Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help?

[jpm_speed]

I know the boat hasn't been out on the water for at least 15 years. I've got the motor in the back of my truck 'cause I was wanting to take it to a marina to be serviced before I tried to start it. However I've been told by the guys I've called that they do not service Evinrude motors from the 1950's.

Can someone give me a couple pointers where I should start if I want to do the work myself? It don't imagine it will be too much more complicated than my 6.2L diesel? Will I damage the motor if I just toss it on the boat in the water and give it a shot of quick start and try to crank it over? looking for repair manual ect. any help would be much apreciated.

 

[tonk62]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

if it is a 1956 , it is a 30 hp , they are real simple to work on and run great when finished. read the top secret file at top of this section, it will give some pointers. Be sure you run 24:1 oil mix!! There will be several members chime in to help you with this motor.

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Hello JPM,

I just took possession of my grandmother's '53 15HP....so we're in the same boat!

I've read a lot here (and other internet sites) and learned a ton. Here's what you're about to discover:

1.) I wouldn't just "give it a try" because the impeller (cooling pump) is most likely toast, and *if it starts*, you'll be running without any water cooling the block. Real easy to turn a good motor into scrap metal....

2.) ...but it most likely won't start because your coils are undoubtedly shot. You'll be pulling your flywheel very shortly. Might as well get some 2x4's & build a stand.

3.) your carb most likely needs to be rebuilt

4.) you're about to learn the differences between 2-hose fuel delivery (which your engine uses) & 1-hose fuel delivery...and you'll begin a.) searching for a 2-hose, pressurized fuel tank & hose or b.) researching how to convert this motor to a fuel pump system for use with a 1-hose system. If you have the original 2-hose tank, you'll need to rebuild it, too. Gaskets are available...

5.) as stated, you almost assuredly need to change the impeller, which means dropping the lower. Might as well change seals, too.

Are you good with tools?

Manuals (or reprints) are available here at iboats [and elsewhere].....look around!

 

[series60]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Hey jpm_speed, Here is what I did with my 1959 Evinrude 18 hp. There is a link to Duckworks about a third of the way down the page. He has all the poop on bringing these old outboards up to snuff. Not all the info applies to all these vintage outboards but a lot of it does.

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Hey jpm_speed, Here is what I did with my 1959 Evinrude 18 hp.

Awesome write-up! I especially appreciate your explanation of the lower, as that's my next part of my project...

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Wow guys thanks for responding so quickly! the plate with serial number has two years 1956 and 1957 written on it. The motor casing has 35 horse power written on it so maybe I got the year wrong? I think the gas tank in my grandfathers boat is still in good condition so I should be ok for the tank although I might need new hoses for it. I'll have to check on that next time I get out to the boat. (I only brought the motor home with me as I thought it would need the most work)

I just attached a pic of the serial numbers and the motor with the cover off.

I think 15 years ago when my dad first brought the boat from my grandfathers place the motor ran fine and then overheated. So that would reinforce what all of you have said about the impeller being shot after sitting for so long. Series60 thanks for the link I'm going through it right away. Thanks again guys hope this won't take too long as I was hoping to get it in the water this year...

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

That looks like a '59 Evinrude 35hp (the last year they made a '35 till the 70's). And it looks in good condition. Can you type in the serial # as that has the model # in it. The '56 and '57 on the tag are just patent years. Do you have more pictures? And you have a fuel pump on it thus you only need a regular single line tank, the same tank that is still in use today...

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

I don't right now. It's in the back of my truck and it's pretty dark outside. Those bad pics were taken with my cell phone and a flashlight. I'm amazed at how much you know about it with my terrible pictures. Makes me think I might actually be able to do this. Tomorrow I'll be trying to bring it into my basement work area so that I can start taking it apart. I should be able to get some better pictures of it once this has happened.
My grandfather had a boat house and since then it has been in a basement. Hopefully I won't need to do a carb job on it... but now that I've said that I'm thinking you guys are going to tell me that I should anyways while I have it apart right?

