Is my motor obsolete?

[MushCreek]

I recently bought a 13' Boston Whaler project, and would like to get the motor going. It's a 1983 Johnson 35, and has very low hours. The boat simply sat (covered, thank goodness) for many years. Everything on the motor looks good, and it has good compression, but all of the rubber shock mounts are broken(?) No problem, except the upper front one is no longer available! All of the others are- just not that one. Considering that it fits a LOT of different models, over many years, I can't understand why it isn't. Anyone have a clue as to where to get one? I've thought about making one, but it won't be easy. I wonder if I should make a mold and start selling re-pops? Anyhow- does this mean that a perfectly good motor is now junk? Thanks for any advice, commiseration, or sympathy you can offer!

Jay

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

what is the part #? good motor to get back up and running. great on the whaler.

Salvage yards.
sea-way.com
outboard-parts.com
laingsoutboards.com
tcoutboard.com
fairwindsmarina.com
salvagemarine.com
marinepartsoutlet.com
Superior Marine (800-338-9281)

 

[Benny1963]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

what mounts do ya need got some 80s 35 stuff around including
real nice powerhead.and mid missing lower have been looking with no luck so if ya neeed somethin pm me
.by the way the whaler 13s are nice worth every penny you will spend i have a mackee

 

[MushCreek]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

OMC P/N is 0304800. It's used on a lot of different models. It frosts me that all of the other mounts are available. Let me know if you have something. Thanks!

Jay

 

[MushCreek]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

I git a list of places to call from AOMCI. If I strike out there, I'm going to make one. I found a urethane casting compound that should work, with a little plastic mold I can whip up. I don't want to put a used one in, for fear that it will fail prematurely, and set me back to square one. It's not the easiest thing to replace, either. If I can make a decent replacement, I'll sell them to recoup my investment. To be continued....

 

[harold105]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

Maybe a bit late for the OP but if someone else is looking for one I have good news.
I took a gamble and ordered part # 0331812 from a 1994 35HP model to see if I can make it fit and guess what, its the same bloody thing as my old '76 one that apparently is no longer available
This mount is used at least up to 2005 models and according to boat.net is used on heaps of other models.

http://www.boats.net/parts/detail/brp/B-0331812.html

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

Though Bombardier has discontinued this part, their internal Part Locator system shows a number of dealers around the country that still stock this part number. The very last number of each dealer line is the quantity they show on hand. The dealer phone number is the long number after the state.
StockPro Dealer Network Availability
This part is not available from Evinrude/Johnson, results from StockPro dealer locations are shown below

Distance Dealer Name Address City State Zip Phone Email Part # Qty Driving
181 miles DRY DOCK MARINA 6700 S COUNTY ROAD 560 E SELMA IN 473839601 (765) 286-4976 drydockmarina@aol.com 0304800 2
428 miles TENSEN SALES & SERVICE LLC 205 W. BABCOCK AVE RAYMOND MN 56282 (320) 967-4291 tensen@frontiernet.net 0304800 2
851 miles C H MARINE INC 4351 HIGHWAY 190 W LIVINGSTON TX 773518732 (936) 967-4924 chmarine@livingston.net 0304800 1
856 miles FAY'S BOAT YARD INC 71 VARNEY POINT RD GILFORD NH 032497639 (603) 293-8000 service@faysboatyard.com 0304800 1

 

[restornator]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

no, your motor is not obsolete.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

The good news is that there are tons of these motors around and you could probably find one in an outboard "boneyeard" somewhere. Check EBay also.

What I do wonder about, however, is why all the mounts are broken. I have mtors that are much older than yours with original mounts that are still fine. Any chance that someone who didn't know what he was doing took the motor apart at some point in time?



???

 

[harold105]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

The good news is that there are tons of these motors around and you could probably find one in an outboard "boneyeard" somewhere. Check EBay also.

Why fit old mounts when he get the new parts ?

What I do wonder about, however, is why all the mounts are broken. I have mtors that are much older than yours with original mounts that are still fine. Any chance that someone who didn't know what he was doing took the motor apart at some point in time?

Rubber mounts start deteriorate with the passing of time and after 30 or more years they will fall apart if subjected to stress like when you add a hydrofoil. Ideally you should change rubber mounts like your car tires, every 10 years even if they look alright.
I broke clean my front and lower mounts and half teared the side ones after going over a wave to fast and dropping about 8 feet on the cav plate and hydrofoil.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

quote: OMC P/N is 0304800. It's used on a lot of different models. It frosts me that all of the other mounts are available.

