Johnson Motors Service Promotion letterheadSPB #361

March 17, 1964

TWO YEAR WARRANTY

Since Johnson announced the new 2 year outboard motor warranty at the beginning of the 1963 season, it has been accepted as one of the most important steps ever taken by a member of the marine industry in projecting confidence in its own products.

There has, however, been some misunderstanding by some customers in regard to warranty coverage. The warranty is quite basic and is set forth in each Owner Manual as follows:

"We warrant, to the original purchaser, each new outboard motor of our manufacture to be free from defects in material and workmanship under normal use and service, our obligation under this warranty being limited to making good at the factory any parts thereof which shall, within two years from date of original purchase, be returned to us with transportation charges prepaid, and which our examination shall disclose to our satisfaction to have been thus defective; this warranty being expressly in lieu of all other warranties and representations expressed or implied and of all other liabilities in connection with the sale or use of any motors."

We understand that some dealers are of the impression that they are expected to keep customers' engines running throughout the warranty period. This assumption is not true as warranty is not intended to cover the following:

  1. Spark plugs - checking, cleaning or replacing.
  2. Parts or labor required to remedy trouble caused by neglect, normal wear, improper lubrication or when abuse or misuse is evident. Our warranty covers defective workmanship and material only and is not to be construed as a free service period covering any and all service requirements arising during the warranty period. The Factory expects reasonable discretion on the part of the service dealer in the classification of a part as defective.
  3. Parts or labor supplied by a competitive dealer or anyone else not authorized to perform warranty service.
  4. Damage in transit. These claims must be filed with the common carrier concerned.

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SPB #361
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  1. Complete assemblies unless it is proven that such assembly cannot be placed in first class condition by replacement of parts or unless previously authorized by factory.
  2. Normal maintenance including all tune up adjustments, prior to or after sale.
  3. Traveling time or mileage, telephone calls or telegrams, taxi or towing charges.
  4. Rental of a motor during period warranty repairs are being carried out.
  5. Transportation of motor, parts or accessories.
  6. Malfunction due to use of wrong propeller or poor installation of motor and accessories.
  7. Parts or accessories manufactured, sold or recommended by anyone other than Outboard Marine Corporation or damage to motor caused by the use of such parts or accessories.
  8. Damage to motor caused by accident, or alteration, or used for racing purposes including abnormal use of motor such as in running up ramps, or over sand bars, oyster beds, etc.
  9. Excessive time expended in the diagnosis of motor failure.

To help you and your customers better understand "WHAT IS" and "WHAT IS NOT" covered by the warranty, we have prepared the accompanying placard. Read it carefully, then hang it in a prominent location for all customers to scrutinize. The customers' correct interpretation of the two-year-warranty is important if much time and argument, as well as customer disappointment, is to be avoided. Draw your customers' attention to the placard at time of purchase.

JOHNSON MOTORSJack Penland's handwritten signatureJack Penland
Service Promotion Manager

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