My Johnson is dripping

[wetboy86]

my 1996 johnson 40 mod# j40tlere is dripping gearoil from the prop shaft. I purchased seal kit 0433550 from a local shop but they did not have a shop manual for my motor. I will order one online but for now I have drained and removed all down to the prop shaft bearing housing.can anyone help me get this out myself with some tricks or tips for disasembly and getting it all back together right? the old lady is gonna kill me when she finds out I've been playing with my johnson and I cant stick it in this weekend. <br />Stan

 

[OBJ]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

WHOA! Stan....that's almost poofable!!!! Nothin' worse than an idle Johnson..... <br /><br />Stan, are we sure it's gear lube and not exhaust oil? Exhaust drippings are pretty much black and gooey. Have you checked the gear case for water intrusion?

 

[wetboy86]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

I just got this johnson about a month ago and the girl friend has been riding it pretty hard several times a week some times all day! when I first noticed the discharge I drained and refilled it with new stuff. The old oil was black but not milky. The next day there was a pile of goo under it with that destinct g/o smell. I drained it again and did not get the amount out that I put in before. so I decided to change seals. I found the diagram of it online bought the seal kit, tore it down to the bearing housing and realized there maybe some specail tooling involed. I am pretty sure I can get it out with a puller I have and some all thread but I thought I would ask someone who knows before taking a chance on destroying it. Thats pretty much where I am at least till the G/F finds out I played with the johnson.

 

[OBJ]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

LORD! To be young again!<br /><br />WEllllllll. To things at hand.....<br /><br />The pile of goo on the floor (I'll tell ya'....Stan I'm startin to crack up) from the Johnson that smelled like gas/oil was probably just that....exhaust oil. If you are losing oil from the gear case then there should be water in there after you run it for a while. If it were me, I think I would take it to a shop, someone you trust, and get a pressure and vaccum test done on the gear case. No kidding. You really havn't convinced me you got a problem yet.....'cept maybe with the johnson. Might save ya' a whole lotta' work.

 

[geekomatic]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

OK, I simply cannot resist this.<br />If your Johnson is idle, then it's OK.You might not think so right now, but trust me on this.I've seen the world a few times.There's nothing worse than a dripping Johnson, especially if it's black and gooey.<br />Stan,This is way too funny.I could elaborate on this quite a bit, but I would get banned from the board.I need these folks, so I'm just gonna shut up and go to sleep.

 

[OBJ]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

Good idea geek.....go to sleep. Me too. JB sees this he'll find where we both live and shoot us.

 

[wetboy86]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

when I said destinct g/o smell I meant gear oil. it's got a smell all it's own. also after I changed it 1st time it leaked even more overnight.thats how I got a pile. But I got to admit I am just a cadet, and I may be in over my head if I yank it out with no instuction. So I think when the girl friend falls asleep here I am going out there and put the johnson back like she left it. maybe she will never find out I played with it alone. If she see's it dripping though, there's going to be trouble.<br />I let you know how it goes. thanks ..........Stan

 

[Cricket Too]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

I can't tell if this is really about a motor or a Johnson!! LOL.

 

[OBJ]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

A good way to find out Stan, as I posted before, get a pressure & vaccum test done on the lower unit. If it's dripping that bad, it will be real obvious which seal is leaking. I don't think I'd put it back in the water until I found out....may save your lower unit.

 

[ob15]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

Stan,<br /><br />Did you use new palstic washers when you changed the gear oil? If not it may have leaked out of there & the drip could be unburnt fuel/oil.

 

[midsized johnson]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

I bought my used Johnson about a month ago. So far, I have asked guys to come check out my Johnson; told someone I barely knew that my Johnson's lower unit is leaking; asked a dealer how hard can I run my Johnson; told my mechanic buddy that I can't get my Johnson started; it goes on and on .

 

[willamettejeff]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

Not even sure you have a problem there Stan. That is of course if were talking about the outboard motor on you boat. Had a lot of unburned fuel/oil come out of my Johnson when I first ran it after having fogged it for the winter. It smelled and looked bad. Also, tilting your Johnson up (or is that down) will sometimes cause fuel/oil mix to come out the front and run down. You'ld swear that it was coming from you LU by where it collects on the cavitation plate and on the floor. If no water in the oil I just don't think you have a problem. If you must pursue it, I would suggest you not spend a dime on parts until you do what OBJ suggests and, BTW, I've read here before that the prop shaft seal can be replaced without pulling the LU all apart.

 

[wetboy86]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

OK guys, I put the johnson back the way she left it last night refilled it w/omc syn and used the new screws and seals from the seal kit I bought. I Went outside like nothing happened this morning and no leaking yet so we drug the johnson down to the waterway and stuck it the water.It felt good! so we rode it all day and even flogged it some, and she dosen't suspect a thing! so I guess the test will be if the johnson drips over night. I might have to tell her, but for now lets keep this on the down low. Thanks for all the concern you guys showed. I can tell you guys have all played with your johnsons over the years. I will follow up with a drip report later.........Stan

 

[wetboy86]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

Well I think it's ok now. The first time I changed the oil I put some cheap generic stuff in it and it seemed to leak faster. The last time I used the omc syn gear oil and new screws with seals and it looks like you guys were right. There is a little dripping after use, but it does not smell like gear oil but rather gas and oil. I am happy with that. By the way I think the girl friend is leaving. Oh well, I am sure I can find another one who likes my Johnson.<br />Or at least some peace while I fish......Stan

 

[Wimperdink]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

Can we frame this post? oh man thats funny stuff. c

 

[mollywalk]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

I have the same problem.<br />Every day I look at it in the garage and it has oil or something dripping..<br />I guess you can disconnect the gas line until your ready to use it again and it will stop. Mine did as the gas line bulb is adding presure the carb's floats and dumping out. At lease that's what i found.<br />The motor run great.Lower unit fliud is green and sometime a darker color depending on the brand.<br /><br />try that.

 

[wetboy86]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

Well I know this is an old post but I am back with an update! Drip Problem solved, the girlfriend split and took my dripping johnson with her so it's her problem now. It's been pretty tuff without my johnson but it was worth it just to get some peace. Maybe she will learn how to treat a johnson now and not be so ruff with it. I got a replacement today! It's says evinrude on the top but it feels and looks like the old johnson to me! Going to play with it some and see if it can be trusted, but so far it looks pretty good.....SW

 

[byacey]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

I guess it's too late to warn you about the girlfriend finding out about you getting your Johnson Vacuum tested without her knowledge.

 

[Ralphy]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

You guy's ain't right

 

[surlyjoe]

Re: My Johnson is dripping

thats awesome...