Who made this engine? - Moderated Discussion Areas

  ContinuousWave
  Whaler
  Moderated Discussion Areas
  ContinuousWave: Whaler Performance
  Who made this engine?

search | FAQ | profile | register | author help

Author Topic:   Who made this engine?

JBCornwell posted 07-09-2002 11:13 AM ET (US)
I found a lightly used '96 Johnson 10hp 4 stroke outboard for my 11' Tender and bought it over the phone. (It is white!)
I was under the impression that all 4 stroke outboards sold as Johnson or Evinrude were made by Suzuki. My seller insists that this one was made by OMC.
Who knows for sure? Any experience with these engines on an 11'?
Thanks,
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
Tom W Clark posted 07-09-2002 11:14 AM ET (US)
JB,
It's a Suzuki. I have the 8 hp version.
JBCornwell posted 07-09-2002 01:08 PM ET (US)
Thanks, Tom
I am glad it is a Suzi, but I am also glad it isn't painted black (JK).
Have you been happy with the performance?
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
Bigshot posted 07-09-2002 02:20 PM ET (US)
Don't think so guys!
I heard OMC made that engine themselves. Suzi did not have small 8hp 4 strokes then or now if I am correct.
JBCornwell posted 07-09-2002 02:36 PM ET (US)
Howdy, BS.
Suzi does currently offer a DF9.9 4 stroke, a variation of their DF15.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
Bigshot posted 07-09-2002 03:09 PM ET (US)
I know but the OMC offered an 8 which is the same as the 9.9. It will say made in Japan if made by Suzi. I always thought they were made by Suzi but I read somewhere that OMC developed that engine themselves and started Suzi making their bigger 4s in 99.
Bigshot posted 07-09-2002 03:10 PM ET (US)
To know for sure.....call Bombardier. The # is on their website. www.johnson.com or evinrude.com.
JBCornwell posted 07-10-2002 12:54 PM ET (US)
Well, you may be right, Bigshot.
Haven't talked to Bomb. yet, but NADA lists a line of '96 Johnny 4 strokes and Zero '96 4 strokes for Suzi.
More to follow.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
Bigshot posted 07-10-2002 02:24 PM ET (US)
Talked to Bomb today. 96-01 8-15hp were OMC built...not Zuki. You know by the 1st letter in the serial # being a "G" which stands for Georgia plant. The 40-50-&70 had an "H" which meant Hon Kong plant AKA Suzuki. Sory JB but it is still a great motor.
Tom W Clark posted 07-10-2002 02:28 PM ET (US)
Not so fast BS. My Evinrude 8 hp four stroke has a serial number stating with "H" which would indicate it was made in Hong Kong, presumably by Suzuki.
I believe mine is a 1997 or 1998 model. Model number is: E8FRLEUR
What year does that make it?
Bigshot posted 07-10-2002 03:19 PM ET (US)
I must have misunderstood him on the codes but none of the 96-01 small 4 strokes were Suzuki. The 02+03's are and zuki never made a 8hp. This is what Bombardier said.
Tom W Clark posted 07-10-2002 06:26 PM ET (US)
Now this is interesting. BS is substantially correct. I just got back from Jacobsen's and talked with the service guy there.
My motor and JB's are not Suzukis. They were made by OMC. But the interesting thing here is that the codes that BS quoted are correct. My motor's serial number begins with "H" and was indeed made in Hong Kong at a factory OMC had there.
None of the small OMC four strokes were (until now) made by Suzuki.
The design of these motors is very similar to but the identical to a Honda. It looks as if OMC used the small Honda as their model. It is quite different than a Suzuki.
Service guy said they were good motors and he hadn't seen any problems with them.
The mid range four strokes from OMC are more difficult to figure out. Some of them were made by Suzuki but with OMC gear cases and ignitions. Even Bombardier can't keep it all straight. The service guy said Bombardier was telling him it's easy to tell the difference because the Suzukis will have metric fasteners, but in fact some do and some do not.
JBCornwell posted 07-10-2002 09:18 PM ET (US)
Aha! So our engines are knockoffs of Hondas. I can live with that.
Red sky at night. . .
JB :)
bigz posted 07-11-2002 07:56 AM ET (US)
Haven't been around lately or would have settled this JB immediately. Yes in fact as BS pointed out, those little 4 strokes were developed and built by OMC.
I was informed of this maybe 3 or 4 years ago with the OMC/Bombardier and Yamaha dealer I am affiliated with. They also mentioned it was no clone it is/was their own block design. This statement doesn't preclude that their engineers weren't influenced by Honda's designs!
If they had been cloning Honda's as the term implies patent law suits would have been flying. There were none and in the boat business publications or for that matter consumer small boat ones no reference was made to OMC using Honda construction.
So rest assured JB your OMC 10hp 4 stroke was American made and designed. Now I am sure you'll be able to sleep better at night --- chuckle.
TZ
Tom W Clark posted 07-11-2002 09:41 AM ET (US)
bigz,
Suggest you crack out the atlas. Last time I checked, Hong Kong was a very long way from America --- chuckle
Actually I can't think of a four stroke outboard powerhead that is made in the United States. They are all made elsewhere regardless of the name on the cowling.
Bigshot posted 07-11-2002 09:43 AM ET (US)
The only difference between my Evinzuki and my buds Zuki is the prop shaft, wiring harness, paint and cowl. His Zuki prop fits mine but I have to shim it and vice versa. I have a OMC systemsmatch electrical hookups. My cowling weighs about 1/2 what his does yet OMC states my engine weighs 4lbs more. I also have the "Drop dead sexy" metallic saphire blue paint. Plus the rednecks don't browbeat me for not buying American:)
Bigshot posted 07-11-2002 09:44 AM ET (US)
Tom.....are'nt the Briggs & Stratton engines that are on those "Stick" engines built in USA:) Probably made in Mexico.

