1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

[roofus]

I've got a 57 johnson 35hp seahorse that is set up for remote controls. I would like to get the tiller controls for it. What are my chances of finding an after market set up?

Rob

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

try tcoutboard.com

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Pretty good. Lots of those old motors around. Buy a parts catalog and service manual for it.

 

[wildmaninal]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Pretty good. Lots of those old motors around.

Yep I have (1) 1957 Johnson 35hp (that needs more work), and (1) 1957 Evinrude 35hp that I just had got running the day before yesterday. Both motors are alike, except for the color.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

I also have a 57 J35, a 56 J30 and just recently add a 56 E30, but none are tiller. All are projects, in fact when I bought the J35, the guy I got it from had bolted on a lawn mower handle on as his tiller! I wish I had a photo but he took it off when I told him I did not want it!

Where was I going with this? Oh yeah, I don't see (m)any tillers at all on the old big ones. And quite frankly they're so noisy, I wouldn't wanna be beside em anyway! Remotes all the way for me

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Aw Steve,
They aren't that dang noisy! You just have to work on 'em for so many hours getting them to run that you begin to appreciate that noise. Seriously, I was thinking that your '56 would be reasonably quiet with the belly pan and the rubber seal. Am I being a little too optimistic???
BTW, every once in a while a tiller will come up on ebay.
Curious,
JBJ

 

[F_R]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Back when they were new, everybody took the tillers off and used them as catfish clubs. Now everybody is wanting to put them back on. Must not be any catfish left.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

One of my '58 Bigtwins was tiller steer before I converted it to match up with the other motor for a twin engine installation. Haven't wandered down to the Mississippi to club any catfish lately, but the tiller is still in my parts bin for possible future use!

 

[roofus]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Thanks for the lead. TCOUTBOARD.COM has the tiller set up for 125 bucks!

This is my first boat engine so I'm pretty green on it. Do I need a pressurized tank for this baby? Can I try to fire this thing up out of the water?
It's a pretty cool looking engine and it is factory electric/pull start. I thought that was neat!

I'll post some pics later today

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

yes you need a pressure tank, or convert it to fuel pump, to use with modern tanks. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=205628

 

[roofus]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Thanks. I may try it!
Sounds like you've been around the boat block a time or two.
Are the seahorses pretty reliable engines?

Rob

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Yes, quite reliable when new. But be prepared to work on it to get it back in reliable condition now. You'll probably need to replace the coils if they haven't been replaced already. You'll need a harmonic balancer puller and 3 #8 hardened 1/4-20 thread bolts to pull the flywheel. wouldn't hurt to do the points and maybe the condensers. Then clean the carb and put in a new water pump impeller along with new lower unit seals. It will then probably outlast the owner. I would be prepared to do these things before I would trust it. You've got a real jewel if the l.u. seals aren't bad.
How about a pic?
JBJ

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

i totally agree, all i have to do it get a good lower for mine, i now have 2 bad ones.

 

[roofus]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Boy! the one in your pic is a beauty! Mines not that pretty.
They guy I got mine frome did the lower unit seals and impeller last spring and used it on his boat all last summer so I think I'm probably good there. Just in case.. are the parts readily available? You can only trust a guy so much. I may go through it myself anyway. I'll post some pics later today.

Rob

 

[roofus]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Here are the pics I promised.

Rob

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Looks good, Rob. I am curious about the holes that appear to be drilled in the carb face plate around the high and low speed adjustments. I really like my '54 25 bigtwin which is similar to your 35. I'll bet you like yours.. Have you checked the compression yet? I like to test 'em when I first get them so I have an idea if they're worth putting money into. I have found only 1 out of about a dozen that had bad compression but I always like to know anyway. By the way, mine looked just like yours when I got them. Yours looks like good original condition and totally complete which I like to have.
Good luck and thanks for the pics.
JBJ

 

[F_R]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Long knob belongs on the lower (high speed) needle and the short one belongs on the upper needle. Gotta get these things right or somebody will think we are dumb..

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

You've got a workhorse in the rough there. The fuel pump conversion is easy to do, whichever option you choose. Might try a pressurized tank though, some folks get along with them real well. You can run it with the lower unit in a big trash can or barrel of water, but be forewarned the water will be an oily mess when you finish...just a heads up in case you've got fussy neighbors or the green police nearby. After you get it running well, consider repainting the top cowl...those motors really clean up nicely. Below is a pix of the Texas Maid, the 57 Evinrude is a cousin to your Johnson.

 

[roofus]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Thanks guys for all the help!
Where did you get the paint and decals for the Johnson on the back of the Texas Maid?

Rob

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1957 seahorse 35hp Johnson

Rob,
I got mine at nymarine.com. You don't want to know what they cost but they are worth it (to me!). You'll spend a bunch of money trying to match it and spend about the same.
JBJ