My 40$ investment

Sunday night, I bought a 1959 Johnson 36hp from a neighbor. So far, it looks like it has great potential. It has 120 psi on both cylinders and the coils look new, so I'm that much ahead of the game. I can probably just get by stripping and repainting this motor, to make it like new again. It is a factory long shaft and it has a factory generator on it too. It is an Oregon native, as well. It still has the Staff Jennings medalion on top of the hood. Judging by the paint condition on the lower unit, it has relatively low hours on it. Resealing the lower unit shouldn't be a big deal. I probably have most of the seals on hand.

Re: My 40$ investment

You have a rare motor there! 36hp

Great find. If you need any parts for her let me know, I have a couple parts motors.

Re: My 40$ investment

$40........didn't I already remove you from the Christmas card list once for getting deals like this.......it's not fair I tell you!!!!

Re: My 40$ investment

$40?.....I thought they left'em on the doorstep with a note!!

Re: My 40$ investment

36HP??? Thirty SIX HP??? That must be a typo. Please supply the model number.

I think you probably have a RD-21 or RDS-21, 1959 35HP.

Re: My 40$ investment

What??? Your HD25 wasn't enough power???

Mas

Re: My 40$ investment

LOL well this one I would like to put on a 16 foot deep hull. My HD-20 just wouldn't have enough UMPH for it.

LMAO!! Sixmark

Yea, JB I do believe this is the fully loaded RDS-21 model.

HighTrim, I will be looking to get a shifter handle for it, as mine is missing. It's the portion that attaches outside the cowling with two screws.

Re: My 40$ investment

PM your address. No problem with the shifter.

Re: My 40$ investment

Right on. Greatly appreciate it. It's dirty as hell, but it should clean up pretty good. I was amazed at the compression. I got those readings with 6 pulls on the hand starter. and we all hand crankin a 35 is not easy.

Re: My 40$ investment

Does it have the decompression chambers?

Mas

Re: My 40$ investment

Also, those 35 hp with the decompression chambers, how much does it actually lower compression? Anybody ever take readings?

Mas

Re: My 40$ investment

Yes, they do have the decompression chambers. The 1961 40hp's were the last of those big twin class motors that had those. 1962 and newer, had none. What's really funny, is when the 33hp was introduced, it had the same head as the old 35's, but they removed those little valves and decompression chambers and just closed off the holes. for the decompression cambers. It looks like all they did was remove a few little things from the die cast mold. They still left the mounts for the compression release actuator arm.

I never actually taken a compression test, with those open, but one thing I can say, is if those little valves aren't closing completely, you will get false readings on your compression. My motor doesn't even have the actuator lever that opens those valves during cranking, so that's not an issue here. it looks like it was removed. There are adjustments on the valves, like that from a 1975 Datsun B210, so they should have a gap on them, probably about .010.