Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

[BoatingCop]

Well as some of you may have seen, I was looking for an older outboard engine just to play around with for my first rebuild. Today I had a guy call me and told me he had a '73 Johnson 40hp that he would give me for $50, so I said I'll be there! He says that he went through the carbs and cleaned the points to where it would get spark. He said shortly after if stopped getting spark possibly due to condensers. For $50 I didn't even cared if it was close to running!

Everything but the tiller handle looks to be there. (Serial# J3799944 Model# 40R-73D) This model has electric and pull start. All the wires are there but none seem to be marked. It looks to have a lot of oil that has leaked from the lower unit which I'm going to have to look into. I am going to get an OMC manual if there is still one to be had. I can't remember the web site to order the manual though.

I'm going to go ahead and re build the carbs again and take a look at the points once I get my manual in. I'm also putting in a new water pump. I can't wait to get started!! Does anyone know where I can get a tiller handle? Also will the standard Johnson fuel connecter connect to this fuel hook up? I'm also going to test compression tomorrow. Any tips on this engine are greatly appreciated! I'm also including pics. One of the pics show to be what I think is the water pick up. Can anyone confirm? I've only worked on the late 70's Johnsons. Also, I don't have anything to hang the motor from yet. Is there anything that someone has made pretty easily or maybe just a saw horse? Also pic #5, is this factory? Itt just looks to be hanging in the elements. Thanks
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[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

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[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

A little bit of an update already lol. Just ordered an OMC service manual from Outboardbooks.com. Can't wait until it gets here!

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Complete parts list list is on BRP Evinrude website.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Alright thanks.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

AAAAh! The perfect 40 HP. That is my favorite one. Last year of the universal magneto on the 40, two piece gearcase. Bulletproof. If you ever feel the need to get rid of it (and it's not blown up) I'll drive the 8 hour round trip for one of those.....even though I already have one.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

That makes me feel good about my find tx1961whaler!! I don't know much about magnetos. What makes this one good?

 

[78 mckee]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Looks like a great candidate for a resto. I'd start with a compression test to get an idea of the condition of the pistons/cylinders. The magneto is pretty simple and all of the parts are available, so I wouldn't expect any major obstacles. Keep us posted on the progress.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

That makes me feel good about my find tx1961whaler!! I don't know much about magnetos. What makes this one good?

That dual points/coil/condenser universal magneto is used on darn near every twin cylinder Johnnyrude from the 50's thru the 1970's. They are very reliable, cheap, easy to diagnose and fix, have no obsolete parts and probably won't for another century, and actually give you a warning that there is a problem. Each cylinder's ignition is independent from the other. They do not require a battery to operate. You can put in a whole new ignition system for less than 75 bucks.
Probably some other things that I forgot, but you get the picture. The weak point for real old motors are the coils. After about 30 or 40 years the outer case splits and they need to be replaced. You'll probably be dead before the replacement coil splits again.

Usually when I get an old twin and I don't know the maintenance history, I just replace the ignition (spark plugs, plug wires, coils, points, condensers), put a new water pump impeller in, clean and maybe rebuild the carb, clean the connections to the starter and solenoid (make sure the wiring insulation is good), change the gear oil and replace the drain washer gaskets with new ones (BIG HINT: do NOT take out the phillips head screw in the side of the gearcase thinking it's a drain plug. It's not....). I may spend a hundred bucks or so and a several hours doing this, but then I know I have a good baseline that I'm starting with.

If you're restoring yours, be careful with the bolts and don't remove them if you don't have to. Yours have some corrosion in the pictures and they do snap off easily. NEVER be tempted to use an EZ-Out extracter on these corroded in bolts. The EZ out is pretty well guaranteed to break off, and then you may be stuck with a ruined block.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

yea, that is a great restoration motor and for the price? WOW you stole it. You may not need to restore it. Just rekit the lower unit, wherever the leak may be and get 'er in the water.

 

[bonz_d]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Great find! Thought about one of those for a 16' Lund I've been keeping an eye on.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

So what does everyone use as a motor stand to hold/run these things? I do not have a boat to hang it from. Pics of what ever you use would be great. Thanks!!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Here's some good drawings:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=266570

 

[stevo10081984]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

im not sure that my post went through so here it is again.....check this stand out...i just built it....btw i like your new project, i will be finding a full blown rebuild soon...for now its just carbs, fuel lines, and paint.....http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X1Hy9SuABA8

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Here's some good drawings:
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=266570

Very nice. Thank you for posting. I'll try and build something like that for my engine.

Also, I was wondering where to get the point's and condensers from. Can I get them on iBoats? Does it come in a package and where are they located on the engine? Under the flywheel? I know I'll figure it out once the manual gets here but it always helps to be a step ahead especailly when you have someone that knows what thery're doing. Also will the wiring for the starter be in the manual? It's just three wires right now plus the two main pos and neg. How was the starter switch rigged up new from the factory, with a key, a push button?

Sorry for all the questions but my brain is running 100 mph right now with all these questions. Thanks for all the help so far!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

The points and coils and condenser are up under the flywheel.
All of the ignition parts, impeller, and carb kit are available at iboats.
THere are instructions for the points here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=294072
Lots more instructions here: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

So what does everyone use as a motor stand to hold/run these things? I do not have a boat to hang it from. Pics of what ever you use would be great. Thanks!!

I typically use a Dodge pickup truck. Has to be red though.

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

I typically use a Dodge pickup truck. Has to be red though.

Nice! I thought it worked well!

Well, my first order of business is to get the starter off and send it to be rebuilt. I tried using the pull rope to do a compression check, and it's really difficult to pull. It's hard to see how that could be the primary means of starting this thing. Anyways, the waiting game is killing me! I want to get to work on this thing but my manual hasn't even come in yet! At best, heres a list of parts I'm going to get coming. Water pump kit, plugs, wires, coils, points, condensers, Carb rebuild kit, and Lower unit lube. Am I missing anything?

Also does anyone know how the key switch was wired up from the factory? Thanks

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Well got a few things done today. I hooked up the battery today and th starter wasnt even strong enough to engage the bedix. All it did was click. So I got the starter off and I'm gonna take it to get it rebuilt tomorrow. Also does anyone know what size th nut for the flywheel is? Thanks! I'll be adding a few pics tomorrow

 

[BoatingCop]

Re: Resto/Rebuild 1973 Johnson 40hp!

Also, how would one keep the flywheel from turning as you're trying to take the flywheel nut off? Thanks