Re: Merc guy looking for advice on Johnson

[Anonymous]

Your 1963 has a number of improvements that earlier models lack:
Sturdier rods, wrist pins, gears, and the drive shaft is splined into the pinion gear.
In 1958 OMC switched to a smaller gearcase (one originally used on 5.5 and 7.5hp models, from one originally used on 15 and 18hp models) and some of those fixes are due to that change!

The carbs and magnetos on OMC twins of all sizes are very similar from the early 50’s thru the early 70’s, and parts are easily available. Basic maintenance doesn’t generally require any special tools.

Here are two pages with articles on working on them:
http://www.omc-boats.org/maxw.html
http://www.leeroysramblings.com/Outboar … icles.html