1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

[Echo Island]

Greetings. My first post of many i hope.

My girlfriend who loves wooden boats bought a 1961 Grinnell with a 61 75 HP Seahorse. She thinks the engine is shot. I haven't seen it. It's up in Ontario.

Two questions:

Is this Engine worth a rebuild?

If not, are there any newer motors that would work with the current controls for the Seahorse.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Is this Engine worth a rebuild?

Find out how long the motor has been sitting.
You'd have to evaluate the motor before deciding. If it is seized up, it's probably not worth looking at.

If it isn't seized up, a compression test will show if the cylinders are in good shape. The readings should be within 10% of one another.

If it's an electric shift lower end, then drain the lower end and check the condition of the oil. If there is water in it, and the motor has been sitting around for a long time, then that could get expensive. No oil at all spells trouble. Electric shifts of that era can be problems.......and the pushbutton controls are fairly unique to those models.

Bottom line is you'll have to put some work into it to see if it's worth putting work and $$ into it.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Condition is everything. It can get expensive really fast. They are not cheap to run either.

The Electramatic control will work on electric shift V-4 motors through 1967. After that they were hydro-electric---different shift switch in a look-alike control. Johnson did not use the push button control, but one will work on it--or vice versa. Important thing is the difference between Electramatic and Hydro-electric. Using the wrong one can seriously damage the motor.

 

[splitshot]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

yeah i'm with them

 

[Echo Island]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Thanks, guys.

What would be a smart replacement choice in more recent engines?

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Where in Ontario is the boat?

A very common engine up here is the OMC's 40's from the 60's and 70's. Dunno if it'd be big enough to push the boat though if it's heavy. But the 40's are a dime a dozen up here if you wanted to re-power with a similar vintage. cheap, easy to work on and parts are easy to get. I have several of them in the shed.

And what makes her think the engine is shot? Have you done a compression check on it yet?

BTW, I don't see an electric shift listed for the '61 75hp. I see manual only. Am I missing something?

And the behemouth weighs between 230 and 244 lbs so be careful if removing it!

Oh, and welcome to the iBoats forum

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

1978 or newer 70hp would be lighter and have about the same power, burn less fuel. but you will need red plug control.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Quote: BTW, I don't see an electric shift listed for the '61 75hp. I see manual only. Am I missing something?

Yep, I missed that one. Thread title says Electramatic, then goes on to say 1961. Can't be both. That's why they created model numbers.

 

[Echo Island]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

My mistake. Actually, she said "electric". When I looked up the 61 Johnson, I thought they were Electramatic, but I guess it's not.

We are located up by Dorset, Ontario.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Ah, that's good it's not. Easier to work on and get parts.

BTW, that engine will burn about 7.5 gallons of fuel per hour at WOT, so it wont be cheap to run!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

I don't really know the old V4s, but I have been under the impression that they actually exceed the 10% of rated hp "rule" when it comes to WOT fuel burn. Part of the reason why would be that the engines bypass a lot of unburned fuel overboard.

Am I correct?

My point is basically that it might make sense for the OP's GF to put a newer engine on the boat, just for the sake of economy.

 

[Echo Island]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Sounds like a newer engine is the way to go. Does it make sense to stay with Johnson/Evinrude? Does it make it any easier on the wiring and gauges? How hard would it be to wire a 60 HP Etec as opposed to an older Johnson?

 

[Eficht]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Economy isn't everything, or these threads wouldn't exist. To me, there is value in an authentic restoration, much like things with wheels. Your call completely, but there are a lot of great people in this forum that have come up with ideas and strategies that I've never thought possible.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

a new etec should come with controls. and wiring harness, installation should be part of the package.

 

[Echo Island]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Anybody know a good Evinrude/Johnson mechanic up in the Dorset, Ontario area or thereabouts.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

Most will not touch that motor, 1. it's age breaking bolts etc. 2. electric shift, most now days most don't know how to work on them and the scarcity of parts. unfortunately they want to make their $ on the newer easy ones.

i'm in a city of almost 1,000,000, their is 1 guy here that will work on them, and he is retired. has a waiting list.

 

[Echo Island]

Re: 1961 Johnson 75 HP Electramatic Seahorse

I think we are going with a newer motor. Still need a good mechanic up there.