1983 johnson 15 hp, the good, the bad the not so ugly. almos

i picked up this nice little johnson


the low down, dad bought the motor new / serviced since new at the same place. goes out hunting last year motor makes it up river two miles, then dies. old man has to row back (over 86 years young) this was after the shop did a water pump and service.


here is what i found.


water pump was missing the shaft seal. the rubber grommet that fits over the water tube was split / folded over.


thermostat was replaced, and nitwit doesnt install the seal, or retainer for the stat so it gets bent.


throttle cam is missing a little piece so it doesnt quite idle right.


the motor overheated so bad the darn coils melted.


the good, i think i can save her. the cylinder walls still have the cross hatch marks. lower unit is so tight that when the sun hit the lower the drive shaft pushed out. the head is pulled and glass sanded. carb is nice and clean now. new fuel pump. used coils and cdi (i have a few). now all i have to do is wait for the parts.


some picts.
missing shaft seal
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00215_zpsf41047d8.jpg


melted coils
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00216_zps5343e4a6.jpg

this is what happens when a simple t stat isnt installed correctly
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00229_zps1d5966e8.jpg

overheated head
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00233_zpsd25bc78d.jpg

glassed sanded head
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00235_zpse43f5804.jpg

color difference
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00236_zps777c5653.jpg

the good. nice cross hatch marks on the walls, looks like the motor was never run too hard
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00226_zps64f2d382.jpg

overall nice motor.
https://i374.photobucket.com/albums/oo184/dkonrai/CAM00228_zps9691cfde.jpg

just wanted to share. cant always trust even the best of shops. careless mistakes that almost toasted a motor. i still need to put her together to see if its salvavgable. it had 100 psi/100 psi before i started the teardown. so im hoping that the motor will purr when she is back together.


dino

what did the place that serviced the engine have to say?

i dont know. i bought it as a non running parts motor. when i looked at the motor to buy, i only tested for spark and compression. this is what i found when i took the motor apart at home. i did send the pictures to the previous owner.
just wanted to share what some shops are doing out there.
dino

Okay....so you bought a non-running parts motor. Did you expect perfection?
Since this may be your first or early venture into doing this you can expect to go on several "witch hunts" when you buy used engines.
I call it un-doing the sins from the previous owners. Get used to it!
This is why I preach proper service procedures and not shade tree service in this forum.
Good example. On this particular family of engines (9.9-15hp Jo/Ev.) used in salt water you can pretty much expect to replace the water tube grommets under the powerhead........given fact.
A reply after I stated this fact stated that all you have to do is run a coat hanger up the tube instead. Insert sound of crickets...
That.........is what you bought and are now dealing with! The really cool thing is that when you are done it will be a great little engine.

pappy,
this isnt the first motor i have picked up. this is a part time hobby, picking up old johnnyrudes and fixing them. the intent was to fix/sell off the motor (or not, we shall see).
as for shadetree mechanics, the work done on this motor was from a reputable shop in northern california. i also do part time services for the local duck hunters. it does amaze me to find that local shops, dont always do what the customer needs. most of the time, the shops wont really take care of these little motors. guess there is more profits on larger motors.
too bad really.
dino

Good for you! Your comment about small vs larger engines is true.
Doesn't take a lot more time to do a larger engine and the margin of profit is a Hell of a lot better.
Have just about quit buying up the little ones.
I just enjoy putting these old mistreated engines back into useful service. Good luck on your engine.

pappy,
i have this hoarder in me. at one time i had 15 johnnyrudes in the garage. im down to 8. i have a 1945, 5hp johnson that i need to tend to, a few 50's, this 83, and a four stroke 1997 15 hp longshaft. i also have this huge pile of seized parts motors.
i love the old johnnyrudes. the 50's motors will start by hand on the flywheel. oh and no plastic.
dino

Sounds like you are a candidate for the Antique Outboard Motor Club. www.aomci.org.
Go check 'em out and look up your local chapter. I am a member in Florida and most of the meets are great.
We run anything from the old rowboat motors up through the vintage engines. Usually lots to see, a wealth of info at your fingertips, and best of all......putting miles and hours running them. We do some quite long trips with them.
I have a couple videos of a meet on the Suwanee River in YouTube and another running a "Speeditwin on the Suwanee" on my 15' 6" Gheenoe. Take a look and let me know if you like them. Also have "Allisons on the Suwanee" as well. Believe its under Pappyfromthekeys as a user name.

pappy,
im all alone out here in the west. no aomci members, or meets. i looked it up and the closest meets are in washington state. about two states above me.
there is a wealth of info and some great guys on that board. i have purchased some tools and nla gaskets and impellers from the members. that f_r sells some incredible tools
dino