Reply To: Advice please re purchase of 1958 7.5hp Johnson

[Don]

Well, pulling the powerhead may indeed turn some folks “off”. But, I can honestly say that those powerheads usually come off easily (except if the screws are buggered/frozen from salt water). Trying to reinstall the gearcase on the later 6hp models can be very tricky, having to orient the roll pin along with water tube and shift connector….No way of knowing if you’ve done the job correctly once it is in place. Having to remove the powerhead makes it easy to inspect/service that lower seal assembly as well. OMC originally recommended 16:1 mixing, but lightened it up over the years due to oil improvements. Most here will agree that was a mistake on engineering’s part, perhaps the marketing department got in on the act, the same way that lead to the 100:1 disaster.
Let’s be clear, those older models with plain rod bearings should be mixed at 16:1, if you want to keep it from ventilating. The beauty of these old engines is that when in good shape and tuned correctly, they barely smoke at all (after initial start and warm up). All that being said, everyone is surely entitled to their opinions.
I will agree, that gearcase shock absorber was a case of “over engineering”, its failures far outweigh any benefits.
I don’t understand folks wanting to convert these engines to a fuel pump, provided you have a serviceable pressure tank. I suppose folks might want to be able to use just one style tank for all their engines, but then it would have to be mixed at 16:1 to run the older ones…