Dating 90 hp Johnson help! - The Hull Truth

bulletbob · 06-25-2003, 08:29 PM

I have a 1996 Aquasport w/90 hp Johnson VRO [VRO is taken off]. The hull is a 1996 and I was under the impression the motor was too. A guy I know has a 90 hp Johnson motor identicle to mine and his is an early 80's 90 VRO. He states my motor is identicle in all aspects to his and thinks my motor is 80's too. If he's right I'm gonna be furious!!!. I looked for serial # but could not find one. I looked in the cowl for a sticker or something....nothing there. I'm beginning to smell a rat. I bought this rig at a car dealers lot last year and THOUGHT I got a fair deal. If the motor is 10 years older than I thought..... GGGRRRRR.... any way to find out the year??? . I'm too trusting I guess bob

MiKenn1212 · 06-25-2003, 09:06 PM

Under the cowling there is plug on the engine block which has a number stamped on it. This number is the serial number which any Johnson dealer can enter into thier dealer website and find the information on the engine. It is a silver aluminum plug about 3/4 of an inch across--good luck

bulletbob · 06-25-2003, 09:15 PM

Thanks MiKenn.. I'll check it out!!!! bob

Sully · 06-26-2003, 04:58 AM

NAPA Auto Supply has a catalog of marine parts that has a section on determining Johnson and Evinrude years

"In the beginning there were fish in the sea, and it was good.
Then there were boats and skillets, and it was very good."

ericjp · 06-26-2003, 05:34 AM

The word introduces is how to tell what year it is. I think it is the last 2 letters on the serial number. The I in introduces represents 1 So lets say the serial number is xxxxxxxcc then the year would be 1988. The leter c corresponds with number 8
introduces
1234567890

Hope this helps.

Eric

SeaJay · 06-26-2003, 05:44 AM

Don't know if this helps, but my 1997 Evinrude 90 HP has either a sticker or a stamp inside the cowling with the date that it was manufactured, July of 1996 for my engine.

dry doc · 06-26-2003, 08:17 AM

i bought a `91 johnson v4 and specifically did
not get the vro because it was very new and lots
of horror stories about....also, the serial nos
were very prominently placed on these engines,
so if that serial number has been obscured, al-
tered, or removed, then you can assume the worst
....another thorny question: was the vro REALLY
ever on it, or was that story concocted to try
to put an old motor in sheep`s clothing...i have
a bad feeling here. dan