Hop to:

Contact Us | RETURN to ContinuousWave Top Page

Powered by: Ultimate Bulletin Board, Freeware Version 2000
Purchase our Licensed Version- which adds many more features!
© Infopop Corporation (formerly Madrona Park, Inc.), 1998 - 2000.

Author	Topic: Who made this engine?
JBCornwell	posted 07-09-2002 11:13 AM ET (US) I found a lightly used '96 Johnson 10hp 4 stroke outboard for my 11' Tender and bought it over the phone. (It is white!) I was under the impression that all 4 stroke outboards sold as Johnson or Evinrude were made by Suzuki. My seller insists that this one was made by OMC. Who knows for sure? Any experience with these engines on an 11'? Thanks, Red sky at night. . . JB :)
Tom W Clark	posted 07-09-2002 11:14 AM ET (US) JB, It's a Suzuki. I have the 8 hp version.
JBCornwell	posted 07-09-2002 01:08 PM ET (US) Thanks, Tom I am glad it is a Suzi, but I am also glad it isn't painted black (JK). Have you been happy with the performance? Red sky at night. . . JB :)
Bigshot	posted 07-09-2002 02:20 PM ET (US) Don't think so guys! I heard OMC made that engine themselves. Suzi did not have small 8hp 4 strokes then or now if I am correct.
JBCornwell	posted 07-09-2002 02:36 PM ET (US) Howdy, BS. Suzi does currently offer a DF9.9 4 stroke, a variation of their DF15. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
Bigshot	posted 07-09-2002 03:09 PM ET (US) I know but the OMC offered an 8 which is the same as the 9.9. It will say made in Japan if made by Suzi. I always thought they were made by Suzi but I read somewhere that OMC developed that engine themselves and started Suzi making their bigger 4s in 99.
Bigshot	posted 07-09-2002 03:10 PM ET (US) To know for sure.....call Bombardier. The # is on their website. www.johnson.com or evinrude.com.
JBCornwell	posted 07-10-2002 12:54 PM ET (US) Well, you may be right, Bigshot. Haven't talked to Bomb. yet, but NADA lists a line of '96 Johnny 4 strokes and Zero '96 4 strokes for Suzi. More to follow. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
Bigshot	posted 07-10-2002 02:24 PM ET (US) Talked to Bomb today. 96-01 8-15hp were OMC built...not Zuki. You know by the 1st letter in the serial # being a "G" which stands for Georgia plant. The 40-50-&70 had an "H" which meant Hon Kong plant AKA Suzuki. Sory JB but it is still a great motor.
Tom W Clark	posted 07-10-2002 02:28 PM ET (US) Not so fast BS. My Evinrude 8 hp four stroke has a serial number stating with "H" which would indicate it was made in Hong Kong, presumably by Suzuki. I believe mine is a 1997 or 1998 model. Model number is: E8FRLEUR What year does that make it?
Bigshot	posted 07-10-2002 03:19 PM ET (US) I must have misunderstood him on the codes but none of the 96-01 small 4 strokes were Suzuki. The 02+03's are and zuki never made a 8hp. This is what Bombardier said.
