Thanks for all your thoughts guys. I appreciate all your comments. I'll give my guy time to see what he can do then possibly find somebody else to take a look if need be. The motor was rebuilt last summer and is strong running when W.O.T. IMO the motor is fixable so I aint in too big a hurry to go dropping thousands into another one just yet. Brett, it's @ a '93 model Johnson V4 90 hp. I'm just antsy to go fishing is all but I do have some other things I'm trying to get done around the house and in the deer woods too. I aint just sitting twiddling my thumbs. HA!