What did I buy? It doesn't have a tag anymore!

[Gas Giant]

I picked up an 85hp Johnson over the weekend. Its old, and dirty, but it fires right up and has excellent compression. It also came with the controls, a gas tank, a fish finder, a transom saver, and some other odds and ends, for an excellent price. I'm going to replace the Force 50 on my boat now, since that engine just isn't up to the task of pushing my boat effectively.

So, I'd like to order a service manual and probably replace the water pump impeller as a precaution, however I can't really do that until I know what year it is (or at least approximately what year it is). The tag with the serial number is gone; I can see where it used to be, but there isn't anything there now.

I figured I'd post some pictures and hopefully some Johnson experts can chime in. I'm guessing late 60's early 70's, but that's just it - its a guess.

Any info would be handy. Thanks!

 

[hidef]

Re: What did I buy? It doesn't have a tag anymore!

I think it is a 77 not sure though

 

[wilde1j]

Re: What did I buy? It doesn't have a tag anymore!

Model should be on a plate on the mounting bracket. If missing model will be stamped on a core plug on top aft part of block. The model will nail the year.

 

[iwombat]

Re: What did I buy? It doesn't have a tag anymore!

It's got the two power-packs so that puts it at '78 or later.


Check the core plug, that should tell it all.

 

[Gas Giant]

Re: What did I buy? It doesn't have a tag anymore!

I checked what I think was the core plug, and it had these numbers:

85ML78C
14957133

I'm assuming the 85 means 85HP, and the 78 means 1978....

 

[wilde1j]

Re: What did I buy? It doesn't have a tag anymore!

1978 85hp.