it is missing a key component.

Further, he lives in a place that requires a title for an outboard and the seller doesn't have it. They all say "you can get it easily." If its so easy, Mr. Seller, go get one and then put the item up for sale.

One of the fears that I would have with this motor, is that it is stolen - no control and no papers just might be, because it was quickly lifted of the back of a boat, in the middle of the night.



???

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

He has a hydroelectric motor with no controls and no title. Do yourself a favor and pass.



???

Since when do you need a title for a motor?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

Since when do you need a title for a motor?

A couple states do require them.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I just found a web page that says Missouri, South Carolins, Texas, Oklahoma, Ohio and Utah require titles for outboard motors. My guess is that there are tons of people in every one of those states who have untitled motors, but the general logic seems to be that they will cut down of the sale of stolen motors.

Back in the day, when outboards were relatively inexpensive, these laws would have been pretty pointless, but in the age of some outboards costing anywhere from $20,000 to as much as $35,000, it doesn't seem to be completely crazy.



???

 

[richardbrown67@yahoo.com]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I have a '71 50hp electric shift. Runs well. Something in the control box must be broken, though, because a previous owner wired in a 3-position toggle switch to put the unit into gear. I push the switch forward for forward, straight up for nuetral, and backward for reverse. I have to make sure my rpm is low when I shift, or admittedly I could wreck my motor. But I've used the motor for 8 summers now, and so far I've had no problems.

I just found out about the special Johnson lower unit oil for these motors, so I bought a bottle. Seems like really lightweight oil. I've been running the heavy stuff for years (80w90) with no problems, but I'll bet it'll run even better on the special oil from Johnson.

 

[gazza2007au]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

i would buy this engine only if u needed parts im not sure what they are selling for but i have seen the electronic boxes sell for a few hundred and also as cheap as $75 it just depends where u look as for the lower unit being selectronic they are pretty good i have a evinrude 50hp 1971 i just replaced the solenoids in the lower unit i bought a kit from ebay for $200 plus shipping once installed my gears change perfect it is like new the kit came complete with both solenoids, cover,wiring pre wired,rods,and the inserts for the solenoids was a bargain the motor runs very strong and unlike later model engines this engine u just push the buttons to change gear so u wont ever have to worry about worn clutch dogs due to slowly easing into gear as its all automatic once u push the button

 

[redjmp]

Re: Buy an old Electric Shift?

I have a '70 evinrude lark 50 that runs great! However i do have the selectric control box and without it the motor is useless.
There is something to be said about the coolness of a push button transmission though.
Like an old Dodge Valiant
I wouldn't thumb my nose at one that had good compression and the control box just because its old. As long as it was cheap!
$300 is way too much! Especially no title or controls.
If it had a steel prop I would offer him $75...
However, pistons are NLA and when I burnt a hole in one of mine, I was very lucky that a local dealer had a used one which he gave me.