Tom W Clark	posted 07-10-2002 06:26 PM ET (US) Now this is interesting. BS is substantially correct. I just got back from Jacobsen's and talked with the service guy there. My motor and JB's are not Suzukis. They were made by OMC. But the interesting thing here is that the codes that BS quoted are correct. My motor's serial number begins with "H" and was indeed made in Hong Kong at a factory OMC had there. None of the small OMC four strokes were (until now) made by Suzuki. The design of these motors is very similar to but the identical to a Honda. It looks as if OMC used the small Honda as their model. It is quite different than a Suzuki. Service guy said they were good motors and he hadn't seen any problems with them. The mid range four strokes from OMC are more difficult to figure out. Some of them were made by Suzuki but with OMC gear cases and ignitions. Even Bombardier can't keep it all straight. The service guy said Bombardier was telling him it's easy to tell the difference because the Suzukis will have metric fasteners, but in fact some do and some do not.
JBCornwell	posted 07-10-2002 09:18 PM ET (US) Aha! So our engines are knockoffs of Hondas. I can live with that. Red sky at night. . . JB :)
bigz	posted 07-11-2002 07:56 AM ET (US) Haven't been around lately or would have settled this JB immediately. Yes in fact as BS pointed out, those little 4 strokes were developed and built by OMC. I was informed of this maybe 3 or 4 years ago with the OMC/Bombardier and Yamaha dealer I am affiliated with. They also mentioned it was no clone it is/was their own block design. This statement doesn't preclude that their engineers weren't influenced by Honda's designs! If they had been cloning Honda's as the term implies patent law suits would have been flying. There were none and in the boat business publications or for that matter consumer small boat ones no reference was made to OMC using Honda construction. So rest assured JB your OMC 10hp 4 stroke was American made and designed. Now I am sure you'll be able to sleep better at night --- chuckle. TZ
Tom W Clark	posted 07-11-2002 09:41 AM ET (US) bigz, Suggest you crack out the atlas. Last time I checked, Hong Kong was a very long way from America --- chuckle Actually I can't think of a four stroke outboard powerhead that is made in the United States. They are all made elsewhere regardless of the name on the cowling.
Bigshot	posted 07-11-2002 09:43 AM ET (US) The only difference between my Evinzuki and my buds Zuki is the prop shaft, wiring harness, paint and cowl. His Zuki prop fits mine but I have to shim it and vice versa. I have a OMC systemsmatch electrical hookups. My cowling weighs about 1/2 what his does yet OMC states my engine weighs 4lbs more. I also have the "Drop dead sexy" metallic saphire blue paint. Plus the rednecks don't browbeat me for not buying American:)
Bigshot	posted 07-11-2002 09:44 AM ET (US) Tom.....are'nt the Briggs & Stratton engines that are on those "Stick" engines built in USA:) Probably made in Mexico.