Re: Is my 1985 Johnson 60hp worth fixing?
Be very very wary when a mechanic says it's not worth fixing but that they'll take it off your hands!!
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hello,
no doubt!!
there are many things u can do to an engine to 'tune up" its mechanical parts" without spending loads of $$. but you have to know what you are doing and you have to work meticulously clean. for example:
if you have an insert bearing engine that makes some rattle on start up due to loose rods, you can drop the pan, install new rod bearings and... shim them with brass sheet stock to take up crank wear; .003" i won't go into procedure, but over the years i have shimmed a number of connecting rod bearings, and gone another... "quiet" 50-75,000 miles!! [smile]
i have dropped in new rings into a 100,000 mile engine and "honed" the cylinders with gasoline and 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper... applied perpendicular to bore, and compression was restored. she ran for another 75,000 miles.
each cylinder hole was cleaned to squeaky, then i used laquer thinner so the bore where clean enuff to eat off, then "honed" them. this allows block to remain in chassis. and not have to pull it off trans or out. of course, a valve job, gasket set, timing chain or gears, etc required for the extra miles...
i would be willing to bet same procedures would let one do a backyard shadetree meck-N-eck... lap n hone job to any engine, including an outboard two stroke. if i was to use old rings,
, be sure to do one hole at a time. actually, not so scary if u consider it a 'mechanical decarb'. if i was to use the old rings, i would do a very light scuff to the bore. scotchbrite. but for me id do a light 600. very light. and be sure to use ring expanders. no doubt fingers will bend the ring. and it will never seal then. but if down that far, fresh rings may be warranted. standard bore - standard rings. once the rings are off and clean. u can hand fit to bore and ck gap, etc.
engines can run well with mechanical issues under certain circumstances. i have an GM LS6 454, built up to 650 hp in a roadster. it is still... a standard bore engine!!
but hole #8, i could plant tomatoes in the up n down grove there. in its hayday, a ring must have broke. i had dressed it, fit the rings, and put it all back together with some 'new parts'. that hole is down about 10 psi on a compression test. the engine just simply... screams! pulling hard to 7,000. i opetd to leave hole with groove because... a) car is so light. b) i wanted the bragging rights to say... that 1970 LS6 is still a standard bore! engine. [smile]
so if u decide to do it, u can very likely make some good imporvements to your air pump. of course, have to know what u r doing. in the old days, model T and A owners used to shim their poured babbit bearings with bacon rinds.
i have saved thousands of $$ on those applications where i chose to shim rather than pull, grind crank and rebore.
these thots are mostly just to share some of my experiences and comment on what can be done given the experience and desire. not suggested for any other reason here on iboats.
in any event, good luck.
lakester
