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

[Monte NZ]

Thanks very much all of you for your replies……..much appreciated!……..you have certainly boosted my knowledge regarding 7.5hp models!!

Yesterday we went and had closer look at the motor and did a compression test. Top cylinder was 80psi and the bottom 70psi. Although the gauge is new, I can’t help wonder how accurate they are, even if brand new, but the fact that there was a difference of 10 psi between cylinders concerns me. There was spark on both cylinders which was a good sign. As there were time constraints regarding checking the motor any further, we didn’t get into draining and checking the gear box oil. The pressure fuel tank was missing, but I do have one with a 1957 Evinrude, but was considering converting to single line as my double line is perished and replacement line isn’t available here in NZ.

If I had time I would very much like to take it apart and restore to at least a reliable working motor, but unfortunately I’m heading for 79 and my wife is just out of hospital with a new hip, plus our daughter is currently having chemo after a breast cancer op. I was hoping that working on the motor from time to time would help take my mind off things a bit, but It looks to me to be requiring some major work and a lot of time to do the job properly, which wouldn’t be good at this stage, so I have decided to give it a miss.

However, all is not lost at this stage, as another member of our small group of AOMCI members here, could be interested and is going to check it out.

I think I will keep my eyes open for possibly a 1950s/1960s 3hp Evinrude/Johnson………will see what comes up.

Once again, thanks very much all of you for help!

Monte NZ