Re: How good is this motor...1972 18hp
That engine had a long run, beginning in '57 and ending in the late 70s. And for good reason: it's a good running engine. The midsection and lower unit go back to the early 50s.<br />The only weak points are ignition, which is common to all 2-cylinder OMC outboards of that generation. Fortunately, what goes wrong with that is easy and inexpensive to fix.<br />The only other thing I can think of is they seem to be worse than others for clutch dog problems. That's a part inside the lower unit that will wear down quick if you ease the outboard into gear. If you always shift with authority, you'll probably never have a problem.<br />The late '60s and 70s 20hp and the 70s 25hp are based on the same block. There's a few ways they tricked the extra horsepower out of it.<br /><br />But of course, we're talking about a 30+ year old engine here. All that is subservient to the care it's received.<br /><br />Oh, and post your model number. There's no such thing as a '72 18hp Johnson, at least that I can find.
