Howdy Chuck, welcome aboard and congratulations on obtaining your first vintage, classic outboard motor! I’m sure it is only the first of many!
The JW is a good choice as they are simple and very easy to work on and maintain. With shop rates around here at two dollars a minute, learning how to work on and maintain an old motor is mandatory. There are many manuals available online and supplied here by asking to help you along. One manual which every Johnson owner should have is the 1964 Johnson Service Manual which covers all previous years and explains how to repair them, including the starters. If you PM me your email address, I’ll gladly send you a digital copy.
One thing you are going to discover quickly is the coils used in the magnetos on any of these older motor will be deteriorated and be cracked from age requiring replacement. Sprucing up the ignition system with new coils, points, plugs, and condensers will help it spark while a carb kit and impeller will help it run smoothly and keep cool. One thing which should be done before spending any money on a motor is to take a compression test with a reliable compression tester. The numbers obtained will give a good indication of the motors health.
Here’s what bad coils look like.
