Reputation of 1996 Johnson 225 Outboards?

[Wes Ruggles]

I seem to recall that some years in the late '90s were not so trouble free, but were the 1996
models OK. Also, were these knows as 'loopers'...and if so are loopers to be sought after?
I'm re-powering my 23' Potter Tsunami. Thanks...great Forum.

[thehermit]

The 1996 225 is a Looper. Its a closed deck finger ported block. The main change to this block was in 1993 when they added the 2 additional intake (finger) ports and closed the deck (water passage). They are basic 90 degree V6 motors. They are reliable but burn a TON of gas and oil.

[gofastsandman]

The carb`d motors were the ocean pro and ocean runners made thru `05.

The big trouble was in `97 or 98 with the direct injected or Ficht motors.

Those motors and Mr. Soros killed OMC. Get compression #s and buy gas.
Avoid e 10 at all cost.

[thehermit]

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

The big trouble was in `97 or 98 with the direct injected or Ficht motors.

Yea...stay away from Air cooled EMM's.

[3rdday]

YUP Sandy is spot on.
97-98 is when the financial trouble really started to impact the company and the quality - Enter the diabolical Mr. Soros= intentionally Distress a company or country, buy into it and resell. If I do recall 1993 was a great year for OMC.

Originally Posted by gofastsandman

The carb`d motors were the ocean pro and ocean runners made thru `05.

The big trouble was in `97 or 98 with the direct injected or Ficht motors.

Those motors and Mr. Soros killed OMC. Get compression #s and buy gas.
Avoid e 10 at all cost.

[Wes Ruggles]

Many Thanks Gentlemen...appreciated.

Seems like '96 (excepting for its thirst) will be in the clear.

Is there something to admire about the 'loopers'..like power to weight,
torque, or whatever?

Regards,

Wes

[saugeye]

I had a 96 115 hp Johnson on my previous boat. A crestliner 1750 fishhawk. The loopers are terrible on fuel consumption. My 23' tsunami with the 350 MPI uses less fuel per hour than that motor did. Also, They use the VRO oiler system, which can fail, then score the cylinders. I caught it when mine went out in the nick of time so I was lucky.

[Snookerd]

I just acquired a 1996 225 Johnson on my new 79 Sceptre. VRO pump is disconnected. I changed out the fuel pump a month ago. The research I have done is the following:
1 Be sure to use the right spark plugs. If you do not the power pack can be damaged
2 magnets under the flywheel can become loose inspect them and stator
3 below 4000 rpm, when dialed in correctly, the motor can get better than 2 mpg
4 a 15 or 17 pitch prop is your best choice to get 5800 rpm out of it. I have a 15x15

I am still working through mine with a shift cable / shift interrupter issue, but the motor flew even when it was out of tune! Low 40's is where it should be wide open. As said many times before.....that motor is the Chevy 350 of the boating world. Most mechanics can fix them without a computer read-out and 15k for a new motor buys alot of gas on the Johnson. Good luck.

[wattaway2]

I've got a200 96 ocean pro I'm planning on using on my 23 cc block is the same as the 225 anyone know what the difference is with the carbs

[wattaway2]

Don't think I'll lose much on the top end between a 225 verses the 200?