1999 Johnson 50HP

[Northernguy33]

Hi everyone. I recently bought a 1999 Johnson 50HP recently. Just wondering if anybody had any bad experiences with these motors. It looks like a pretty simple unit to maintain. Hopefully it provides me many years of good service. Previous owner said it had about 250 hrs of use on it, it looks pretty much brand new.

[ziemann]

It's a very simple twin cylinder design. If you take care of it, it will pretty much last forever. Mix at 50:1- change the lower unit lube, and change the plugs once in a while and it will last forever....

[Northernguy33]

Great! Thank you for the response. Im hoping it last a very long time. What is the consensus on Wide open throttle operation?

[Phil T]

Look in Trailerboats.com website for archived OB tests, and your engine. For best fuel economy, run it at peak torque or very close. Running wide open will get you there quicker, but it costs at the pump and at the shop.
One possible caution, if it's a VRO engine. The VRO maxes the oil addition at about 3000-3200 rpm, and at that speed the engine often doesn't run hot enough to cleanly burn all that oil (this is from advice I got from OMC tech services when I owned a VRO 90hp).

[whofan]

Originally Posted by Phil T

Look in Trailerboats.com website for archived OB tests, and your engine. For best fuel economy, run it at peak torque or very close. Running wide open will get you there quicker, but it costs at the pump and at the shop.
One possible caution, if it's a VRO engine. The VRO maxes the oil addition at about 3000-3200 rpm, and at that speed the engine often doesn't run hot enough to cleanly burn all that oil (this is from advice I got from OMC tech services when I owned a VRO 90hp).

I`ve had both the 1999 50 and a 2000 70hp vro motors and I think they are very good. In there hey day they were the motor to have in my opinon.
I also been told by my dealer to run the snot out of these motors and I did. Never really knew the reason why I just thought they wanted you to wear out the motor.
The VRO was updated through out the years so the last few years of OMC production you will have a good VRO system. I traded my 50 for the 70 early on and had the 70 for 11 problem free years.
The 50 was a little small for my boat and the 50 does idle a wee bit rough since it`s a big twin. But it`s proven a great design so much that the Etec`s today under the 75hp are all based on the design.

[GBS]

I've got a '99 115 version. Except for the massive amounts of fuel it burns, it has been solid. Only issue has been fouled plugs - I now have a "fall fogging/spring startup set", and then replace with my "normal use" set. The "normals' have been great for a few years now, with no fouling.....

Engine needs significant prime upon startup, and to maintain initial cold running if it has not been used for a few weeks. More frequent use, and there are no issues with starting.