Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

[F_R]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Now, that's the hard question for me. I changed careers in 1978, so I don't know all the "gotchas" since then. I mentioned my 35 which is a 1984, but even that is 27 years old. I bought it new in the box, and haven't done a thing to it other than maintenance, and replaced the impeller a couple of time "just because". I never go in salt water, so it probably wouldn't be around any more, if I did.

EDIT: Oh yeah, it spun a prop hub last time I had it out. About 10 miles up the Suwanee/Santa Fe rivers. Stuff happens

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

I Have a bought new Evinrude 30 hp 1984 & a 9.9 1988 . Never had any mechanical problems. 1 igniton module gave up. The 9.9 runs all summer . I am retired. Starts with a 12" pull. Or a bump of the starter. It DOES HAVE a quirk. Cold startups can cause a momentary over heat buzzing for 5 to 15 seconds. Sometimes. Otherwise great engines.

Buy new if possible.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

You seem overly committed to this motor, although I understand all too well the "tar baby" syndrome--hard to get unstuck once you get in them. As you can see, you ID one problem, pay time and $ to fix it, only to lead to the next problem.

I also understand the fun and challenge of fixing stuff, and if that is your objective, keep going. If it's to save money, you probably aren't.

Someone said a couple days ago:
"Unless you'd rather wrench than ride, you'd be better off finding another motor than spending a few hours and part $$ on a 35 year old motor, worth $500 if running. Especially if it's a saltie."

 

[castires]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Well I admit, I like to tinker with things. And I also feel compelled to try and fix her before giving up.

I am waiting on some prices for replacement parts. Depending on that I will decide my final decision. I would like to take a stab at it. Worse case I lose some money, but it will definitely give me more insight and understanding of these engines, and who knows, maybe I'll bring her back to life. If not, then I'll be out some money and time spent, but will still probably enjoy tinkering with it the whole time.

 

[F_R]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Go for it. But be warned: It's addictive. Next thing, you'll be joining the Antique Outboard Club. (I've been a member for 6 years).

 

[cyclops2]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Castires

I love a person who does NOT lie to themselves !!
Enjoy the rebuild.

 

[castires]

So two questions.

1) Should I start a build thread or just keep adding to this one?

2) Is there a way to mount a temp guage to the motor to help prevent this in the future? Assuming she runs again.

 

[F_R]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Sure there is. You probably can get one here at iboats. But the reality is that you will be looking at that bikini instead of the gauge and it only takes less than a minute to fry a motor.

Also, those overheat horns that come with new motors are a joke. I've seen dozens of motors melt down before the horn ever went off....often the horn switch melted after the motor siezed, and never did go off.

 

[castires]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

haha, hopefully not, there aren't many of those where I go fishing.

I'm assuming I'll have to get the kind that attach to a bracket that touch the head, correct? I did or haven't seen any port where I could install one yet.

 

[F_R]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

To each his own. You probably are looking for fish then. Anyway, yes that is the kind you need. A 12V battery is required to run it.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Just how warped is that head (and where) if you lay a straight edge on it and sight it out?

If not too bad, you may have luck in having a square sheet of black wet/dry 220 or 320 sandpaper on a flat surface, spray it with mineral spirits, then rotate the head upon it in a figure 8 motion. I've done this many times with success.

 

[castires]

It doesn't appear to be warped too bad. I'll give that a shot.

Worse case I'll have the machine shop do it when I take them the block.

 

[Cheetah 210es]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Personally I'd price the parts and go from there, assuming the costs are reasonable go for it. If it runs like a bag of spanners after at least you learned something about motors.

 

[castires]

That's what I'm thinking too.

 

[castires]

Well it's torn down. I'm definitely going to need to get new pistons. So I'll be calling around on Monday to see what I can come up with.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Well it's torn down. I'm definitely going to need to get new pistons. So I'll be calling around on Monday to see what I can come up with.

This should be a good educational thread. Got any pics to share?

 

[castires]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Here are a few before I began tearing it apart. Figured they may come in handy when the assembly begins:

 

[castires]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

A few more:

 

[castires]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

Now some of the tear down:

 

[castires]

Re: Newbie Here, Need some engine help... Please... 77' Johnson 35hp

And a few more:

Top Piston Exhaust Side:

Top Piston Intake Side:

Bottom Piston Exhaust Side:

Bottom Piston Intake Side:

And the make shift workbench with everything laid out: