help which motor 78 2 HP or 50's 3 HP

[500sks]

I have a chance to buy a johnson 78 2 hp motor for my canoe or a 50's 3 hp johnson too. Which is a better motor.

 

[Scoop]

Re: help which motor 78 2 HP or 50's 3 HP

A lot of things go into the choice. Condition, compression, if used in salt water, price. From what I understand the 50s 3HP OMC is supposed to be one of the best motors ever. Bullet-proof. You will use more oil and produce more smoke with the 50's (24:1) vs 78 (50:1). Parts are still available for both for the most part. I have seen posts on the Antique Outboard Motor Club where someon asked, what would they recommend as a small fishing motor. There were a lot of people recommending the OMC 3HP. I can't find the posts which may have dropped off the end of their board due to age. Check out their site and board.<br /> http://www.aomci.org

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: help which motor 78 2 HP or 50's 3 HP

I agree with Scoop. If the older 3hp has been well maintained and is in overall good shape, there's no reason it can't be a good motor for years to come. Basic maintenance parts such as waterpump impeller, carb kits, magneto parts are all readily available, fairly cheaply. The 3hp is a MUCH smoother running motor (advantage of two cylinders over one) and doesn't weigh a whole lot more (only 32 lbs.). Both motors use the same ignition type (3hp has two of everything, 2hp has one) so that's a push. Both motors use the same basic carb design - another push. Again, if the 3hp is in really good shape, I'd go for that....<br />- Scott

 

[JB]

Re: help which motor 78 2 HP or 50's 3 HP

Make that three votes for the 3hp twin, 500SKS.<br /><br />I have had and used both and though the little 2hp is a good, reliable engine, the OMC 3hp is, as Scoop says, one of the really great outboards of all time.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[BillP]

Re: help which motor 78 2 HP or 50's 3 HP

Ditto on the 3hp from me too. It MAY be one of the longest running production engines of all time (approx 25yrs). Reliability is superb and parts easily found. Simple to work on and user friendly. The later 4hp was basically the same powerhead with increased rpms to make it a 4. <br /><br />The only good thing I can say about the 2 is lightweight. I consider it one of OMCs worst and never saw many (maybe one that I can remember)that held up under hard use without a lot of attention. It is however, the right size and power for a canoe. <br /><br />You will love that 3. I will add that I am still running a 53 version bought back in 76. I also owned an early 60s 3hp and mid 70s 4hp. Those two were tortured on sailboat dinks while cruising the Bahamas. Neither missed a beat and ran hard every day for years. The 2hp (colts?) never lasted in this environment.