I am very frustrated with outboard mechanics right now

Ok,

I purchased a 1974 50hp Johnson which I thought was going to be a GREAT addition for me and my family to have hours of fun pushing our family boat on the water!

I have no idea why they are soooo expensive in the begining but they sure depreciate just like anything else in the automotive industry and that is plummiting prices.

So I dont like buying brand new. It is not that I cant afford a new motor because I could. But what happened to living within our means and saving money instead of buying things at outrageoud prices!

The motor has some issues that I am trying to resolve. When I started to investigate this is what I found.

Water spitting out from the spark plugs when I was checking the compression. The compression is 153 and 154. After purchasing some of the needed stuff such as the water jacket gasket, head gasket. I tore down the water jacket plate to find the thermostat was in behond bad shape not to mention stuck open. The high temperature water valve was melted to the spring so that needed to be replaced as well.

Well there had to be a reason why it overheated and caused the head gasket to blow. so I dropped the lower unit to check out the water pump for replacement and lord behold the impellar was missing half of its blades and the other blades had some chunks taken out of it.

So I am explaining this to the parts guy at the marine store and he tells me a different story.

He tells me my head gasket did not blow sense the pressure in the cylinders were at normal range. He then tells me he thinks it is the exhaust jacket gasket or even the inner water jacket plate which is not servicable anymore, they dont make the parts anymore. Then he proceeds to give me an earful how these motors are out dated, ancient thats the word, cant get parts for them, always breaking down and no good. Pretty much making me feel like jargain. I told him that I did not want to pay $4000 + for a motor when my kids dont care and just want to be out on the water.

So what gives, am I putting money into a pile of sinker weight and making some horriable choices here? Please help

IF you could afford it I would have gone with the new motor.
I know guys will go the other way but i would go new
a 50hp is not as common as a 9.9 or 15 so parts may be hard to find.
I always hear guys talk that their boat has 2 speeds full throttle and sitting on the trailer.
that size motor would have come new on a pleasure craft that was most likely not maintained.
Now if you were looking at a 9.9 to 15 hp motor i would not hesitate looking at a used motor.

Up here by me we have a outboard shop that has alot of old motor parts.They are resonable also.
Newest motor I own is a 1979 & the oldest is a 1956 & have no problem getting parts.

My oldest is a 1936, and I know of a place that has parts on the shelf for it. Heck, I sometimes have more trouble finding parts for my 1988 than I do the '70s model motors. You need a different dealer. I do recommend, however, going to shop2.evinrude.com, and write down the Johnson part number. If you come in with a part number, where all they have to do is plug it into the computer to see if they have it, or click something twice to have it ordered and in on the next truck, most have absolutely no problem selling you parts for an older motor. If they have to hunt through parts lists and superseded part numbers, just to sell you an 11 dollar gasket that they will make just a couple bucks on, they are less likely to want to find it.

Any good authorized Jo/Ev dealer should be able to get every single part you are in need of. Those are common service parts and are usually available. If you don't have any satisfaction with the local guy then go here. https://www.laingsoutboards.com/
They are excellent to deal with and will have what you need without an argument!

WISHBONE said:

Ok,
So what gives, am I putting money into a pile of sinker weight and making some horrible choices here? Please help

Click to expand...

If your outboard is in good shape besides the gaskets then it would be as reliable as a new motor. The compression is excellent.
Take it elsewhere.

You guy's are so awesome you have no idea!!!!

Tonight I took the exhaust water jacket housing and the inner housing off tonight to see if the parts guy was correct. He stated he is almost certain there was a hole in the inner plate that was allowing water into the cylinders. Well there are no holes NONE which is a great thing. IAfter all my yeas of mechanics I was sure the water was coming from the head gasket and from what I can see this at this poit tat is definately the case. So I cleaned up all of the exhaust parts and will take them with me tomorrow when I go pick up the water pump kit with new bolts because two of them broke off. I will also order a couple more gaskets for the exhaust side and the center exhaust rectanguler tube.

What is really fnny is I have the head water jacket plate off waiting for the spring valve kit. I just hand threaded the spark plugs into the motor and the exhaust side is completly open and the engine has great compression with me just turning the startor plate on top. I cant wait to put everyting back together and start this new motor up. We are going to get her to sing.

I will keep everybody updated. :mrgreen:

Thanks