Used
Used Johnson 6HP Outboard, Short Shaft
SKU JHN-6HP2STROKE-U | Serial J45-8546212
$850
- Shaft
- Short, 15in
- Start
- Manual start
- Steering
- Tiller steering
- Trim
- Manual tilt
Same engine in another shaft length: Long, 20in
- Warranty
- 90 day parts and labor warranty from us, or the balance of factory cover if it runs longer.
- Serial number
- J45-8546212, printed on your invoice and matched to the unit that ships.
- Payment
- Bank transfer, Apple Pay, Chime and Zelle. Crypto takes 15 percent off the engine price.
Add to your order
Shipped in the same crate, so there is no second freight charge.
Propeller, pitched to order
Send boat length, weight and use and we pitch it for you.
$420
First Service Kit
The twenty hour service, boxed with the engine.
$148
Used Johnson 6HP Outboard, Short Shaft for Sale
Buy a used Johnson 6HP two stroke outboard for sale online, a 15 inch short shaft engine with tiller steering and manual pull start. Six horsepower is tender and dinghy territory, and a small Johnson two stroke is about as simple as an outboard gets: pull the cord, twist the grip, go. There is no electronics to fail, no battery to flatten and very little that a mechanic cannot fix on a bench. Johnson is discontinued, which is exactly why a running one costs what it does rather than what a current brand would. Order this Johnson 6HP outboard from the page, or ask us anything about it first and we will send photographs of whatever you want to see.
Supplied with
- Engine, cowling and mounting hardware, factory assembled
- Owner manual, warranty booklet and registration certificate
- Propeller not included on engines from 40hp up, pitched to order on request
- Remote control box, cables and rigging tube available as an add on
- First service kit available at checkout, oil filter and gear oil
Not sure on shaft length
Measure vertically from the top of the transom to the lowest point of the hull. Fifteen inches takes a short shaft, twenty inches a long shaft, twenty five inches an extra long. This engine is a short shaft, 15in.
Buy a used Johnson outboard: is it worth it now the brand is gone
Johnson stopped being made, and that is the first thing anyone shopping one should think about. It is also the reason the price is what it is.
Parts are the real question, and the answer for a small Johnson two stroke is better than the brand status suggests. Johnson and Evinrude shared components for decades, the aftermarket is deep, and service items for common small engines still flow through the BRP dealer network and independent suppliers.
The second thing in its favor is simplicity. A 6HP two stroke has almost nothing in it. Carburettor, ignition, water pump, gearcase. Any competent marine mechanic can work on one without a laptop or a subscription.
What you should not do is buy an obscure model on the assumption parts exist. Ask before you commit, and for this engine we will tell you what is available.
Johnson 6HP specs as listed
| Specification | This Johnson 6HP |
|---|---|
| Output | 6 horsepower at the propeller shaft |
| Engine type | Two stroke |
| Shaft length | 15 inch, short |
| Starting | Manual, recoil |
| Steering | Tiller handle |
| Trim and tilt | Manual tilt |
| Recommended oil | TC-W3 two stroke oil |
| Condition | Used, compression tested before listing |
Which small boats a 6HP outboard drives
Tenders, dinghies, small inflatables, canoes and sailboat auxiliaries. Six horsepower moves a small boat properly without being a lift to carry.
A 15 inch short shaft suits most inflatables and small tenders. Sailboat tenders often want the 20 inch version instead, because a sailboat pitches and a short prop lifts clear. We have the Johnson 6HP long shaft if that is yours.
Measure before ordering: top of the transom straight down to the hull bottom at the centerline.
Checking a used Johnson 6HP before you buy
These engines are easy to assess, which is one of the reasons they are a low risk buy.
- Pull the cord and feel the compression. It should be firm and even.
- Check the fuel system. Small engines die of stale fuel and gummed carburettors more than anything else.
- Look at the prop shaft for line damage and the gear oil for water.
- Ask how it was stored. Sitting kills these more reliably than running does.
We record compression before listing and will send you the figures and photographs of any area you ask about.
Running a Johnson 6HP two stroke
If this is your first two stroke, the routine is slightly different from a four stroke and worth knowing before the first outing.
Fuel is mixed with oil, either by hand at a set ratio or by an injection system. Get that right and keep it consistent, because running short of oil is the one mistake these engines do not recover from.
They start cold on choke and want a minute to warm before you load them. They also prefer to be run rather than idled for long periods, which is why a two stroke used regularly tends to be healthier than one that sits.
Use marine TC-W3 oil rather than anything from a car shelf. Ask us which system this engine uses and we will confirm before it ships.
Frequently asked questions
Are Johnson outboards still supported?
For common models, yes. Johnson and Evinrude shared components for decades and the aftermarket is deep, so service parts for small two strokes are still straightforward. Obscure models are harder, so ask before buying.
Is a used Johnson 6HP a good buy?
For a tender or dinghy, often yes. It is simple enough for any mechanic to work on, cheap because the brand is discontinued, and the failure modes are visible on inspection.
What size boat is a 6HP outboard for?
Tenders, dinghies, small inflatables, canoes and sailboat auxiliaries. It moves a small boat properly while staying light enough to carry.
Is the Johnson 6HP short shaft right for my dinghy?
Many inflatables take a 15 inch short shaft. Sailboat tenders usually want 20 inches because the boat pitches and a short prop lifts clear. Measure your transom before ordering.
How do I check a small two stroke before buying?
Compression by feel on the recoil, the fuel system, the prop shaft for line damage and the gear oil for water. Ask about storage too, since sitting kills these engines faster than use.
Specifications
- Horsepower
- 6hp at 5000 rpm
- Dry weight
- 20 kg, 44 lb
- Shaft length
- 15 in, short
- Starting system
- Manual, recoil
- Trim and tilt
- Manual tilt
- Steering
- Tiller handle
- Recommended fuel
- 87 octane minimum, unleaded
- Recommended oil
- TC-W3 two stroke oil
- Warranty
- 90 days parts and labor, or the balance of factory cover
- Recorded hours
- On request
Shipping and crating
The engine is bolted upright to a purpose built pallet, braced at the cowling and skinned before it leaves the warehouse. Crates are photographed on the dock and the photographs are attached to your order record.
Freight is curbside by default. The carrier calls ahead to arrange a delivery window, and you will need a second pair of hands or a tractor to take the crate off the truck. Liftgate service and delivery direct to an authorized dealer can both be added at checkout.
Standard transit is five to ten working days depending on zone, express is one to three. Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico are quoted separately.
| Destination zone | Freight on this engine | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| Standard freight | $100 | About a week |
| Express freight | $250 | 1 to 3 days |
Warranty
This used Johnson is compression tested, run on the dyno and listed with its hour count and service history. It carries a ninety day parts and labor warranty from us unless the balance of factory cover runs longer.
Warranty work can be carried out at any authorized Johnson dealer in the United States. You are not tied to us for servicing, and buying online does not shorten or void the factory cover.
The serial number on this listing, J45-8546212, is the unit that ships to you. It appears on your invoice and on the warranty registration.
3 years, extendable to 5 years
Extended service cover can be added within the first year. Ask the sales desk to add it to your invoice.
