need help 88 johnson 175HP

[shelbydriver]

Hey great forum here! I just scored this boat with the 175HP Johnson. It appears the flywheel has some rust on the teeth anlong with the starter bendix cog. Can I put some greese or oil on them. It sat for 6 months and a cloud of rust dust blew off upon starting and the two cogs clashing starter on flywheel. Any other tips for this engine will be helpful. I plan to check compression, sparkplug change, prop renew, lower unit oil change, filter clean (fuel) <br />Tanks, wheaticat@aol.com P>S.

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

Shelby.... Pertaining to the flywheel, simply wire brush it clean, then paint it. Do not grease it of you'll have grease thrown all over the place as soon as you start the engine.

 

[ICEMAN]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

I have not seen a flywheel with grease on the starter teeth. I'm not sure what problem that might create. I would take a wire brush and clean the rust from the teeth and then paint it. They come from the factory painted. The meshing teeth make a clean spot on each tooth. The rust is probably surface rust from sitting around.

 

[Hooty]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

First thing I'd do is change the water pump. You probably know this but don't even try to run the engine dry. Either put muffs and a garden hose on it or put in the water.<br /><br />g'luck & c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[HotRude]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

I'd run some decarb thru the motor also.

 

[Solittle]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

I wouldn't sweat the cosmetic stuff. Get it running and follow through with what you have already planned.<br /><br />My motors run in salt water all the time. When I get back home for the day I fresh water flush, take the cowls off and liberaly spray WD-40 all over with a squeeze bottle to prevent rust and cut down on corrosion. I buy the WD-40 by the gallon.

 

[shelbydriver]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

Thanks for all the great info. How can I wash all the nasty stuff off the engine. I was going to spray with degreaser and then use low water pressure to clean it. And maybe some brake cleaner spray and then carb spray for the carbs. It is very dirty under the cowling and some animal was living under there maybe deficating leaving little presents for me. Would it be too much to use my 2400 psi pressure cleaner on it?<br />Tim <br />Orlando, Fl .

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

Shelby.... Pressure washing a powerhead is definitely not a good idea. Water would be bound to get through the carbs no matter how you try to prevent that, and the electric starter would surely be ruined. Many electrical componets could also be sent south with that method.<br /><br />Better to use a brush and mineral spirits, WD40 would be a good idea too. Brush that solution around where needed, then blow it off with air pressure (hopefully you've got an air compressor).<br /><br />The above is the method I've used for years. It takes awhile to get the job done, and it does get a little messy sometimes (Don't do it next to a white building). However it's worth the effort. I've had many a powerhead that looked like junk and this method, coupled with a wiping rag restored them to a good viewable condition.<br /><br />And yes, I do have a pressure washer, but it has its usefull limitations.

 

[shelbydriver]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

Ok Joey, thanks for the info. I blew it off with compressed air then hit it with some brake cleaner spray then gunk spray cleaner,then light garden hose. I sprayed down the carbs with omc carb spay after that. It seems like the paint may be peeling inside under the block the white part that the engine sits in. I'm sure the break cleaner spray didn't help me much there keeping the paint intack. Should I repaint the white part under the cowling near the edge where the lid seals up? It now looks nice and it still runs!! I started it up and warmed it up burning off the excess water. Tim

 

[JHOLE]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

I hate to go this direction, but. If applicable, make sure the oil injection is not disconnected or faulty, or disconnect it and know. I'm not trying to advocate either way , just saying, with a motor thats new to you its good to know what you have.

 

[shelbydriver]

Re: need help 88 johnson 175HP

the guy who had it before me disconnected the vro and was mixing the oil in the 60 gallon tank. <br />tanks