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  1. #1
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    Exclamation Johnson B-1 Racing Outboard? What is it?

    An interesting Ebay auction for this Johnson race outboard that I've never seen before - does anybody here have more information on this?

    Click image for larger version. 

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  2. #2
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    It's from the 25 (cu in) SS class.

    An OMC powerhead on a Merc mid/gear case.

    In the '70's Merc came out w/a cool new race motor that was the basis for that class.
    I was racing when they came out but couldn't afford one.

    Many of my friends bought and raced them. They had chrome bores though and were expensive to fix when one popped.

    One yr while testing for our Nationals a team popped theirs.
    W/no time to fix their Merc, they robbed the powerhead of the 25 OMC on their dads fishing boat, made an adaptor plate and bolted it to the Merc mid.

    They took it to the Nats and smoked all the Mercs.
    The next yr all the winners were OMCs.

    They soon changed the rules and made them illegal in Stock 25SS but were and are still legal in Modified 25SS.

    Always wanted to have one but never did.
    I'd rather be competitive w/junk I built in my garage than win w/stuff I bought.


    I refuse to allow common sense to interfere w/my boat buying decisions.


    Checkmate 16' 140 Johnson
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    Hydrostream 18' V-King w/Frankenrude II

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  4. #3
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  6. #4
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    What was great about those early/mid 70's **** boxes was when someone would pound the flywheel nut down with an impact, the flywheel would explode at rpm, blow the starter off and fill he operator and anyone near with shrapnel.

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  8. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by Instigator View Post
    It's from the 25 (cu in) SS class.

    An OMC powerhead on a Merc mid/gear case.

    In the '70's Merc came out w/a cool new race motor that was the basis for that class.
    I was racing when they came out but couldn't afford one.

    Many of my friends bought and raced them. They had chrome bores though and were expensive to fix when one popped.

    One yr while testing for our Nationals a team popped theirs.
    W/no time to fix their Merc, they robbed the powerhead of the 25 OMC on their dads fishing boat, made an adaptor plate and bolted it to the Merc mid.

    They took it to the Nats and smoked all the Mercs.
    The next yr all the winners were OMCs.

    They soon changed the rules and made them illegal in Stock 25SS but were and are still legal in Modified 25SS.

    Always wanted to have one but never did.
    The first ones were steel bore until the 25XS which was the newer powerhead .
    " The Fleet of Old Boats "

    '73 -14' Orlando Clipper Skiff -Yamaha 25
    93- 18 ' Renegade Nomad Flats boat -Merc 150
    '94 - 21 ' Allison XB - 2003 -Merc 260
    '97 - 19 ' STV Euro - Merc - 260
    '99 Benninton 2375 TOONER - V-6- 2 liter 150 Mariner
    2001 Grady White 263 - Twin Yamaha 250 OX 66

  9. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Tom Foley View Post
    The first ones were steel bore until the 25XS which was the newer powerhead .
    That sounds right. I had a buddy that ran mid pack w/one for yrs.

    And Cappy, they may be **** boxes but they reset every record in the class, were dirt cheap and are still running.
    Got this one for free. Clean the carb and painted it.
    Runs like a top.
    I have had a dozen of them and only had one apart and that was an abused salt motor while in Fla.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails IMG_2695.jpg  

  10. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by Instigator View Post
    That sounds right. I had a buddy that ran mid pack w/one for yrs.

    And Cappy, they may be **** boxes but they reset every record in the class, were dirt cheap and are still running.
    Got this one for free. Clean the carb and painted it.
    Runs like a top.
    I have had a dozen of them and only had one apart and that was an abused salt motor while in Fla.
    Instigstor is on the mark - while perhaps not as refined as the equivalent Merc, in a non-racing application this family of OMC 2 cylinders are remarkably reliable. I’ve worked on lots of them used in commercial saltwater service and they continue to run despite remarkable levels of abuse.

    Matt
    Last edited by MattGreen; 07-30-2018 at 09:26 AM.

  11. #8
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    ****boxes, wonderful smoke screen spewing dead nuts reliable vibrating ****boxes. In my top 3 little motors, for sure. Overheat and down on compression? Hit it with a 3 finger hone, new rings, new gaskets, and f'n send it.
    > Stainless steel Merc cowling plates - $110 shipped TYD - LINK <

    1979 16' Action Marine/2.5L Merc S3000 - Metalflake Maniac
    1984 18' Contender Tunnel/2.4 Merc Bridgeport

    "Where does the love of God go, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?"

  12. Likes mach351 liked this post
  13. #9
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    I've got three deadbeats on the rack with whipped out mag plates, 1/4 inch of crank end play and milky lube if you want them

  14. Likes Tom Foley liked this post
  15. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by Capt.Insane-o View Post
    I've got three deadbeats on the rack with whipped out mag plates, 1/4 inch of crank end play and milky lube if you want them
    How tight is the break~a~way on the flywheel nut's ? ..







    OK .. Nevermind , I'm eatin lunch real quick an goin back to work …

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