Restoring 1956 JOHNSONs : 15 HP and 30 HP

Johnny B.Goode

Recruit
Joined
Aug 3, 2013
Messages
1
It is hard to believe,but I
just purchased two 1956 Johnson
Outboards :

RDE-18C (30 HP) E-Start !
No Spark,but in pretty
good Condition.
And a
FDEL 10 (15 HP) E-Start !
Condition looks a bit
worse,but it starts&runs !
youtube Video here :
1956 johnson au?enborder - YouTube

Can You believe This ?!!? :D:D

I want to mention that
1 Year ago they made a new
law in Germany,that
Max.15 HP Boats can be
driven free by everyone
over 16 Years old.
Almost incredible,that
a new law gives more
Freedom than before.
Till 2012 it was Max.5 HP
which could be driven
Licence-Free in Germany.
So used 15 HP Outboards
became much more
expensive since 1 Year. :)

They are as old as I am,so
it will take Time for me
to realize,that I really
own them now !!
So help me God !

I just also purchased a
1956 Johnson 30 HP Parts Catalog,
"Models RD-RDL-18, 18E & 18C"
20 Pages,(4-56-H.A.)
But it does not contain
the E-Starter !
I saw that there is another
1956 Johnson 30 HP Catalog on ebay :

Vintage 1956 30HP Johnson Outboard Motor Dealer Parts Catalog Manual | eBay

pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item58a10b33a9

"Models RDE-RDEL-18, 18E & 18C"
23 Pages.
Perhaps in this Catalog
there is the E-Starter,but i miss
the "Javelin"-Model in it as well:
RJE-18(E).

This means,that there must be
at least a third 1956 Johnson 30 HP
Parts Catalog,containing the "Javelin" !

Pretty confusing so far.
In a Thread here in the Forum
Thread: a "C" or not a "C".......that is the question. Johnson 30 HP '56?

http://forums.iboats.com/johnson-evinrude-outboards/c-not-c-question-johnson-30-hp-56-a-272743.html

it is recommended to simly "ignore" the "C"
but in my Parts Catalog the Propellers for the
RD-18 have the No: 376733
Propeller Nut No :3755773
and the
RD-18C have No: 376732
Propeller Nut No :376731 .

The Pull Starter Handle is different !

The Crankshaft-Thrust Washer:
RD-18&18E have the No: 304550;
RD-18C have No: 304697 .

The "Gear & Shaft Assemblys
for the Steering Handle are different
with the Models "RD-18" or "RD 18 E & 18C"

Gearcase & Bearing are different
with the Models
"RD-18 , RD 18 E" 376409 and
"18C" :376767
There is a different screw in the
Gearcase as well :
43-147 or 303737

And You say "Just ignore the C" !

Not very convincing to me ! :confused:

It seems,nobody in the World knows,
what the "C" really stands for. :mad:

Anyway I want to repair the Ignition
on my 30 HP 1956 because it has
no Spark anymore.

My 15 HP 1956 does Start and run,
BUT:
Maybe Kids? sprayed some red and
some white Paint in the area of the
Cover("Shroud")and even touched
it here and there with paint on their fingers,
very ugly and disgusting !
I could remove some of this paint
so far,in order not to immediately
feel sick,when I simply look at it !

For my 1956 Johnson 15 HP I found
a Parts Catalog .pdf on MarineEngine.com.
I only regret that
it has a bad and very low resolution,
not really nice and readable.

Some former Owner did repair the
Ignition.
He installed external Ignition Coils
instead of the original internal Coils !
He had to remove
the complete Pull Starter in order
to get enough Room underneath
the Cover for those big Coils !
I of course miss the Pull Starter,
but the Engine at least runs !

There are several Spare Parts-Numbers
for the Coils,
(0)580118,(0)582995,(0)584477,
580197,
but in the end it seems,
Coils,Breakers and the Condensers
are the same in the
15 HP and the 30 HP 1956 ?
I am not quite sure about it.
Lots of Questions.... :eek:

THX so far !
 

kfa4303

Banned
Joined
Sep 17, 2010
Messages
6,094
Re: Restoring 1956 JOHNSONs : 15 HP and 30 HP

Guten tag Johnny. Congratulations on your new motors. The Javelin models were top of the line in their day and the 15hp model was used for decades and later modified into 18hp and 20hp versions. The "C" in the model number may not have any particular significance aside from indicating a particular production batch and/or color code. Here are some great links that may help clear up some of the issues you're having. If you can't find parts over in Germany, you can get most routine items right here at iboats.




Reviving a Vintage Big Twin - Part 1
Maintaining Johnson E & FD Serie
Vintage Evinrude Johnson Outboard Parts & Diagrams - Catalog 376750 (non-javelin parts catalog)
Vintage Evinrude Johnson Outboard Parts & Diagrams - Catalog 376749
 
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