Johnson 15 hp what year

[sheinila]

I managed to save an old Johnson 15 hp from being dumped into a scrap yard (saved from the scrap yard actually). According to the previous owner the only broken things are that it does not keep oil in the gear case and some clicking sound in cruise. I opened the gear case and indeed, half of a pint of water flooded out before the oil started oozing. The gear switch lever were a bit twisted which was the cause for making the clicking sound. New gaskets and small adjustments to the lever should do.<br /><br />However, as I was thrilled to have a new toy I was wondering the year it was made. I tried to look up the year of manufacture from several web pages listed in the FAQ section but without results. Could someone help me?<br /><br />Model no. WH-10S (or WH-IOS)<br />Serial no. J2451157<br /><br />There are models like WH-11 ...WH-14 but this clearly states WH-10S. It is a 15 hp Work Horse according to the engine cover. Supposedly from the 60's.<br /><br />Thanks in advance.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

I think that serial number makes it about a '62 model?

 

[JB]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

Howdy, Sam.<br /><br />Welcome to iboats. <br /><br />I think I remember the WH series, called the "Work Horse". They were commercial versions of the FD series 18hp. If my memory is wrong it wouldn't be the first time. <br /><br />It is important to extablish whether your engine is pre-1964 or later. If pre-'64 it needs a 24:1 fuel mix. If '64 or later it uses 50:1.<br /><br />Since the WH-11 is a 1965 model, I think that your WH-10 is a 1964, a very small production run that didn't get into Modelguide's database.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

I was going by the serial number JB. According to The Old Outboard Book Johnson serials went up to 2,249,094 in 1961, in that year they made 143,436 motors. If they made a similar number in '62 that would almost certainly make his a '63, but they'd only need to have made an extra 50,000 for his to be a '62. I don't know how reliable those serial numbers are for dating motors?

 

[JB]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

Your logic makes sense, PH. <br /><br />I was going on the fact that the WH-11 is a '65 model, but there have been a few times they didn't change model numbers every year.<br /><br />Since the WH were based on the FD series, wouldn't they change model numbers on the WH when they changed on the FD? The FDs changed model numbers every year from 1956 to end of the series.<br /><br />Either logic is possible. I think we should recommend to Sam that he use a 24:1 fuel mix based on the possibility that it is a pre-'64 model.

 

[petrolhead]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

I think you're right, whichever way you look at it it almost certainly has to be pre-'64, the model number and serial both seem to confirm that. If they conflicted there might be some doubt, but they don't.

 

[sheinila]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

Thanks guys!<br /><br />I already own a '62 Evinrude 5.5 hp and this Johnson is a lovely piece to my 'collection'. Seems that this enigne might even be very rare.<br /><br />Since the engine cover is a bit cumbersome I thought the motor was from the late 60's. It has the lower parts from the engine cover below very similar to the '62 Evinrude though. <br /><br />Thanks also for the fuel mix ratio! It certainly is affordable information.<br /><br />Sam

 

[sheinila]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

I decided to post something related to this WH-10S. Just few days ago I purchased a new boat in which I installed my always reliable Yamaha 20 hp. Now that the old boat is serving as spare the 15 hp Johnson WH-10S was installed in it. The engine seems to run a bit poorly. At idle the engine kicks back occasionally or leaves a stroke between, like coughing. Also, the sound of the engine at full throttle is more like a diesel engine than an outboard.

I was wondering could anyone have any repair manual etc. of the Johnsons / Evinrude of that era? I suppose it is a pre 1964 engine.

 

[sheinila]

Re: Johnson 15 hp what year

I found a page full of old outboard sales brouchures in http://community.webshots.com/user/LIQUIDNIRVANA2

There are two different sales brouchures for Johnson 1965: for UK and USA. In the UK brouchure there exists this 15 hp Work horse whereas in USA brouchure there is only an 18 hp Sea horse.

So my 15 hp work horse could be a 1965 model (or 1964) and supposedly marketed outside USA.

Any documents available for this engine?

Here's few pictures of the Work Horse