15hp Johnson year/model help

[Busbey]

picking this up tonight for $300 about an hour away. currently i have a 74ish Montgomery Ward 6hp and it isnt quite cutting it. any info or advise on this motor is greatly appreciated.

if my memory serves me correctly, my current boat that was my dads while i was very young, he had a Johnson 15hp on it and would get up and go!

want to make sure this is something i should buy though. it looks to be a long shaft, although i wouldnt know the difference. just that short shafts, well they look shorter and much more stubby.

 

[narwhals]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

looks good from the outside, i would make sure you have spark and compression before parting with any cash. easiest way to see if it will run is prime the plugs with a little 2stroke mix and see if it pops. if it does then the other stuff is pretty simple.

 

[Busbey]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

Would it be a bad thing to crank it for 5-10 seconds in the bed of my truck or something? I know I really shouldn't but won't hurt anything will it?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

if yu are buying a new to you motor...it is wise to JUST rerplace the water pump no matter what...in that case, crank all you want without water, to check compression and spark....just dont run the motor with out water.

id say spark and compression is slightly more important than year......my 1990 15 hp johnson looks a lot like yours...

bob

 

[Busbey]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

how much are we talking for this water pump and what do i gain by replacing it?

 

[bob johnson]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

kit is about $30-$50 depending on where you buy it...you can get kits with just seals o-rings and the impeller, and no housing....for much cheaper.


they say dont run the motor without coolant, because it wears on the edges of the impeller and might hurt your water pumping capacity!!

but you are trying to check out a motor , to decide to buy it or not... you got to figure others are cranking it over to check it out too....and you need to , if you want to know the compression and if it is giving good spark...sooooooo, just a good idea to replace the water pump!!!


bob

 

[Busbey]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

thanks for the response. i am actually just going to go to this guys house after work, save all the hassle of damaging it (or not) and do it right at his house on a saw horse and bucket.

also, i feel confident that i am the first to see this since it was only posted on Craigslist yesterday and i called first thing this morning. he told others who have called (if they really called or not) that it is sold because i assured him i would be buying it tonight if it starts.

i will post back tomorrow or maybe tonight with the findings.

 

[Busbey]

Re: 15hp Johnson year/model help

here is an updated topic if interested...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=489780&p=3309455#post3309455