Jon

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

I'm lazy and try never to do a carb unless I have too and I find about half the time I have to. Once you get a model # off it I probably have the parts manual for you so you can see how it all gos together. They're pretty simple engines and there's lotsa expertise here on the forum.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

it's not a 56 or 57 as it has a thermostat. I think it's a 58 as the 59 has a more squared off belly pan.

http://www.old-omc.de/e_1958/seite_12.jpg

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Ok... you motivated me... I went outside... bear hugged the motor and carried it inside. My back will hate me later.

Serial numbers are: 35514 & 50595

I attached pics from all sides of the motor.
Jon

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

You know I was getting pretty down about it after speaking to some Evinrude dealers. One guy told me the motor was worth about 20$ and said they could work on it but it would probably cost more than 500$ and it would fail on me after a week of use and would cost me another couple hundred every time it broke down. So much for pride in the company he works for.

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

These are "labors of love"....

There's nothing in it for a dealer, and there's no way he could warranty the work...but for you, this represents a family treasure that's quite worthy of being made to work!

Feel great about it & roll up your sleeves!!

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

One last pic with the cover on.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Yes, you have a 1958 Lark there. The first model year with the Super Quiet suspension and the first model year with the thermostat and fuel pump. These were some of the best motors made and easy to work on. I'm a proud owner of a '59 Johnsom 35, myself and about to mount it on a nice little 15 1/2' Lone Star aluminum boat.

As far as the dealers go, don't let these nig nogs discourage you. They only want you to belly up and spend a few grand on a new motor. Who can blame them? Now that you found us here, you can take the joy of fixing that old classic up yourself and having just as reliable of a motor as though who went out and spent a few grand. For just a couple hundred, you can do a complete tune up and make it run flawlessly for many years to come and pass it down a couple more generations.

Hmmmmm......just looked at those pictures you posted, you probably won't even need a couple hundred bucks to make that motor top notch. Those dealers were fools for not taking on the job. LOL

 

[lindy46]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

First thing I'd do is check compression. If it has good compression (110psi+ on both cylinders and even) then all else can be fixed for a reasonable price. As mentioned with the overheat issue, it will need a new impeller and probably a new thermostat. You can easily check the ignition parts by removing the pull starter and then removing the little inspection plate on top of the flywheel. Points can be cleaned and adjusted to .020" through that port. If the coils aren't all cracked, check for spark with a $10 spark tester from an auto parts store. If you have good spark, then just change the oil in the lower unit and give her a try. Here's one I restored.

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

wow.. your motor looks great! trying to find my compression tester.. it's been years since I've used it. Maybe I'll have to go buy a new one.

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Serial numbers are: 35514 & 50595

Hey Jon,

Nobody has mentioned it yet, so I will.....35514 is the model number. Your s/n is 50595.

If you incorporate "35514" into your google (or eBay, etc,) searches you'll get very specific results.

marineengine.com has a lot of on-line pages from parts manuals, but, alas, not a '58 35514.

But they do have a '59 35516 which I imagine is very close...

go here---> http://www.marineengine.com/parts/johnson-evinrude-parts.php?year=1959&hp=35 and click on the link for 35516 & see what you see...

 

[jpm_speed]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

Ok so for a newbie to any type of outboard motor would you recommend that I get the Ken Cook original service manual or this manual from marineengine.com? Or is the SELOC repair manual more detailed/simple for a newcomer? Or do you think there's no more information in these books than what's available from the Duckworks link and series60's link earlier in this thread? Searching with the model number sure does help. Thanks for that.

 

[mark in new jersey]

Re: Just inherited grandfathers 1956 Evinrude 35 hp - I know nothing about it... help

My answer to that question is "go read my sorry tale of woe"...

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=514817

Maybe your model year has better OMC documentation available than what is offered for my engine. Good luck!

Sure wish you were in NJ...we could learn this stuff together!