1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

[scipper77]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

The video is pretty choppy on my phone but it does not look like youre pumping very much water. I would take the lower unit back off and check the water pump again. Are you sure you got the key back in? Is the plate on upside down? Did you put the impeller in with the fins the wrong way and damage the new impeller? Or maybe you spun the prop to align the main shaft when installing the powerhead and spun the impeller the wrong way?

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Looks like it's pumping fine to me.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

it pumps as much water as my 57, and if you put your hand in the stream, it feels really hot ..maybe 120f, but i can touch the head without smelling searing flesh....but cant keep my fingers on it very long! as for the 500f on the silicone........i think thats a bit low for exhaust temps. ( hope someone can narrow down that number). isnt there a gasket available?

 

[mstahl1171]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Looks fine to me...about the same as my 62 Lark 40hp. I'd say your motor is pumping water just fine

 

[scipper77]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

I will have to view the video again when I am at home on my laptop. It is very choppy on my phone and looks like more of a spray than a stream of water. Sorry if I steered you wrong.

 

[Marcaronio]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Thank you all very much! I did end up taking it apart again and checking everything over again and couldn't find any problems. I ran it for about 20 minutes and the water never got any hotter coming out of the exhaust. I guess I was just being a little too cautious. I can touch the head for about 2 seconds before I have to remove my finger. I can touch the block for about 3 seconds before I have to remove my finger.

I can't adjust the high or low speed jets very well. I think I may have to get a new carburetor as a previous owner appears to have sanded the jets and tightened them into the orifices a little too hard. I will see what it is like out on the river before I make a decision.

Also, I have a question about the fuelil ratio. I read that it requires a 24(fuel):1(tcw-3 2 cycle oil) mixture. I put 3 gallons (384 fl oz) of fuel in the tank and then added 16 fl oz of twc-3 2 cycle oil. The exhaust is dumping what seems to be a large amount of oil into the water. Is this mixture correct? Can I play with the ratio until the amount of oil in the exhaust is diminished?

Thank you all so much for the help. I am so close to being able to take the kids out on the river.

 

[scipper77]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

It's funny you mention the dumping of oil. When I first ran mine after my overheat and repairs it spewed out thick black oil and smoked excessively at first. After some run time in my bucket and the carb adjustment procedure it seems to have purged itself. When I got the motor starting it released a cloud of smoke. It was embarrassing. Now there is barely any visible smoke unless I rev it in neutral.

You are doing a good job with this motor. I'm sure if you keep at it you will have of running like a champ in no time.

 

[mstahl1171]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Congrats...sounds like you are well on your way to a great running motor

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

i mix my 57, 5 1/2 at 16:1, it smokes, makes a mess in a barrel, but those old girls are messy! id be concerned (my opinion)if it didnt smoke and drip white and black goo . back in the day, when they were made, environmental concerns....werent concerns. mix it strong, deal with the drips and enjoy, and be proud of the work you've done! good job.

 

[Marcaronio]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

OK, I am working on sealing up the gear housing as it was leaking very badly. I have all of the new parts but could use some advise on installing them. How do i get the old shaft seal out and in properly? Any tips on putting the rope seal in properly? What is the proper way to fill with oil once complete?

Here is one of the boy in the boat I just finished restoring.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Hi Macaronio. Great lookin' little motor. Here's a great link that can walk you through changing the seals. It's for a different model, but the steps are the same. You don't need any special tools aside from a seal puller, which you can get at any auto parts store for about $10. They usually look something like this: http://imagehost.vendio.com/a/28304091/aview/sl_seal_puller.jpg

How to change oil seals link:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=277190&highlight=lower+unit+seal+kit+installation

 

[mina_itse]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Macaronio try this tread on the same forum http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=320981 . It is about the lower unit on a 55 Johnson sea horse. God luck wit youre motor. Eero

 

[rwilso]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Compair your motor with this one http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...ntage-evinrude-johnson/377511/37751100001.htm

 

[Marcaronio]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

Took it out on the river today and it ran perfect. The kids and wife had a great time. I couldn't be happier. Now I'm going to fix the other motor I just bought and sell this one.

 

[Marcaronio]

Re: 1958 Johnson Seahorse 5 1/2 HP Tune Up

I've taken the boat out on the river a couple times now and have had a lot of fun. The river is much more crowded than I remember from when I was 15-18. I towed my parents behind us the last time which I will never do again. It is too difficult to steer and with how bad other boaters on the river are at piloting their vessels it is just too dangerous. We had a couple teenage girls in a canoe coming right at us and I couldn't reverse because I was towing them so i just had to take it out of gear and watch them paddle harder to try and avoid us instead of trying to stop right into the front of my boat. Anyways, here is a picture of our latest outing:

I have a question though. The motor drops a small amount of black goo from a small hole in the bottom of the tower after each running. Is this normal? It doesn't appear to be gear oil.

Also, I could never get the motor to idle very well with the cover on. I thought it was because of poor air flow but it was actually something to do with the fuel flow because I moved my vacuum fuel pump to the transom mount with much shorter fuel and vacuum lines and now it runs better than ever.