Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

sevanseriesta

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 12, 2012
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Guy is selling me a motor that was given to him by sombodys grandpa.... Of course arent they all. Anyways he said the whole thing had been rebuilt and then was never used it has just sat. Now I am familiar with Engines (car engines) and can identify newer non ran parts. I am new to boats and out boards is there anything that I should be looking for in general, or something I should do before I drive away with the motor. I Do not believe there will be a way to test if it runs. I am taking the sheet that is on the forum to Identify the year because the guy does not know. Any help is greatly appreciated.

I am trading a PS3 with lots of extras for this motor with controls. Is it worth it.
 

1946Zephyr

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Oct 21, 2008
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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Well, if you post some pics of this bad boy, that would help us determine, if it is. What is the model number of it?
 

Higgins79

Seaman Apprentice
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Jul 19, 2012
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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

I definately wouldn't buy it without starting it. You can get a motor flusher (rabbit ears) at about any store for $5. All you need is a garden hose. Just make sure she starts, idles, and shoots water. You should also make sure he tilt n' trim is in good shape. Also, what kind of boat will you be putting it on? A Johnson 115 should be a badass motor.
 

mark1961

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Apr 30, 2007
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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

If it truly has been rebuilt most if not all of the new parts that matter will be internal so you can forget about that.....try to get some documentation for proof. If it does run that would be one way of testing it or at the very least perform a compression test and check the lower unit oil for contamination.
 

sevanseriesta

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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

I definately wouldn't buy it without starting it. You can get a motor flusher (rabbit ears) at about any store for $5. All you need is a garden hose. Just make sure she starts, idles, and shoots water. You should also make sure he tilt n' trim is in good shape. Also, what kind of boat will you be putting it on? A Johnson 115 should be a badass motor.

It does not have a tilt and trim with it, I believe. It will be going on a 1990 ProCraft F180. I just bought this boat with no motor. So I figured I would pick up this motor to get her going. This boat originally had a 150 on it so it wont be as big as factory.

So should I just take a battery with me and hook it up to his hose or is something else specific that I will need to start it.
102_1477.jpg
 

Davem3

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May 15, 2011
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542
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

compression test first and foremost............ 5% tolerance between all cylinders.

spark test , MUST be steady and blue ............

bring muffs, makes sure she runs smooth

lower unit, look for ANY milk in the oil, milky= water getting in ............

use common sense and judgement, does the motor look like it went through WWII? or is she clean and sweet looking.............

props tell a story too, the crappier it looks, the more likely it was NOT well taken care of .......... and the most important, was it used in SALT water....................
 

crb478

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Dec 6, 2006
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1,036
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

If it does not have tilt and trim then it is very likely a 77 or earlier motor, really not worth all that much unless it runs great. If it is older than 73 then it is an electric shift model, worth less. Personallly I would be looking for one that is prop rated at 115hp so that will put you around 84 or 85 or newer, and will have a bubble back exhaust rather than a flat one.
 

jimmbo

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May 24, 2004
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13,631
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Power trim became standard in 1981, Prop rating began in 1985. From 1985 till 1990 there was no 115hp.
 

sevanseriesta

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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Ok I picked it ups and here is what she looks like, it appears to be a 1970 Johnson 115hp the model # is 115esl70D.
It does look like she will need some work. I am going to try and find a manual now. There are a lot of wires that are not hooked up some even look cut. So this should be interesting.

102_1490.jpg102_1491.jpg102_1492.jpg102_1493.jpg
 

boobie

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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Did you get all the controls with it ??
 

sevanseriesta

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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Kinda I guess, the harness is cut, and it also says evinrude on the side. And its a Johnson motor, Dont the controls have to match the motor. I dont have a problem making my own harness, but still not sure if it matters that the names aren't matching.
 

erwinner

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Aug 8, 2011
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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Johnson and Evinrude are the same company and have been for a very long time, so I'd bet at some point the setup you have did work.
Good luck getting it all back together, I'd trade a video game console (if I had one) for an outboard any day!
 

sevanseriesta

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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

That is kinda what I thought, just a side note these damn things are extreemly heavy, so deceiving.
 

Higgins79

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Jul 19, 2012
Messages
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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

The good thing about it is that it's an Evinrude/Johnson. OMC is the label that makes spare parts and accessories for them, and these old motors have more spare parts than any other in the world. If you have any problems go to marineengines.com to look up parts, order manuals, and look at engine diagrams to see what is broken or missing. I'm having problems with my new 79 'rude too. Hope you can get yours up and running!
 

roofcock

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Oct 5, 2007
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Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

actually i have been looking at oem parts at a place down in alabama i think called l&m marine and their prices blow away everywhere else i have looked for oem parts. i have not ordered from them yet so can not comment on their service but, they beat all others i have looked at on line. website is lmmarine.com. no i dont work for them or endorse them or am i trying to advertise for them but look up a part elsewhere then compare to theirs. just saying.
 

emdsapmgr

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Dec 9, 2005
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11,551
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Have you taken a compression check yet? You'll want to check out the factory parts website: epc.brp.com
 

coolguy147

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Jul 14, 2008
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2,817
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Power trim became standard in 1981, Prop rating began in 1985. From 1985 till 1990 there was no 115hp.

My 1985 60hp doesn't have PTAT. I believe they started prop rating in 1986.
 

danoutbard

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Nov 18, 2011
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87
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Looks like it's gonna need a lotta love..

Good luck !
 

sevanseriesta

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jul 12, 2012
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303
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

Looks like it's gonna need a lotta love..

Good luck !

Believe me she is getting a lot of love right now. My problem is I am trying to do to many things at once. I was working on the control box, trying to figure out all the wiring in the motor, finding out if all the wood in my boat is rotten, and figureing out how the hell to get my boat off the trailer without putting it on the water.

Anyways I have not done a compression check yet, REASON: I am still not sure that everything is connected correctly yet. Since I do not know the person I got this from I want to make sure everything is correct before even trying to attempt to turn it over. For instance there are 2 wires on the top of the motor that are not connected to anything., Second there is a wire that is just sitting in the bottom of the Motor no idea where it goes, just know that it is like a very pale yellow color. I do believe that I finally got all of the starter and and solenoid stuff worked out. So anyone else that could help here are some pics

What are these wires for and where do they attach to?

232323232%7Ffp%3B%3C4%3Enu%3D3244%3E%3A%3C8%3E882%3EWSNRCG%3D358442%3B875339nu0mrj
 

rockyrude

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Sep 10, 2007
Messages
1,120
Re: Going to buy 115hp Johnson tomorrow

If you follow those two purple wires I'll bet they go to the extra temp switch OMC put on those things as a control for the "automatic choke". Everybody bypassed that switch out because it cause so many problems with the motor running well.

EDIT: Sorry, just saw the switch in the pic. Leave them alone run like the wind.
 
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