Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

Xeanie

Recruit
Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
4
Hi,<br /><br />I have been trying to identify a Johnson 40hp that was given to me so we can purchase the manual for it. :confused: (I can't wait to try it out on the '74 MFG Runabout that we are restoring) Water pump isn't working and we need parts!<br /><br />Please use this URL to look at photos and discription: http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o9vh/ <br /><br />Thanks in advance!<br />Betsy :D
 

Bass Runner

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 2, 2004
Messages
746
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

First of all welcome to the forum, it looks to be a late 60's motor, look on top of the cylinders for a small soft plug kind of looks like a freeze plug about the size of a dime or a little bigger it will have the motor numbers on it. check it out and let us know.
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

Looks real close to this 68' model, but that's not for sure. could be a later model... Then again, the letters are separate from the front decal in the link. Yours are not. Huummm <br /><br /> web page
 

bubbakat

Captain
Joined
Oct 29, 2002
Messages
3,110
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

They changed the paint from white to blue some where in 71 or 72. The green was around in the fifties and early sixties<br /><br />But it looks like a 1971 that I have sitting in my garage pain and all.
 

Xeanie

Recruit
Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
4
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

Hello again,<br /><br />Thanks guys for the quick responce, this motor is making me crazy. I added more photos of the actual motorworks and the lid. http://mysite.verizon.net/vze6o9vh/ <br /><br />Bass Runner: the soft plug you are reffering to is where: inside the motor itself or on top of the motor? :confused: :eek: DUH!? I am assuming you must mean inside the motor itself?<br /><br />The softplug on the top has a manufacturers M on it as well as the letters RPH. Reffer to the new photo I added with a picture of softplug.<br /><br />Rick: I was guessing a 68' I found that same manual as well, thank you for your help!<br /><br />BubbaKat: I think you may be right, I was guessing early 70's at first but could not find the manual photos for 71 - 72 - 73. I thought it looked closer to a 68' because I did find the same photo manual that Ricky posted. Please take another look at the new photos, maybe we have the same motor? *keeping fingers crossed* I hope so!<br /><br />Sorry, this is all Greek to me, but I am learning!<br /><br />Thanks again in advance, and any other ideas you folks have will be greatly appreciated! <br /><br />I included photos of the boat I am working on... NOW, I am back to work on it, we hope to get it out on the lake to do some bass fishin' sometime this year!<br /><br />Betsy TheBowhuntress>>>>---------> :D
 

Paul Moir

Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2002
Messages
6,847
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

Well, quite clearly the block has been replaced, so the soft plug is no help.<br />They removed the double exhaust cover in 1971 I belive, so yours must be earlier than that. I found this 1972 Johnson catalog for you, you can clearly see the difference. Click here. (Did she drag that up the beach all by herself?) <br />To my eye, that looks like forest green, which was used only in 1968. I could be wrong though, and 'Dark Green' was used between '69 and '71.<br /><br />EDIT: <br />Did I ever miss the mark there. I think it depends on which part your looking at. That cowling (execept for the color) matches a '66 40hp. Could it have been repainted?
 

Xeanie

Recruit
Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
4
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

Thanks for the help. It does not appear to be repainted. It's chipped here and there and I can't even see any color variation. 'Super quiet' is still factory printed on the very bottom of the transom.<br /><br />It looks like the 66 model that's for sure. The catalog color looks off, but how old is that photo? *shrug* I suppose the woman who gave it to me is confused on the year. I'm still going to try to identify it better. Thanks again.<br /><br />If I order say one of the multi-year service catalogs would it make much difference?<br /><br />Thanks Again!<br /><br />Betsy :D
 

Paul Moir

Admiral
Joined
Nov 5, 2002
Messages
6,847
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

The colour you see there is correct for '66 - very light grey. What makes more sense then that the whole outboard is repainted is that the cowling was repainted to match the rest of the outboard. <br />After all, cowlings are replaced all the time with ones from other years and there's no tell-tale signs that the engine itself has ever been repainted. I should have thought of that earlier. If that's the case, we need to ignore the cowling.<br />Now I'm thinking that the colour is 'Tropic Green' (1967). Have a look:<br /><br />1967 - Tropic Green<br />1968 - Forest Green <br />1969-71 - Dark Green <br /><br />There's some subtle differences from one year to the next. There seems to be a piston ring design change in the 40hp in '69 for example. But for general maintanance the aftermarket manuals which cover many years are ok. I have the Seloc one for your outboard year range and it seems alright to me. I've also looked thorough the Clymers one, but it seemed worse. I noticed Iboats has stopped selling the Clymers ones too.<br />The OEM manual is technically superior, but although it's written for the professional mechanic it also covers many simple tasks. The big benifits of the aftermarket ones is that they try not to rely on special tools, and also cover items other than the outboard itself like it's remote controls.<br /><br />Good luck!
 

Xeanie

Recruit
Joined
Jun 25, 2004
Messages
4
Re: Help Ident this 40hp Johnson

Could be parted together for all we know. We are just going to purchase a multi-year catalog and hopefully that will cover it. Thanks!<br /><br />Betsy
 
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