'64 or '65 40 hp questions

[dafox99]

For the longest time I believed I had a '64 40 HP johnson. The model number is RKL-27A. This web site seems to indicate it is a 1965, however.

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...ntage-evinrude-johnson/380579/38057900001.htm.

So .. anyone know which one it is?

And, the reason I'm asking is because several years ago the starter rusted up. I got a new one locally. The starters for a '64 and '65 are P/N's 380239 and 379818. The starter shop said they both crossed over to 106-026. and the starter they sold me has the number 290815 on it. The bendix is correct, the bolts line up, but it is about an inch too short. So, I made a one-inch spacer so it would fit in the bracket. I've used it for a couple years, but the shorter motor just doesn't have the torque the original did and it will BARELY turn the motor over, and sometimes won't. I have tried two new batteries (cleanded connections, etc.).

Has anyone run into this before?

 

[JB]

Re: '64 or '65 40 hp questions

It is a 1965, dafo. That doesn't mean that everything is stock, as made. A lot of shadetree engineering could take place in 50 years.

 

[dafox99]

Re: '64 or '65 40 hp questions

Thanks JB. Hmmm ... didn't think about maybe the starter is right and the bracket is wrong? i did some more Interwebbing and the shorter starter that I had to make a 1" spacer for appears to be the right one. So, maybe the starter I had before was too long, and the bracket was from something else. Don't know. But doesn't explain why the starter seems to weak. I had it tested today.