Can anyone help me on rds-20 compatibility?

John the landlubber

John the landlubber

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 13, 2005
Messages
146
I have a 1960 rds-20 (40hp) super-seahorse, which is ready for a first start up. I am waiting for the outcome of an auction for my tank, line and bulb which ends in 12 hours. once I get this i want to start her up. If i can get her running ok'ish I need to either replace the gear selector rods or convert to a long shaft. I have found some engines available on e-bay for spares but do not know if any of them share many common parts. They are as follows:- (all 40hp) 40952r serial c58802, 40rl70am serial c30110 and pd-804 serial c586676. any guidance will be most welcome.
 
CATransplant

CATransplant

Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
6,319
Re: Can anyone help me on rds-20 compatibility?

Hi. So you want to convert this outboard to long shaft. Is that it?<br /><br />First, if your outboard is an RDS-20, it's a 1958, not a 1960, and it's 35 hp, not 40. If it were a 1960, it would be an RDS-22.<br /><br />To do the conversion, you need a longer driveshaft, a longer shift rod connector (brass), longer water tubes (although you can jury rig extensions pretty easily. You'll also need the extension housing.<br /><br />You're right to think about parts from an engine that's broken in some other way. But...until you can verify which engine you actually have, it's tough to tell you which are compatible.
 
John the landlubber

John the landlubber

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
May 13, 2005
Messages
146
Re: Can anyone help me on rds-20 compatibility?

forgive me cattransplant, basic typing error. It is indeed an rds-22. We have actually spoken at length before, this is the engine that somebody has welded the shift connectors together on. You may remember. Anyway, i've decided that if she'll run ok it will probably be worth my while either trying to get replacement shift rods to repair it, or buying another engine that might need some work and using the good parts off of mine for spares.
 
CATransplant

CATransplant

Admiral
Joined
Feb 26, 2005
Messages
6,319
Re: Can anyone help me on rds-20 compatibility?

OK, I gotcha. I think you're wise to try to get this thing started before going much further. As far as shift rods and that sort of thing go, you should be OK with parts from any of the 40 hp models from 1960 through about 1965. <br /><br />I can't swear as to the driveshafts, though, and do make certain that whatever donor engine you find is a manual shift, not an electric shift model, or you'll lose compatibility with the lower unit parts. <br /><br />Some stuff from the 58-59 35 hp models will be OK, too, but on the '58...make sure that it's an RDS(L)-20. They made two versions that year.
 
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