1989 Johnson 60 HP - Sold As Junk, But Is it?

[@AB-bg1or]

Brandon, thanks for your videos. They’ve helped me several times. I just got done rebuilding an 83 75hp Evinrude. Bored out, new pistons, rings, bearings and rebuilt the carbs. Never done anything like that before and it seems to be running well. Love these old 3 cylinders.

[@JimmyLee0757]

I got my Dad's old Bass Tracker, after he passed away. Dad bought it from a buddy of his who said he punched it out to a 70hp. All I know is that thing would FLY. It would get so fast that I didn't run it wide open. I wish I had kept the motor when I gave the boat to my brother. It would be on my pontoon right now. Thanks for these educational videos. I watch YT to learn, more than to be entertained and I get educated every time you post one..

[@unsaltedlife5998]

With more and more people moving into the 4 strokes there are so many good part motors out there to be had. I got 4 more over the winter given to me by people I know that just don’t want 2 strokes anymore. I will keep mine running for years to come.

[@jeremyaustin9103]

Hello from England. Thank you so much for these videos... taught me so much...miss these old omc strokers....4 strokes do not hold up nearly as well in the real world

[@boatlover2296]

If an old omc three banger is all there it’s always fixable

[@wernerfritsch6436]

I had the exact same motor J60TLCEA. Lots of tourqe and power. Sold it as a runner. These engines were sensitive to overheating due to the bridged exhaust port design. The port bridge grows inward when hot. The middle cylinder is the most sensitive. Your engine did not get the tell tale reroute update Evinrude called for in a certain service bulletin. Air pockets can be trapped in the block, so the tell tale hose has to rerouted from the bottom of the exhaust cover to the top of the block in order to vent out trapped air.

[@barrylusich3712]

I bought a 1989 Johnson 20hp that was supposedly a junk motor for $75. A new power pack and it runs like new!

[@waynegalvin4639]

I would bore the block and put Weisco racing pistons in it, that would increase hp . I did that to a 135 hp evinrude before and it made a huge difference.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I hear this a lot actually... I dont think the additional 30 thousands is going to much of a HP gain, and I doubt you would ever be able to feel a differance. I presinally think the 'additional HP' you are feeling is nothing more than having a healthy engine again.

[@waynegalvin4639]

@@BrandonsGarage you might be right but the weisco pistons have a totally different ring design from stock pistons. The dowel in the ring grove is not centred in the ring grove, it is offset and as a result the weisco rings don’t but together over the dowel they overlap under the offset dowel and there is a significant increase in compression. For some background the 135 that I had was a 1975 Silver Starflite. It was a really nice engine to have. That being said I enjoy your videos.

[@BrandonsGarage]

@@waynegalvin4639 Wellllll... maybe I'll get to a rebuild them.

[@jims4539]

The real question is when you are coming to Ohio to service my 1975 85HP Johnson. I understand if you don't do free house calls halfway across the country, so I guess I'll just watch and learn. Thanks for your videos.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Outboards are getting hard to find, I was thinking about a winter road trip where I drive around the country and buy as many as possible.

[@jims4539]

@@BrandonsGarage Bought a 1975 Glastron tri-hull V186 with a 85hp Johnson. Going to have the lower unit serviced before going out. Would like to do myself but want to be shown how first. My other question is how much else should I have done? Coils, ICM, wires... Although I don't want to spend a ton of money, if it's well spent I'm OK with doing it. Thoughts?

[@CoolWhipp-hy1qu]

Disassembled a lower on a merc 9.9 I got. Whole thing was shot. So much damage the housing was gouged. Ended up just replacing with another complete lower. But hard to find a used one at good pricing.

[@johnsparks007]

It would be sweet watching you rebuild one. Maybe you could save 1 for the winter.

[@austinjordan1930]

Isn’t that spare powerhead a fine spline crank vs the 4 spline crank currently on the motor?

[@AlexGarcia-ew2fv]

I had a 70jp omc..I honed the cylinders. Put 3 new pistons n rings...I ran to high hell for 7yrs..

