Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

[rsteaples]

I recently purchased an old Johnson outboard motor as a fix-er-up, and I'd like to identify it. I can tell where the ID tag used to be, but it's clear that it's been gone for many years. The person I bought it from claims it's a 90 HP, but he got it from someone else (who got it from someone else...) so I consider that info suspect. The motor was on a '67 model boat, and by the look of the transom, it's original, so I suspect the motor is a late '60 model. <br /><br />The cowling says it's an Electramatic Super Sea-Horse. The cowling itself is white, and the drive section is black (if that helps). I've got the motor torn down, and it's a 2-cycle V-4 with 3 7/16 D pistons with about a 2" stroke. I'd like to identify the motor's horsepower, model, and year if possible. I'm going to need a lot of parts to get it running again, and gaskets are hard to buy if you don't know what you're buying them for .<br /><br />Thanks in advance. If I can provide any other info please let me know. As I mentioned, the engine is completely torn down on my work bench, so everything is accessible. I've got detailed digital photos of the engine while it was still on the boat, so if that will help I'll build a web page and post them.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

Sound like you have a mid 60's Johnson 90 hp variant of the V-4 fat fifty that they can out with in the late 50's. Yours may also have the electro-solenoid shift in the LU. I bet the guys on the Johnson-Erude forum can narrow it down for you. Good motors, but the early ones were gas hogs...loved that fuel at WOT. Your 90 hp will probably get better mileage cause its a later, more refined version of the V-4.

 

[JB]

Re: Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

"The guys on the Johnson-Erude forum" are the same as the guys on this forum, tim. We actually allow that. What we don't allow is multiple postings.<br /><br />This thread is in the right place.<br /><br />Hi, Rob.<br /><br />Welcome to iboats. <br /><br />No need for you to build a website. Just post your pix to a host website, like www.myfishingpictures.com , then do a search here on how to put them in your post.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

They had a Johnson 90hp V4 back in 1964 and '65. It had 4 single barrel carburetors cast vertically in one aluminum housing, so it looked like a 4 barrel carb, each one stacked above the other.<br /><br />It had battery coil ignition with a belt driven distributor (dual points) hanging on the back. It also had the Electramatic electric shift bullet nosed gearcase.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

That 4 barrel carb was one single casting with 4 float chambers in the one casting and most had a kit on the side to allow gas to run overboard to lessen the chance of a fire, because the floats leaked all the time. If this is what you have get a manual it has alot of weird habits---Bob

 

[rsteaples]

Re: Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

Thanks, all, for the quick replies. Man, you guys are good!<br /><br />Like seahorse said, it has a belt driven distributor hanging off the back, but I don't know about the Electramatic electric shift bullet nosed gearcase. The gearcase, which I assume is "that thingy on the bottom with the propeller" (told you I was a newbie), uses a fully mechanical shift linkage. The carburator looks like a 2-bbl to me, since there are only two butterfly valves for air flow and two mixture adjustments on the front, but inside there are a set of leaf valves like I've never seen before set into 4 seperate vertical chambers. I guess I won't know for sure until I rebuild the carburator. <br /><br />Thanks for the push in the right direction!

 

[chuckz]

Re: Mystery Motor (Can Anyone ID?)

Those "leaf valves" are the reeds. This is a two stroke engine. The four passages are the intakes to the four cylinders. There are no intake and exhaust valves on a 2 stroker.