Identifying Evinrude and Johnson Outboard Motors
When you are searching for parts for your boat's engine, it's very important to have the proper information regarding the brand, size and type of engine that you have. Unfortunately, every engine manufacturer uses different information and a different system to identify their engines. Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) has been the parent company for Evinrude and Johnson outboard motors for many years, and so the system and process for identifying those engines is the same. In the article below, we will step through how to find the correct identification information for Johnson and Evinrude engines, and we'll help to translate that information into something you can use.
Model Number is the Key
Most marine engine manufacturers rely on some type of number or code in order to properly identify each motor that they produce. This number is the key for understanding when the engine was made, what design features it contains, and what size it is. But, not all engine manufacturers use the same information. For instance, Mercury engines use a serial number to identify their outboard motors. When it comes to Johnson and Evinrude outboards, the model number is the key. The model number is a combination of letters and numbers that tell a complete story about the engine in question. Each model number usually begins with one or two letters, then is followed by two or three numbers, and then finishes with several more letters. We'll get into what each section of the model number means below. Here's an example of what a typical Johnson or Evinrude model number looks like:
Finding the Model Number
The model number for Johnson and Evinrude outboards is usually found on an identification tag that is located on the transom mounting bracket of the engine. Hopefully, the model number is still legible when you find it! One of the most common problems we encounter when helping people to identify parts for their engines is that after years of wear, the model number is no longer readable. We strongly recommend that you write down your engine model number somewhere safe so that you have an additional resource to refer to long after the original identification tag cannot be read.
Identifying the Model Variations and Style
Model numbers for Johnson and Evinrude outboards always begin with one or two letters giving some basic information about the engine. A number will follow after these letters. These letters represent the brand of the engine along with any model variations, but the variation designation will not always be present. If your model number has just one letter before the number, then your engine does not have any model variations. If there are two letters before the number, then the first letter will be the model variation, and the second letter will be the engine brand.
Model variations are used to designate some special design variations with the engine. This usually appears when the engine was manufactured in other countries besides the United States. It can also be present to designate when an engine with certain features was produced specifically for a boat builder.
Model Variation options for Johnson/Evinrude engines are:
- A = Australia
- B = Belgium
- C = Canada
- H = Hong Kong
- S = South America
- T = Tracker Boats
- V = Boat Builder
The engine brand - or "style" as it is referred to by BRP - will either come after the model variation, or it will be the first letter in the model number. It illustrates the specific engine brand of either Johnson or Evinrude (or the lesser known OMC outboard brand, Quiet Rider). In some rare cases, there will be no letter present for designating style - in these cases, the engine was originally produced for commercial vessel use.
Style options for Johnson/Evinrude engines are:
- J = Johnson
- E = Evinrude
- V = Quiet Rider
- Blank = for commercial use
Identifying the Horsepower
The next section of the model number on Johnson and Evinrude outboard engines is the horsepower. There will be two or three numbers that represent the horsepower of the engine. This is the most straightforward part of the model number and the easiest to understand. It's also one of the most critical parts of the number needed in order to properly identify the engine and look up parts for it.
Identifying the MANY Design Features
The next section of the Johnson and Evinrude model numbers is the most complex. Following the horsepower, there will be one or two letters that identify specific design features of the engine. These features can be related to a number of different characteristics, including starting style, tilt/trim options and even paint color. To further complicate this portion of the model number, in 1999 BRP overhauled and reduced the number of design feature codes available. So, if your engine was manufactured before 1999, the list of codes available for your engine are different than the list of codes for engines manufactured in 1999 and afterwards. Don't know what year your motor was manufactured? Keep reading - we're getting there!
