1969 Johnson reveler 155

[Just found this message (it was rejected as too large for the list,
due to an enclosed photo, which I've added to the web page), and then
the reject message got tossed into my "suspected spam" mailbox.]

Date: Fri, 11 Jul 2003 16:45:24 -0400
From: paige <windfallfarm@...>
To: omc-boats@...
Subject: 1969 Johnson reveler 155

Hi all,
I just joined the omc mailing list and I have a 1969 Johnson Reveler
155hp that I inherited two years ago from my grandfather who bought it
new in Wisconsin. The boat was stored in a boat house, suspended, for
the first three decades, more recently and before my acquiring the boat,
it was used, abused, serviced by multiple people, and improperly stored,
as well as spending the last two winters out in my freezing yard in
Maine. I had a mechanic replace the exhaust manifolds, elbows, heads,
head gasket, plugs, and wires after a most depressing blow out last year
when the freeze plugs popped out and the engine filled with oil/water
sludge that greatly resembled brain matter. The boat now starts and
runs great but we are having problems with the cooling system as the
overheat light comes on when we throttle up. I say we, but actually
mean that my husband Don has been bestowed the awesome task of fixing my
hole in the water that I call a boat. The poor old engine has an
automotive water pump (some relative from the past replaced that part
years ago), which I have read is not good. I have been told over and
over to replace the impeller and housing. We will start with replacing
the the impeller and housing, then check the water pump (now obsolete,
but can be found for $385.). We will first do some checks on the
electrical system to be sure the idiot light/sender/gauge sender are
functioning properly. The Seloc manual says that the cooling system
may have any of these problems: impeller, retarded ignition timing?,
blocked water intake screen or water pickup tube, exhaust
manifolds/elbows (replaced), and thermostat (replaced). There is a
steady stream from the water outlet at idle, with no overheat light, and
the light only goes on after we throttle up, so I am assuming there is
not enough water pressure with the impeller. After reading through the
Seloc manual I am overwhelmed with all of the possible problems that we
may encounter with my dinosaur of a boat. Any input is greatly
appreciated. I will do all that I can to get this boat running tip-top,
even if I die trying. When I hear the sweet purr of that engine I am
filled with nostalgia and sentimental fluff, and you can't buy that.

Paige Kuypers
Maine
Received on Saturday, 12 July 2003