[@jasonsanitz5623]

Where is your parts manual or breakdown? Thanks for the info!!!

[@danielrobert7181]

Your OMC 9.9/15 hp complete rebuild series is THE reference on those motors, it would be great if you would do the same on a 3 cylinder engine.Regards !

[@BrandonsGarage]

Oh I will, I just need to find a way to generate $1000. Hopefully I get a flood of people using that new $Thanks button.

[@jackmahogovv]

I understand why you swapped powerheads. It's just that I have a 1984 70 HP sitting here that I tore down years ago that I lost interest in that is waiting to get put back together. I thought your videos were going to give me motivation to get back at it. I was hoping it was going to be a full rebuild series like the 9.9 you did a while back which actually got me to rebuild my own 15 HP. Quite honestly its been so long I forget what went where on this 70. If you get bored and feel the need to tear one down and rebuild it I would be appreciative.

[@nonamemannameless1600]

Looks like it’s not worth it to me. Nice video thanks for including us

[@TheFrogfeeder]

Hey Brandon, it’s been a while since I had a outboard problem, due in part to your videos, so thankyou … I find myself in need of adding a lanyard kill switch to a mercury 25xd from the mid 80s. I haven’t taken the boat out yet, it’s a tiny little thing called an Aqua Lark, 1 seater. It looks like it wouldn’t be hard to fall off it, hence the need for a lanyard switch, tho it’s been going without one since the 80s…but better safe then sorry… anyways, the 25xd controls has a shrouded switch below the key that says run/off, which I assume is to override the key if ever needed, is that where I should replace to a lanyard switch, and any idea how/where I find the right switch? All the universal switches I find are round housing, the switch on the controls is square. Shoot I can’t even find the exact year of the motor… I’m not a big fan of mercurys, I’m pretty good with OMC tho…

[@rwboutdoors8867]

Brandon you probably have worked on more of these old Johnson/evinrude 2 smokers than anyone I know. All I’ve ever owned is older 2 strokes and have blown up a few of them. Every one that blew was while being run WOT, I don’t really baby my motors. 3/4 throttle to WOT and that’s about it. Is there any issue to running WOT most of the time in the older 2 strokes? What’s your recommendation?

[@rwboutdoors8867]

Most I know say it’s a 2 stroke with less moving parts and actually good to run em wot. I’m sure it’s within reason. More rpm gonna wear faster I’m sure but on the flip side if you run em hard I feel like they don’t carbon up as bad

[@dickjames5007]

My 1970 evinrude running like champ at wide open I think it’s a lean rich thang I run mine little rich but foul plugs but plugs are cheap carry wrench and socket few plugs have fun

[@ptg877]

Do you to know what the proper cylinder compression should be for this motor?

[@96_12v]

130psi and no more then 10% different in psi between cylinders

[@jimmybritt9537]

If you part it out I am interested in the tilt and trim 👍👍🇺🇸

[@icast.2388]

Good job 👏 Is it possible to put 40 hp power head on 60 hp leg? Thanks

[@BrandonsGarage]

Nopes, different mounting and drive shaft

[@icast.2388]

@@BrandonsGarage Thank you so much..

[@DougsMessyGarage]

Now I see why you were so quick to condemn the manual trim motor from the last video. I figured you had something like this in mind.

[@BrandonsGarage]

The real question is which engine came first?

[@mohamedouhaj3128]

Comment déposer la cuvette en deux parties pour accéder aux files électriques moteur Johnson 115cv

[@charlesronk2989]

Where do you get the rebuilt powerhead you said is cheaper.

[@skiffremo]

can you make this manual available?🇧🇷

[@irench]

I own an automotive shop and have for more than a few decades. I notice your source is a marine only. OMC being out of business would seem to me that there should be better resources for hard parts at the least. After all they didn't exactly cast their own pistons or have a forge in the first place. They like ever other manufacturer went to venders like king and others to have their spec parts produced. I also know just like aircraft anything marketed as marine is significantly more expensive. I know they aren't outboards but I've overhauled more than a few IO engines using suppliers other than marine with good financial benefit and long lasting results. I repair only my own outboards though as they are such a headache in many ways. Good to see your work. Perhaps you've discussed it before but why the dual testing beyond the obvious. Also with no resistance in the other holes due to no plug your compression reading will be slightly higher. Which is no big deal as long as you judge accordingly.

