Confused on Evinrude 140

[Nitro1657]

Hi all,
I am new to the forum and looking for some clearafication on a 1977 Evinrude 140 hp motor that was on a 16' Nitro bass boat. Now many of you may have already said to yourself,"A 140 on a 16 foot boat, sounds a little big to me". Well you would be correct, when I bought it I had not idea that the boat was only rated for a 90 hp, the previous owner mounted the control unit over the spec decal (isn't that intresting). Now my problem is that I am trying to trade the motor for a 80 or 90 hp motor (the boat is rated for a 90) and I started looking for model and serial numbers, the numbers on the transome bracket reads : Model # E90TLCNB and serial # J0131977, so right off the top of my head I am thinking that this is the bracket for a 90 hp, correct? But I do have for sure a v4 motr and the cover says 140 on it. Is there another set of numbers under the cowling, I am sure if I order parts for the motor with the above numbers, I will be getting 90 hp parts. Do you suppose the transome will be able to handle the extra weight of the larger motor? Thanks for any help you all may have, John

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

That model number shows it a 1982 midsection and a 1977 powerhead would bolt to it.. Does the engine have the "potbelly" exhaust or flat back?

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

The cowlings on many of these year crossflows are interchangeable. Not unusual for an owner to replace the original with a different hp cowling. My guess is that you have the 1982 90 hp powerhead that Fastbullet Identified. Most of these 90-140 crossflows all weigh about the same. Most weigh in around 290 lbs. The bubble back (higher hp models) will weigh slightly more, but not much. (perhaps 15# more.)

 

[Nitro1657]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

Thanks fellas for the feed back, I am fairly mecanical inclined but not real familar with outboard motors, so I am not 100% sure on the potbelly part. Are you guys talking the exhaust area under the cowling or out on the lower unit? Just off the top of my head I am going to say it is flat because I have not seen any potbelly type exhaust manifold, I will check this evening. So from what you guys are telling me, it does not sound like wieght on the transome will be a issue, it is a good solid heavy boat. What is Fastbullet Identified? If this is a 90hp would it be a 4 cylinder? I was told (which does not mean it is a fact) by a watercraft officer that all 90hp were two cylinders? So it is possible that I already have a 90 hp motor with a 140 hood on it, which would be great, but he sold it to me as a 140, which does not make me mad, all I have to do is change the hood. Sounds like he took several motors and made one. Also while I am asking all thes questions, my compression is 110-115 across all 4 cylinders, good or bad? All this started due to some sticky floats in the carbs and I took them off to have them rebuilt. I am thinking at this point as long as the motor is good and solid and it does end up being a 140 and wieght is not a issue, and they do make 90hp in 4 cylinders, I will just remove the 140 off the hood and leave it like it is. If I get pulled over for inspection, when they read the model number it will look as a 90, unless I get a fella that knows motors like you guys and he picks up on the 4 vs 2 cylinder. Thanks you guys for your help, you are very much appreciated, I have found out more here in a day or two then I have in a month and going to different boat shops. John

 

[archcycle]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

I'm personally not aware of any 2 cylinder 90hp but to my limited knowledge there are a number of 3 cylinder 90s and Johnson/Evinrude does V4s for any 90 and 140 you might have. There is no '77 90, they go 85-115-140, so you can rule out '77 90 at least. I can't speak to powerheads bolting onto other setups but like Faztbullet said that model number on the transom bracket reads 1982 90hp, so check the welch plug on the back of the powerhead. It will have either a model number or a serial number stamped in it. If you're lucky it will have a model number which you can decode the year out of here: http://www.iboats.com/basics/serial_number_year.html

If it has a serial number (letter + a bunch of numbers) then the easiest thing to do is just call BRP America during regular business hours and they will look up the serial number for you. That way there's no speculation about what's bolted to your midsection. http://corp.brp.com/en-us/company/contact-us/north-america

edit: if it just has a serial number, and that number matches the transom plate, you're done

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

The model number on the plate attached to the port transom bracket (E90TLCNB) indicates that your engine is a 1982 90hp Evinrude.

If this holds true, the exhaust baffle plate (large plate covering the powerhead area between the two cylinder heads) would be a flat plate. If on the other hand the engine is a 140hp model, the plate will bulge out quite a bit as to appear pregnant. Which type plate do you have?

As per the above reply, on the powerhead, usually on the top port (left) portion of the powerhead near the port head gasket, you should see a core plug (looks like a quarter size freeze out plug) that may have the model and serial numbers on it. If so, what are those numbers?

 

[Nitro1657]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

Man you guys are the best I am printing this and heading to the garage now, I will let you know what the out come is. You know I have messed in mecanical things for all my life (54 years old) and a lot of that time has been on tractors and motorcycles, I joined in on a Goldwing forum some years ago, and the information and the folks on there have been just like you all, thank you so much. I plan on getting my profile up and going here pretty soon and hope to have a good long run on this boat with you all. Not sure just how much I can do with getting the boat out on my own due to some health problems, but you all have sure made it so much easier to get started in that direction. Your the best, I will be in touch

 

[jimmbo]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

Not to worry about the overpowering. The crank rated 140 never put out more tha 130hp at the crank on the best days. They could get away with calling it a 140 because it was within so many percent of the rated HP. Later when it became a proshaft rated engine it was putting out about 112hp. That said the 90hp with better low end torque was probably more stressful to the boat than the 140.
It is possibile to make the 90hp into a 140 by changing carbs, heads, reeds and adding the bubbleback along with the internals to the bubble back plus the 140 exhaust tuning tube.

