What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

[gjonz]

Alright, here's the set up. My wife and I unveiled our restored Thompson Lake TVT runabout at the Toledo Boat show August of this year. A fellow came up and offered to sell me two 1956 30HP Johnsons, all the repair manuals, and a custom built steel rack on casters. I chuckled, but curiosity got the better of me. I called the guy and went to see the motors, which looked like they were 52 year old Johnsons. Paint in bad shape, etc.

Then he offered them to me for 200.00 bucks all-in. I said "I'll be back from the ATM in a few minutes."

I've already asked about one of these motors that turned out to be a Johnson Javelin. I've found the missing trim pieces and the motor is safely stripped down with all the parts in separate zip-lock bags, in carboard boxes until the larger components get back from being blasted, cleaned, primed, and painted.

Today I started looking at the other '56, cleaned the rat crap and bug nests out. It is missing a faceplate, the high and low speed knobs, but everything else is okay. Then I pulled the plugs to check compression. Seems fine.

I was told the motor was seized, but came to find out that the recoil had jammed with the flywheel somehow. I removed the recoil to check the ignition parts, and they will need to be replaced. No big deal.

Also this is not an electric start...but rather an RD18-C I believe. (OH...my aching back!?!?)

I've had so much fun working on the Javelin, I'm wondering if I should bother with this motor and do a full restoration, mechanical and cosmetic. Should I do somthing in between? Do I even bother.

I also have my little old failthful Seahorse 18 FDE-11 that I've been using, but I can't see owning 3 motors.

Would it be worth it to keep the other 30hp? I just really am intrigued by working on these old beasts and learning about how they work. (Not something I'd have ever thought would strike my fancy! )

Is this the beginning of an illness? I've enjoyed trying to hunt down the parts on the auction site or other classified ads. Being able to bring these relics back from the junk-pile is a hoot!

Your thoughts? Restore it, sell it, or junk it?

Thanks!

Greg

 

[lbentz]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

200 bucks is not a bad investment and these are good motors for restoration. It may be a good idea to join the Antique Outboard Motor Club. This would open a lot of doors as far as getting needed parts. Seaway Marine up in Seattle is a good source for N.O.S. parts and so is Engine Blade and Prop.

I'm about to restore a 1954 Evinerude 25 hp myself, which is a slightly earlier version of what you have.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Sounds like you have "the old motor bug!" Keep the motor - you will be kicking yourself a few months from now, if you don't.

BTW, your worry about having three motors just means that your penchant for the older motors is not fully developed. In due time, you will think owning three motors is like having half an arm!

 

[Rick.]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

"Is this the beginning of an illness?" You bet it is! I have two motors running, four more on deck and very little free time. In time I hope to get them all working or into the hands of someone appreciative. I would make this recommendation. Keep it for now. Once you have finished your current project, wait one year and then sell it if you don't have a desire to do it. My bet is that you will be well into it soon after finishing you current project. All the best to you. Rick.

P.S. After completing my first two motors I decided maybe I should get a boat and I just recently picked up a 12 foot aluminium. Am I sick or what?

 

[mthieme]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

I vote - "Restore it".
But I like old things and an occasional restoration.

After my grandson grows up and moves out, I'm turning his room into my Norman Rockwell den.
It's nautical now, but I keep running into old things for it...vintage porthole, old block & tackle, nets, floats. I need a 1907 1/2 hp outboard to hang on the wall now!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

it is a disease, and compulsion. there are a lot of things worse you could do.

 

[lbentz]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Ahhh, three outboards is nothing. A lot of my fellow collectors have over 100
I thought I was bad, when I had around 15, but nooooo. It is a fun hobby and very inexpensive. A lot cheaper than restoring cars and easier on your back. I like doing it myself. As of now, I only have two, but soon enough, I'll have a third. Those old 30's and 35's are cool motors.

 

[56 rude]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Ahhh, three outboards is nothing. A lot of my fellow collectors have over 100
I thought I was bad, when I had around 15, but nooooo. It is a fun hobby and very inexpensive. A lot cheaper than restoring cars and easier on your back. I like doing it myself. As of now, I only have two, but soon enough, I'll have a third. Those old 30's and 35's are cool motors.

You have a common incurable disease called old-motoritis,me im in the mid stages now with going form the 1950,s into the late 30,early 40,and will proably end up in the 20,s soon.Theres no cure so go with it ,lol.

