Fuel Ratio?

Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
7
I have a 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp. I have been running it on 50:1 with no problems. I Read in my buddies manual that its One quart of Oil to every 6US gallons of gas, What ratio is that like 16:1?<br /><br />Mike
 

Fouled Plug

Ensign
Joined
Jun 29, 2001
Messages
935
Re: Fuel Ratio?

1 quart per 6 gallons = 24:1<br />Modern TCW3 protects a lot better than the non-detergent 30W used in the past. I would run richer than 50:1 to keep them old bearings happy. Does your buddy have any plug-fouling issues on his rig?
 

Walter

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
787
Re: Fuel Ratio?

Chinewalker <br />Captain <br />Member # 3940 <br /> posted September 06, 2001 09:10 PM <br />--------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br />Hi Walt,<br />Yes, my 50:1 remark was directed at the older Mercs. Most any Merc can handle it for awhile, as even back into the late 1940s they were "full-jeweled" - remember that one? I run my vintage (pre 1960) Mercs pretty hard so I like to up it to 32:1 for them, 20:1 for my racing stuff.<br />As for the little Johnson JW, run it at 24:1 and it'll run forever. Keep in mind that those old babbit bearing motors (ALL OMC motors prior to 1955, and some into the early 1970s) need the extra oil not just for lubing, but also for sealing purposes. The tolerances on the old motors were a lot looser than the new ones and the oil helped cushion things, too. Simple rule - if it has babbit bearings on the rod journals, run it 24:1. If it has needle bearings, you can lan it out from there depending on where else needles and rollers can be found. For instance, a 1959 10hp OMC has needles in the upper main bearing and on the crank/rod journals, but still has bronze at the lower and center mains - better off at 32:1. The 5.5hp from the same year is all bronze bushings and bearings - run it 24:1. The 3hp motors didn't get any needle bearings until mid 1960s, and still used bronze bearings on the rods, center main, and lower main into the mid 1970s as it was updated to the 4hp - run them at 32:1.<br />How about that for a long answer to a simple question??? I'll shut up now...<br />- Scott
 

Walter

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 3, 2001
Messages
787
Re: Fuel Ratio?

SS:<br /><br />RE: what I posted above...<br /><br />I thought you might be interested to read what Chinewalker once said regarding fuel ratio for older outboards.<br /><br />Walt
 
Joined
Jan 30, 2002
Messages
7
Re: Fuel Ratio?

Thanks for the help, Im surprised my motor hasn't like seized or something, cause I have being running 50:1 in it for over a year with no problems, I just got thinking about it becasue my Buddie got an old seahorse too with a manual, so he looked in it and it said what to mix for the proper ratio. Ill be running 24:1 from now on thats for sure. And I think ill invest in picking up one of those reproduction Service manuals that tell you all that stuff cause I had no idea what it was. Does anyone know the plug gap for the same Motor? Cause I have it at 0.30.<br /><br />Thanks for your help.
 
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