1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

[Kark]

Greetings to all. I have been scanning the internet for help with a few Johnson/Evinrude projects I am working on and this definatly seems to be the best one. I would like to thank everyone for all the informtion I got here to free up the steering on a 1976 Johnson 70. It had been sitting for a decade and the cable in the tilt tube would not budge but a little PB blasted and vice grips and light hammer tapping freed it up, still needs more work and a widget. I am new to these forums and new to fixing outboards but am very hungry to learn and to do it myself. I have had many outboards/inboards in the past (even rebuilt a 289 for my 65 Mustang) and have an ok knowlege of them.

Ok, on to the question I recently purchaded this motor for $50 online, thought it would be a good one to learn on and I like the older ones, very reliable if a bit louder than the new ones. I was told by the son of the man who owned it that it has been sitting in the garage for 20 years, and I beleive him, the man was nice but clueless, did not know what V-Twin meant orthat it was 25 horsepower, just a bad picture on the internet. I went to look at it thinkin it was a 10 - 18, boy was I surprised, thing weights a ton. I am getting ready to try and start the beast butd not want to hurt it (the worst thing you can do to any motor s run it<grins>). What precautions other than taking sprk plugs out and wd40 the chambers along with changing the lower end grease/oil would you say? I have a 50gal barrell of water I will be putting it in, once I can get a friend to help me. Thanks and nice to meet you all once again.

since we all love pictures of projects, here we go.

 

[JB]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Howdy, Kark.

Welcome to iboats.

Don't use WD-40. It is not a lubricant. Use a good penetrating oil.

Be sure to use Champion J4C plugs, gapped at .030" and set the points at .020". J6C is an acceptable substitute.

Replace the water pump impeller before you try to start her.

Be sure to use new gaskets under the DSrain and Vent plugs after you change the gearcase oil.

If she is reticent about starting, go to the Top Secret File at the top of this forum and do "Outboard won't start".

Good luck and let us know how you do.

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

I am new to this so, what is a DSrain? I am thinking a typo and it is Drain. I will read up on changing the impeller (yay, new stuff to learn) to, looks like I will be using the PDF on how to build a outboard stand I found here as well <grins>. I also now have noticed that the motor uses a pressurised tank. Are they easy to change over to a fuel pump as tank and hose were not to be found when purchased? I had a 56 or so Johnson some time back that I was charged an arm and a leg to do this to but it worked fine.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Just wanted to say your big twin looks like a really nice one. I find mine will flood pretty easy so when you get it running right, you might want to push the choke in after no more than 2 pulls so it doesn't flood. I usually have good luck pull starting mine after 1 pull on choke, then push it in and it usually fires up.
Good luck with yours,
JBJ

 

[JB]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

"I am new to this so, what is a DSrain?"

That is a Drain that JB has added a big S to. I always edit before posting, but sometimes I err.

Good catch.

 

[kbait]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

I like your title '1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help'. After about 5 pulls, we'd all need help with that beast!
Hope you get 'er to start in 1/2 pull warm..

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Thanks Kbait, I hope it is easy to start myself, the thing looks brand new even the screws on it do not look like they have ever been removed. As for my earlier question about changing from a two hose pressure tank to a fuel pump system please disreguard. I local fella here was selling an older 50's something that was seized with fuel tank and hose, I asked for the tank and hose for $30 and he agreed. When I met up with him he apologized for not all the parts being there, he was unsure where the squeeze bulb was for it or how I would attach a new one, I enlightened him on how the two hose system works. Now to find a rebuild kit for the tank it is a bit rough but all there.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Here's a gret link that should help a bit. Stick with it. You've got a cool old motor there and with a little patience and some basic maitneance it'll be back to life in no time and you'll have the coolest motor on the lake (which is all that really matters afterall )


http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

I was finally able to get the motor out of the truck and the cowling off. It has a few things I was not expecting but explains a little about the weight. It has a chain driven starter motor on it and what I think is an electric shift, that is what it is right? Looks like pulling that rope to start it might not be a problem <grins>. Seems this is a rare 1953 (maybe it is a later model than I am thinking, max 1955 as 56 went to 30HP) Big Twin 25. Someone paid a bit more for these features. What do you think? here are some pics. Think I will search a bit on these options. Thanks for looking