FWIW
My first boat was a 15ft invader rated for 90. I bought it with a 140, never had any issues

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

The 85 (or 90) hp crossflow OMC's were always 4 cyl. engines. Torquey little things that love lots of gas. Your compression is solid according to your readings. Any boating official will usually disregard the cowling markings and will go right for the model/serial plate on the transom bracket. (yours says 90 hp.) Some of them may be aware of the additonal model serial plug on the top of the block-as a way to confirm the transom bracket model #. See picture:

 

[Nitro1657]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

OK fellas, after the info you all have given me I was in the garage this afternoon and found out the following, (1) I for sure have a pot belly exhaust baffle plate, (2)I found the welch plug that emdsapmgr has pictured aboved, was able to loosen the coil packs and rack to get the following numbers: 140743S and J0005297. Have not got to checking these numbers with the links that archcycle talked about earlier but I will do so. I am sure now that I have a 1982 90 hp mid section with what looks like a 140 hp power unit or motor on it, and if the last two numbers in J0005297 happens to be the year (1997), I am thinking I just may keep what I got. Seems like a solid motor, running just a little rich and I get a drop or two of gas from the intake when I shut it off, but I think I can work on that as well. I have already takin the 140 plates off the side of the cowling or hood and if most officials pay no attention the the cowling and go for the transome bracket serial/number plate, the only chance then would be if they made me pull the coil packs to see the welch plug. So all in all I am not as bad off as I first thought, been nice if the fella that sold it to me would have let me in on some of these matters, but I quess he is just not as nice of guys as you all are Thank you all very much !!!! John

 

[Nitro1657]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

The first set of numbers 140743 cofirm that it is a 1977 140hp, did not call on the second set of numbers as they do not match the serial number on the tansome, that is were I would have a problem, if some one were to check the two. Transome plate reads J0131977 and the welch plug reads J0005297.

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

A 77 140 is a real find. One of their hottest performing V4 engines. The only real point of confusion on yours is what ignition wiring harness the engine has on it. The two different year's engines used a different harness-depending on the power trim on the engine. If your engine has power trim, read on: The 77 engine harness had no provision for the power trim solenoid that controlled the 3-wire power trim motor. The trim solenoid box was mounted under the boat's spashwell. By 1982 the factory mounted the trim box just over the exhaust bubble at the rear of the engine inside the cowling and the trim motor changed to a 2- wire motor. Since your later midsection uses a 2-wire motor, someone must have modifed the ignition wiring to install the later model trim relay box inside the cowling. Other wiring harness differences are: the 77 used a single power pack and a coil mounting bracket, the 82 uses dual power packs and each coil mounts directly to the head.

 

[Nitro1657]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

A 77 140 is a real find. One of their hottest performing V4 engines. The only real point of confusion on yours is what ignition wiring harness the engine has on it. The two different year's engines used a different harness-depending on the power trim on the engine. If your engine has power trim, read on: The 77 engine harness had no provision for the power trim solenoid that controlled the 3-wire power trim motor. The trim solenoid box was mounted under the boat's spashwell. By 1982 the factory mounted the trim box just over the exhaust bubble at the rear of the engine inside the cowling and the trim motor changed to a 2- wire motor. Since your later midsection uses a 2-wire motor, someone must have modifed the ignition wiring to install the later model trim relay box inside the cowling. Other wiring harness differences are: the 77 used a single power pack and a coil mounting bracket, the 82 uses dual power packs and each coil mounts directly to the head.

Yes I know just what you are saying, this one has a coil for each cylinder mounted on a u shape bracket that sort of curves around the flywheel, I had to loosen this bracket to see the welch plug. The box for the trim motor is mounted just were you said, it is about the size of a pack cards or so. Well, it is good to know things are looking up even more, I can now see why this fella was going in the direction he was going with this motor. I am not so sure there are to many officials that will dig that deep to find out if that is a true 140 power unit, (specially if I am not doing anything stupid) like I said, I took off the 140 off the hood and wouldn't mind finding a pair of 90's that have the same styling to replace them (I will try to attach a pic). I wonder if I can have the title redone, it shows the motor as a 140 with a serial number and no model number. While I have such a welth or info here, I had the carbs rebuilt because the floats were sticking, when I put the back on it seems to be running a little rich, starts real well, but short of loads up a little, then when I shut it off I get a little fuel leak out of the carbs. Is there an adjustment I can do, I was told that the crbs would have to come back off and reset the floats? This sure ended up not being your standard Evinrude 140, and the best part is I have learned so much in just a few days from you all, thank you all so much, John

 

[archcycle]

Re: Confused on Evinrude 140

It's really unlikely that you'll get in trouble with the authorities that be for being overpowered. I'm running a 140 on a 16' too.. same deal, shop said it was a 90hp. A few Coast Guard and FWC have casually remarked that it's the largest 90hp they've ever seen, but that's been the extent of my experience Read your insurance paperwork for the real problem- anything that could be attributed to excess speed will not be covered if you've exceeded the hull's max HP rating. If you hit someone and hurt them they may end up suing You, not your insurance company. You don't want to mess with the titling. Intentionally mis-titling it sounds like felony territory. Since your your first name, serial numbers, and personal awareness of the problem on the internet it's probably best to leave it like you found it- legally and accurately titled by a person other than yourself who victimized you with this HP scam .