Johnson 1997-98: 4-cyc.- bad production year.

[recsupervisor]

I oversee a large recreationa area. The concessionaire has consistently said they have major problems (lower units bad, frozen and need power head, failure to start, etc.) with their johnson 4-cylce 15hp engines and want to replace with Mercury 6hp, 15hp, and 25hp. <br /><br />Were talking up to 20 new motors!!!<br /><br />Is it widely known that the Johnson 4-cyles produced in 1997-98 were of a bad production year?<br />If so, why and what are the problems with them?<br /><br />THANKS!!!

 

[JB]

Re: Johnson 1997-98: 4-cyc.- bad production year.

Howdy Recsupervisor.<br /><br />Your post is the first time I have heard bad things about the OMC-made small 4 strokes. Of course I have heard of many QC problems with all OMC engines of '99 and '00.<br /><br />My '96 Johnson 9.9 4 stroke has been flawless. As you know, only the carburetor and tuning differences distinguish between the 8, 9.9 and 15hp versions of these engines.<br /><br />The range of problems you are hearing about does not suggest design flaws to me. After 5 or 6 years I would expect any QC flaws to have surfaced and been corrected. How many hours have these engines been used? Are they serviced routinely or only when breakdowns or complaints occur? Who performs routine and preventive maintenance? <br /><br />Five or six years is an extraordinarily long life for concession and/or rental engines in my experience, but my experience has been mostly with smaller 2 stroke engines.<br /><br />We have many expert Johnson technicians here. Perhaps one or more of them can offer more insight.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[boatman71]

Re: Johnson 1997-98: 4-cyc.- bad production year.

my model#j15frec,98 15hp carb is giving me fits,will not idle after carb,fuel pump rebuilt,runs good mid throttle on.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Johnson 1997-98: 4-cyc.- bad production year.

Boatman if the motor runs good at higher speeds its probably still the carb. Check what was actually done to the carb and who did it. My guess is it was incomplete and just needs the idle circuits cleaned properly.