FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

[enginesilo]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

you were looking at the evinrude list, on the first page where it say Evinrude, clik the drop down and clik Johnson.

MY BAD!!

Yes, you are right! That is a great sign. Seems like most discussions talk about the Evinrude when I did some searches around the internet and on the boards, but seems like people still mention the Johnson's. A local mechanic said that he recalls fuel injection, but I guess the proof will be once I see the thing.

I called Evinrude and they said that the engine's were fine IF they got the necessary update. Think mechanic's even do that update anymore since its been so long?

 

[enginesilo]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

tashasdaddy and all others,

I just called Four Winns direct and asked if they could pull the 1999's, 2000's, and 2001 Johnson 115 engine. The guy said that none of these years were available with a fuel injection and they were all carbed motors. He said that the Evinrude's had fuel injection though.

So I guess I might be in the clean on this one. Going to check the boat out tonight either way. I'll keep you guys posted.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

Even though you're looking at a V4, which should be fine, I would consider the engine to have zero value when making any offer to buy, BC of the bad reputation Ficht's have generally. Most people are unaware that there were any good Ficht's made. OMC made a relatively small number of Ficht motors with the Johnson name. Generally, Johnson's and Evinrude's back in time were identical, except for paint color and had largely interchangeable parts.

If you want to find out what was made, call BRP. Four Winns is a boat builder and can't be expected to know what OMC (now BRP) made.

Don't get hung up on the Johnson Evinrude thing.

 

[enginesilo]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

Thanks for the tips. I called BRP and they weren't much help without having the serial number. I am going to drive up and check the boat out to see how things look, and will take the serial back if I can't figure out if it is a FICHT or not. Guess I am hoping for carbs

 

[noelm]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

I guess in a strange sort of way, I would be hoping it is NOT a carbed Motor, the Ficht will use far less Fuel, run heaps smoother and quieter, will start so much better, plus a whole host of other stuff as well, but the are also much heavier, and the old Carby models are easy and simple to work on, I was under the impression that all Fichts where Evinrudes, but as mentioned by Wild1 they may have made a small number of Johnsons as well, and what is mentioned is also true, regardless of how good the V4 is, there is a World Wide perception that all Fichts are crap, that must also come into your purchase choice as well.

 

[ottertail]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

The owner said what??? The FFI or Ficht Fuel Injection was reserved for the Evinrude line. The 2000 115 Johnson is a 60 degree v-4 carbed engine.

As others have stated the FFI got kind of a bum wrap, it did have some issues and there was spark plug indexing, updates pined heads ect, ect ,ect. these issues were mainly on the big horse power above 150, yes there was some 150 and smaller engine that did fail but overall the smaller guys wwere ok. Does anyone remeber when Mercury brought out the Optimax and they also fought thru issues? But it has turned into one fine engine. There are a lot of happy FFI owners out there also.

 

[noelm]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

OK then, that was my understanding also, Evinrude = injected, Johnson = Carby, let us know how you go with the test/check/purchase.

 

[enginesilo]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

Hi Everyone,
So right before I left I called a Four Winns dealer that told me that Four Winns didn't use the FICHT engine at all that year, or maybe any year. Not sure if that is valid, but the boat I looked at tonight I think is NOT a FICHT, can you guys confirm?

MOD#: J115PLSSB
SER#: G04733640
CE:6/1999

It also had this information on the engine:
"Optical Ignition System" OSI 2000
On the side of what I think was the carb and looked like some sort of fuel pump was 439209
9:49:55
5/26/99
95235
Mexico

The inside of the engine looked literally Brand spanking new, I was amazed.

Almost looked like it might have had 4 carbs but may have been 2, or is this the FICHT? From the link posted to the parts site earlier it looks like this engine is a straight up Carbed engine. Can you guys confirm? Is it 2 carbs or 4?

EDIT: I am also still trying to figure out if this boat is a 2000, or a 1999. The guy said he thought it was a 2000 but it might technically be a 1999? For the engine I checked the serial number on the evinrude parts site that tashasdaddy posted on the first page of this thread and the engine model shows up in the 2000, even though its manufactured date on the engine is 06/1999. I'm sure this is common to manufacture for the year ahead. Can anyone confirm this?

And here are some pics for fun:

 

[noelm]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

Four Winns have almost nothing to do with all this, they make and sell Boats, the Motors are sourced elsewhere, that serial number appears to me to be a 2000, 115HP CARBY Motor, so do all the usual checks and your done, the checks are basicaly the same, regardless if it is a Carby or a Ficht, the same rules will apply.

 

[enginesilo]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

Four Winns have almost nothing to do with all this, they make and sell Boats, the Motors are sourced elsewhere, that serial number appears to me to be a 2000, 115HP CARBY Motor, so do all the usual checks and your done, the checks are basicaly the same, regardless if it is a Carby or a Ficht, the same rules will apply.

Thanks for the tips. I am actually calling Four Winns to see if the boat/hull itself is a 1999, or 2000, not the engine. Thanks for confirming the engine is a 2000.

I posted another thread on the topic of checking spark here if you guys wanna jump over and comment:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=255517

 

[commandohorn]

Re: FICHT? How to tell - Johnson 115hp year 2000

For what it's worth...I have a 95 Evinrude 115, they have been making that V4 a long time. Mine is trouble free, fires up everytime!