Design Feature Options for Engines Manufactured BEFORE 1999
Design Feature Options for Engines Manufactured in 1999 & AFTER
- AE = Electric Start - Alaska
- AR = Rope Start - Alaska
- BA = AC Lightning - Rope Start
- BE = Belgium Derated - Electric Start
- BF = Belgium Derated - Rope Start
- BG = Belgium Derated - Rope Start
- BI = Belgium Derated - Rope Start
- BR = Euro Rope Start
- C = Counter-Rotation
- CE = Canada Derated - Electric Start
- CR = Canada Derated - Rope Start
- D = Remote Electric
- DE = Derated - Electric Start
- DR = Derated - Rope Start
- DT = Derated - Electric Start/Trim & Tilt
- E = Electric Start
- ER = Electric Start - Sport Styling
- ES = Electric Start - Special
- FA = 4 stroke, Rope Start - AC Lightning
- FE = 4 stroke, Electric Start/Tiller
- FP = Commercial with Program Tilt
- FR = 4 stroke, Rope Start
- FRE = 4 stroke, Electric Start/Remote
- FS = FICHT, Trim & Tilt
- FT = FICHT, Trim & Tilt/Special Styling
- G = Special Styling
- H = Less Integral Tank/Hydraulic Steering
- I = FICHT Fuel Injection
- IE = Italy Electric Start
- IK = Italy Electric Start
- J = Jet Drive
- K = 3-Cylinder 25/35
- KC = Kerosene Rope Start
- KG = Kerosene/Gasoline
- KS = Kerosene Rope Start
- M = Manual Tilt - Electric Start
- MS = Manual Tilt - Electric Start/Special
- N = Counter-Rotation
- P = Power Steering
- Q = 3-Cylinder 25/35 Trim & Tilt
- R = Rope Start
- RA = Australia Rope Start
- RC = Rope Start - Commercial/CD Ignition
- RD = Rope Start - Deluxe
- RE = Remote Electric
- RP = Commercial with Program Tilt
- RS = Rope Start - Commercial
- RW = Commercial with Interlock
- S = Sail - Special Styling
- SC = Special Styling/Counter-Rotation
- SE = Electric Start Non-Tilt Sail
- SI = Italy Special Derated
- SL = 60°V, Trim & Tilt
- SP = Special Styling
- SR = Rope Start - Sail - Non-Tilt
- ST = Special Styling - Trim & Tilt
- T = Trim & Tilt - Electric Start
- TE = Tiller Electric
- TR = Trim & Tilt - Sport Styling
- TT = Tiller - Trim & Tilt (Backtroller)
- U = Manual Tilt
- V = Special Gearcase
- W = 110° Angle Drive - Rope Start
- WM = Electric Commercial - Manual Tilt
- WMP = Same as “WM” w/Chrome Pump
- WT = Electric Commercial - Trim & Tilt
- WTP = Same as “WT” w/Chrome Pump
- 3 = 3 cylinder (25/35HP)
- 4 = 4 stroke engine
- B = Blue paint
- C = Counter rotation w/tilt & trim
- D = E-TEC
- E = Electric start w/remote steering
- F = FICHT fuel injection
- G = Graphite paint
- J = Jet
- M = Military model
- P = Power trim & tilt
- R = Rope start w/tiller steering
- S = Special styling (White Evinrude)
- T = Tiller steering
- TE = Tiller electric
- W = Commercial model
Identifying the Shaft Length
The next section of the Johnson/Evinrude model number refers to the lower unit's vertical shaft length. This is important because the vertical shaft length ultimately determined the height of the lower unit and is needed to properly match the engine to different sizes of transoms. In some cases, there will not be a letter present for the shaft length - in those cases, the shaft length will be the standard 15 inches.
The Johnson/Evinrude Shaft Length options are:
- Blank - 15 inches
- L = 20 inches
- Y = 22.5 inches
- X = 25 inches
- Z = 30 inches
Identifying the Year of Manufacture
One of the most important pieces of information about any marine engine is when it was made. The year model has a big impact on what parts are correct for the engine. For Johnson and Evinrude engines, the year of manufacture is represented in the model number, but a special code is used to identify it. Don't worry - you won't need your special decoder ring. Simply use the word "INTRODUCES" and line it up with the numbers 0 through 9. Each letter corresponds to a specific number. When decoded, the two letters in the model number will specify the year of manufacture. For instance, an engine with the code "CS" corresponds to the number "80" or the year 1980. The code "EU" corresponds to the number "97", or a manufacture year of 1997, and so on. The year code is located in the model number right after the shaft length and before the final suffix (if any).
Johnson/Evinrude Date Code Explained:
| I | N | T | R | O | D | U | C | E | S |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
Identifying the Model Run or Suffix
If there is any letter after the date code in the Johnson/Evinrude model number, it is simply a designation of a particular model run or suffix. It's useful for identifying slight variations of engines made within the same year, but what that particular letter may represent from year to year may vary. It's not terribly important to know what the suffix letter represents, only that it is a part of the overall model number. In many cases, there may not be any model run or suffix present at all.
Need More Help?
If you ever need more assistance identifying your Evinrude or Johnson outboard engine or specific parts for your engine, feel free to contact the knowledgeable, ABYC-certified folks at Marine Parts Source at (866)388-0390. We'll help you to find what you need!
