My 1978 Johnson 2HP motor

[Bonaventure]

I bought this engine a couple of years ago and used it last season for about 30 hours. It is not too good looking cosmetically. I was scared that it needed a lot of work, lower unit etc. I even approached my wife about a new Suzuki. This afternoon I removed the filler plug and sure enough, there was a lot of water in it. I removed the propeller and the front piece of the lower unit that holds the prop shaft. The gears are like new and there seemed to be some oil left right around the gear bearing area. Then I did a compression test. I have a screw in type compression gage.

So I went in and said to my wife, I am not going to buy a new motor. The compression read 120 pounds. Cold.

So I am going to rebuild the carburetor, water pump, lower unit, put in electronics ignition, new coil and all.

I would have been happy with 80 pounds of compression!
​

 

[ondarvr]

Those motors aren't worth much, and parts can add up quick, so if it needs many parts it can be much cheaper to buy a different motor.

 

[Bonaventure]

Here in Nova Scotia they go for $300 to $450 CDN in really good condition. I have a couple of hundred in the motor. Another hundred or so in parts should be OK

 

[Bonaventure]

Also, the motor runs really well.

 

[tomhath]

I bought almost the same motor this winter. Haven't had it out on a boat yet but it fires right up and runs great. Converting to electronic ignition is your call, mine has a nice strong spark with the points.

 

[Bonaventure]

I owned a 1982 version that I bought new. It gave me trouble with the points, I put an Atom unit in and it ran better at low speed. I have a unit for this motor so it should be worthwhile to try.

 

[Bonaventure]

Yesterday I bought seals for the lower unit and a new waterpump impeller. I'll be installing them in the near future.
​A couple of years ago I change the propeller. I was sure that the seals were alright, the gear oil came out clean. When I removed the prop this time, there was fishing line wrapped around the shaft. I expect that this is why the oil had water in it this time. Since I am doing the impeller, I may as well do the upper what seal as ell

 

[thumbnut]

It is nice to own something you know rather than buy something somebody wants to forget.

 

[Crosbyman]

imho... good little engines simple ignition to repair (no need for "electronics" just a good coil, clean points, condenser and a clean carb LU easy to maintain
​just to bad it is one cyl.... I really like the 3hp JW or the 4Hp late 60s early 70s (2 cyl)


​ with 120 lbs compression (if correct) sounds like a good buy . I have picked pickedseveral JW 3Hp for $50 each one at $20 (but uggly with great compression)

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/johnson_magneto.htm

the 2hp is much like the 3hp but works on one cyl....
http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...on 3 HP 1952-1967 Ignition System Tune-up.htm

 

[Bonaventure]

The type of fishing done here is a bit different. It can entail portaging. Any lakes close to a road are usually fished out. These 2 hp Johnson and Evinrude are popular due to their light weight. That is why they have a market here. Even the predecessor, the 1.5 is preferred because it is even lighter. There are few large rivers in the province. Lakes are generally small, glacier, often spring fed with small connector streams.

The small 2 cylinder model OMC outboards like the 3 Horse are less frequently found.

The new motor of preference seems to be the Suzuki 2.5 hp.

When I was at the dealer last week, I saw his ad for a 1986 Evinrude 2, he wanted $750 CDN. They sold new for $200 less than that. I expect it is in pristine condition.

 

[ondarvr]

I had a 1.5 and a 2hp and have a 3.3 Merc, now they don't sell for much down here, but with portage being required I can see why they're popular.

 

[interalian]

I paid $100 Canadian for one. Runs like a top. I keep it under the bow as a 'get me back home' motor. Beats the heck out of paddling should anything ever happen to the main motor.

 

[oldboat1]

50 yr. old memories of packing in a 2 1/2 or 3 hp Johnson on a fishing trip in Ontario. Speckled trout in the main lake, walleyes in the next lake, and big pike rumored to be in the next one. I can't call up any memories of big pike, but think the numbers made up for that.

Recalling we lashed canoes together and motored up the lake (Coubran L., around Marathon). I'm sure we thought it was a pretty old motor -- all of 20 yrs old, pretty much the same age we were. But it did the job going in and coming out.

Anyway, I get the value of light weight when portaging, and I wasn't even the one packing in the motor.

 

[Bonaventure]

Well, I have redone the lower unit, new seals and impeller. Painted everything with a spray can enamel while it was apart. Changed the screws and bolts to stainless steel (used anti-sieze to install). Hope to get it back on the engine on the weekend.

 

[Bonaventure]

Got it running this morning. Water is flowing OK, I can touch the head area after several minutes of running without burning myself. The old impeller was pretty well worn out. I changed all the rusty fasteners out for Stainless, except the head bolts. I think I will use Grade 8 bolts for this, next time I pull the head bolts. I am not going to do he carburetor until I need to. I am going to hold onto the kit that I bought until I need to change it out. Same goes for the electronic ignition, not going to change it until I need it done. I did change the spark