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Holy Crapp!! You found an old Big Twin Electric. What a rare find and a nice motor at that. Even if you have to completely strip this motor down and rebuild the whole thing, it'll still be worth the money and effort. That is my oppinion
I'm betting though this motor is low hours and you won't have to do much, outside of a good tune up. One thing I like about this particular model year, is the fact that when you re-attach the lower unit, you don't have to fight that pesky water tube, in the impeller housing. The water passages are built into the exhaust housing and lower unit. The impellers are available at your local marine dealor across town there. If you have to order one on line, then iboats has them. The same impeller was used in the 40hp's up into the 70's
I would also take a good look at the coils and make sure they're not riddled with cracks. If they are, they arc out on the mag plate and spoil your afternoon on the lake. Those are also readily available too. They were used on every single and twin, from 1951 till the mid 70's. Nice motor. Keep us posted on your progress and welcome to iboats.

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Thanks Zephyr, Should be intersting to work on. never changed an impeller before so looks like this will be a good learning experience. Looks like those other wires after close inspection and not throttle or shift but an electric choke, someone please correct me if I am wrong. Thanks again

ALSO: It is a standard 1953 acording to serial number, someone juts paid a bit more for electic start and choke.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Yea, last year, I had a Johnson 25 this same year. Look for a solenoid mounted around the carb and that would have a single wire only. The only other wires I could think of on that old of a motor, would be for the kill switch to the ignition.

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Was there an armature on the solenoid that also activated the choke? if so it is there.

The only other wire looks to be a ground to the body of the motor so ya, kill switch.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Ground to the motor could be from the starter solenoid. The choke solenoid you will find a rod going from it, to the choke linkages. These soleniods are about 1 1/2 inches in diameter.

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

The starter solenoid does not seem to be present. While reading about these it saysthat the solenoid was seperate and in a box mounted on the boat. The good news is that acording to my reading a regular automotive solenoid can be mounted under the cowling and will work fine. Maybe yours had this change made to it by the previous owner? this one will be a 6V system, will need to get a 6V battery to use it but that should not be to difficult.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

No, actually the outboard solenoid is different. On the outboard solenoid, the small stud on the left is hot and the one on the right, is a ground that goes to the motor. On the automotive type, both of the small studs are hot. So, if you hook one of those to a ground, you could either burn up your wiring, or just shorten the life of the solenoid. And yes, the starter solenoids on the earlier motors are typically mounted on the boat, back by the transom in a junction box. The later motors that come with generators, will have a larger junction box, to accomodate a voltage regulator. There are posts on here that will be of great help to your wiring arrangement. They are for the 57 - 59 models, but for yours, it will work the same.

 

[Kark]

Re: 1953 Evinrude Big Twin 25, Starting help

Thanks again Zephyr. I see what you mean about those solenoids. I am also currently working on a 1976
Johnson 70HP. When I turned the ignition all I got was a single click. After reading and testing the starter by doing the step by step I found on the forum it was determined to be the solenoid so off to the parts house to pick one up. Turns out this slenoid should be simple to hook up for the 25HP as well, after doing the 70HP I am confident I can hook up a makeshift push button strt for the25Hp, sweet. Once installed the 70 starter is now turning again. A shout out thank you to the people who posted those nice basic boat wireing diagrams, they really helped. Well back to work on the 25 and 70.

Also: Since the 25 will be a 6V system and battery will a different solenoid be required or will the 12V one work fine for this? I hope it will as the last solenoid was only $22, thought it would be alot more.