Your engine is 27 years old. Chances are if you try to by rubber/molded parts for a 27 year old car/truck/toaster/lawnmower they would not be available either. The other parts that are still available does not mean they are still being made. It simply means the existing supply is not being used up at the same rate the one you are looking for.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

While some dealors will stop carrying parts, others will for a long time more. Sea-way.com is a good source for parts on older outboards.

I wouldn't get discouraged on a motor as late as yours

 

[JB]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

There are also older dealers who have some parts (for 40 or so years) that are still on the shelf.

 

[harold105]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

quote: OMC P/N is 0304800. It's used on a lot of different models. It frosts me that all of the other mounts are available.

OMC P/N is 0304800 is still made but now they call it OMC P/N 0331812 and one of the last model used on was the 2005 JOHNSON 30HP J30RSOD model.

Your engine is 27 years old. Chances are if you try to by rubber/molded parts for a 27 year old car/truck/toaster/lawnmower they would not be available either. The other parts that are still available does not mean they are still being made. It simply means the existing supply is not being used up at the same rate the one you are looking for.

Maybe so but its an excellent motor and continued to be manufactured with only slight changes until recently. Couple of things I'd like to point out to anyone new to these models,

1) Evinrude=Johnson so don't restrict your search for parts to Evinrude only.
2) When they started measuring horsepower at the prop shaft in the 80s the old 35HP became 30HP so most parts on the late 70s and later models are interchangeable and identical with the early 2000s models even if sometimes the part number is different. (as in the case of P/N 0304800 = 0331812 )

 

[5150abf]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

Inmy opinion the 80s JohhnyRudes are the best engines made, they are good basic easy to work on and parts are readily available.

I have an 81 50 with the original power head and it still has 135 psi compression, if you take care of it it you will be giving it to your grand kids.

If it were me I would change all the fuel line, put in a new water pump and plugs and check your wires for wear, the sheath doesn't age well and cracks sometimes btu if your motor has as little use as you say that may not be a problem.

If you offered me a new 35 or a low hour 80s 35 I would take the old one, they just built them better back then.

 

[MushCreek]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

Holy old threads, Batman! I still haven't done anything with the 35; I've been running it with an old 18 hp tiller motor. I'll check out that new part number- thanks!

 

[reelnative]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

no that motor is obsolete and no good the epa will arrest you if you run it you need to send it post paid to my adress so I can dispose of it for you hahaha

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

Just a little info on Sea-Way. Based on a conversation that I had with them one day, my understanding is that they are an "official" NOS (New Old Stock) warehouse for OMC/BRP. In fact, they are the largest NOS warehouse for them. Further, when you look for a part on shop.evinrude.com and find that it is available, many times that is true, because its a part of Sea-Way's stock. Aparently, their inventory is included in the shop.evinrude.com information.

When I wrote my last post, I missed Harold's post about the 1994 part being the same. I'm glad to hear that, because I'm trying to help a friend resurrect his 1984 25hp Evinrude, which has the same problem. That being the case, I might see if the '94 35hp mount will work.

Since this part is NLA for many motors and seems to be constantly in demand, I surprised that none of the aftermarket companies seem to be offering it.



???

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

You're correct; I've ordered directly off of shop.evinrude.com and it's come directly from Sea-Way.

 

[MushCreek]

Re: Is my motor obsolete?

An update- I went to a local dealer to have a look at P/N 0331812, and it is NOT the same part. It's about 1/4" shorter. I already bought one of those last summer. It will go back together, and probably work, but the side mounts are not in the proper location, the stud being the same 1/4" back from where it should be. I tried it with a couple thick washers used as spacers, and it lines up pretty good now. I think that's what I'm going to go with. I'll Lock-Tite the nuts, since the square no longer engages the casting to keep things from turning, so if it loosens up a little, it will loosen up a lot (and fall apart). I was going to get more elaborate, and machine a custom aluminum washer with a square hole, and then leave a protruding tab to engage the casting, but it tightens up just fine, so I think I'll call it good.

The dealer was very helpful, and was able to give me a list of dealers who still have the old part number on the shelf. She said they can now access every dealer's inventory by computer to tell you where to find a part. According to what her computer said, there are about 5 of them left NOS in the country! I might order one just to have it, since I have about 8 vintage motors that all use the same one, going back to 1957.

Since I'm a mold maker, and work for a molder, it might be interesting to explore tooling up for a replacement. I wonder if OMC would come after me if I came out with an aftermarket version?