[@BrandonsGarage]

Pull the other plugs just so it's easier on the starter, thing gets warm quickly with the plugs in. I mean, you're only turning a couple hundred RPM anyway, at idle you're at 800. But you are correct, it skews the results. If you rope pull a 6 HP, you'll get 90 PSI out of it. If you hook up a drill, you get 130. Oil the cylinders - 150. Really, the numbers don't matter, just that it A) has compression, and B) numbers are close together. I believe that's why the numbers were never published. As far as marine vs. automotive, that's not always an option on outboard parts as there is no comparable auto version of the same part. Inboard engines sure. Now, some parts do interchange with snowmobiles, lawn mowers, and golf carts, but they are the same part/cost.

[@edgewatersbestguitarist1524]

"...but is it?" Here's a hint: If it says Johnson and Evinrude, it is.

[@Edyth_Hedd]

I couldn't believe the cost of those pistons. Wow.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I know!

[@210fishing6]

So where you located at

[@BrandonsGarage]

Arizona! You?

[@210fishing6]

@@BrandonsGarage IAM in San Antonio Texas I wish I get you to fix my Johnson 50 ho can get to start

[@thermos750]

Is there a part 2?

[@lska7853]

Are you selling your power head? I have a 1992 with no compression on number 2 cylinder.

[@BrandonsGarage]

I mean I could, but it needs to rebuilt as well.

[@lska7853]

@@BrandonsGarage I'll keep looking for a power head in my area, Thank and I enjoyed you video.

[@mikesampson5567]

Evenrude & Johnson motor is Best.

[@larrymcknight1933]

Unless you are a merc fan

[@mikesampson5567]

@@larrymcknight1933 no sir I'm not all my life been around Johnson and evenrude

[@larrymcknight1933]

@@mikesampson5567 that’s ok I was both a merc mechanic and dealer for 15yrs. But we also had an evenrude dealership

[@mikesampson5567]

@@larrymcknight1933 oh ok thanks

[@gillgetter3004]

I agree get a used power head if you want to fix it

[@dualdanman816]

You never told us the mph on that 90 HP Johnson on your bass boat ✋😜🤙🏌️

[@fishawk90]

When my power head overheated & were trying to fix it I saw rebuild powerheads on ebay over 2k. Even though it was nicely painted how does one know all the gasket & seals were replaced that comes with the rebuild kit as that would be a more time consuming & would prove my doubts that those rebuild powerheads are not a complete rebuild. More like a rebore with new pistons & that's it. Go figure it rebuild parts is costing $800 for a 70hp how is it possible to get a whole rebuild one for $500?

[@BrandonsGarage]

I said used powerheads, not rebuilt.

[@barthanes1]

I look forward to seeing that junk powerhead come off and a running one go on.

[@davekimbler2308]

Easier, faster and cheaper ! Some of my favorite words that I use in many things ! Lol. Still lots of good parts on that powerhead !

[@dsciarrino3663]

The best money can by

[@stevecooper8121]

That's more money than it cost me to rebuild my 351 Windsor wow boat motor parts are expensive.

[@rgboyte]

Wow !

[@herewegofans]

Easier to just put another one on. 100%

[@randymiller1604]

This problem was probably caused by running too high of a pitch prop

[@daviddaigrepont9485]

So it's junk?

[@demetresichinava5088]

👍👍👍👍

[@robertweitlauf4653]

hone it put new pistons and rings in it and send it.

[@mikecalvin1402]

Parts

[@davidgriffin433]

Says Evenrude...

[@jameslakes5019]

Big Johnson go big go home 🏡 60hp 2 stroke run like 75 hp 4 stroke heavy er slower 60 hp Johnson puts on plane faster

[@BC2249]

Let's go, Brandon.