Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

[kennyk]

Just bought a used Johnson and the model is a oddball. I believe it is a mid 80but the model doesn't show up. I would think that it is missing a letter except for the fact I googled the model and one other person said they had this motor and it was a 1984. The dealer couldn't help me either. The model is a
J50BELCM. (Last letter is a M and not a N) Serial No. J5937222. If anyone finds out please let me know how they did? Thanks, Ken

 

[F_R]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

As you no doubt have already figured out, everything checks out except for the M. I'd say it was mis-stamped at the factory. A J50BELCN would be a 1982.
A J50BELCR would be a 1984. The serial number falls into the 1984 range also.

 

[rick_l]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

That is very intersting. I checked models from 1989 to 1980 and could not find that listed. Most of the models during those year had one more letter. fI haven't given up yet, it has to be listed somewhere.

 

[rick_l]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

Okay, I think it is a 1982 model. If falls within the range of serial numbers for that year.

"http://www.obparts.com/years/johnson80b.html"

 

[F_R]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

rick, do you have a list of serial numbers? (not model numbers). I have been "collecting" serial numbers for some time, that's how I established the '84 theory. It would be great if somebody could come up with an "official" list of serials.

 

[kennyk]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

Rick, A serial number list and not a model number list is really what I need since the BELC_ can be anywhere from a 80 to a 89 year. Thanks, Ken

 

[kennyk]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

FR, someone else had this model number that said his was a 84 so maybe they left off the "R" after the "c". I have seen model J50CRM listed before. The dealer told me they couldn't track back on the serial number cause it was too old.

 

[cmala]

Re: Need Help What year is my Johnson 50 hp

I have a Johnson 50 HP model number J50BELCM, S/N J5936973.

The guy I got it from thinks he purchased it new around 1983 but I've been trying to figure out, like the OP, how the model number syncs up with Johnson's code.

Craig

Like the OP said, it is very plainly an M as the last letter.