 

[old boat 54]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Vote to: Restore it. Go for it. Those are cool old motors ! Good luck with it.
start looking for another Motor.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

I've had so much fun working on the Javelin, I'm wondering if I should bother with this motor and do a full restoration, mechanical and cosmetic. Should I do something in between? Do I even bother.

I also have my little old faithful Seahorse 18 FDE-11 that I've been using, but I can't see owning 3 motors.

Would it be worth it to keep the other 30hp? I just really am intrigued by working on these old beasts and learning about how they work. (Not something I'd have ever thought would strike my fancy! )

Is this the beginning of an illness? I've enjoyed trying to hunt down the parts on the auction site or other classified ads. Being able to bring these relics back from the junk-pile is a hoot!

Your thoughts? Restore it, sell it, or junk it?

Thanks!

Greg

It looks like you've answered your own question here.

"...Is this the beginning of an illness? I've enjoyed trying to hunt down the parts on the auction site or other classified ads. Being able to bring these relics back from the junk-pile is a hoot!"

I bought my 2nd OMC about 5 years ago and have close to 40 now... If you like doing it then do it. All the parts are around. The real question is, do you have the place to store engines?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Well,
This is just my opinion:

You should sell it. Junking up your garage with antiquated pieces of polluting junk is just plain shameful. You should send it to the scrapyard to get rid of it. Why would you want one of those things anyway? They aren't reliable. And they're ugly too. And those metal cowls are so noisy. Do you really want to keep something like that? I'm disappointed you would even think about it. Yes, you must really have an illness to own a motor like that. I've seen your javelin and you can dress it up with new paint all you want but it's still ugly.
I hope you make the right decision.
Sincerely,
JBJennings

BTW, here's a pic of some of mine.

 

[lbentz]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Hey!! this is a disease that a lot of us are proud to have. LOL

I've saved some good motors from going to the scrap pile, myself. Interesting enough, my very first motor, (which I still own) is the 66th of the 4404 model number. That was all it took to get me hooked. A 4 cylinder powerhead, small enough to go in my lunch box?? That alone will catch my interest. I'm willing to bet, that the Evinrude Zephyr has the smallest 4 cylinder ever in production.

It is a fun hobby and not too taxing our the pocket book. A tune up and a new paint job will do wonders for the old relics. I can't wait to get the 1954 Big Twin, from a friend of mine. That'll be a hoot. I was always a big fan of the Big Twins and Larks.

The '57 Larks and Golden Javelins were awesome restoration projects and did great things to make the boat look good out on the lakes. If treated properly, they never give you any trouble for many years.

The goal for many collectors is to get ahold of a complete 1940 Evinrude Mate. These things are small enough to put on your kitchen counter and mix drinks with. Ten pounds with a full tank of gas and a piston, the size of spool of thread. Finding one is like finding hen's teeth.

Another one that really cracks me up are the old Martins. Who woulda thought that National Pressure Cooker Company would have made an outboard motor? These had poppet valves, instead of reeds.

Before 1940, Outboard manufacturers in this country were so plentiful, that it was unimaginable. By the time 1960 came around, there were only a few. OMC, Mercury and Chrysler were the three major brands, that survived. Several motors with Clinton and Tecumse' engines on them, went to Sears and Wards with several different marques on them.

Antique Outboard collectors are what is left to keep the history alive. If it wasn't for us, these old relics would have went along the wayside. Many are still out there, hidden away in old barns and basements, just waiting for one of use to discover them and bring them back to life, for a second chance. I have always liked finding a new one and seeing the different ideas, that manufacturers had, to make theirs unique to the next. Water Witch, was bought out by West Bend Aluminum and soon became Chrylser. Thor was a small upstart, which in 1940, became Mercury. In 1909 Ole and Bess Evinrude started Evinrude motors and ELTO. By 1936, Evinrude had acquired Johnson and a few others. Scott Attwater was acquired my McColloch in 1956 and did well to create many headaches among boaters. There was a time when a good outboard was one, that would run half of the time.

So......if there is anyone here, who likes the history of the outboard motor, I would highly recemend "The Old Outboard Book" by Peter Hunn. It's a great piece of literature and history and I learned a lot of great things from it.

This is a disease that I am proud to have, because it is an interesting part of our history. Peter Hunn and the AOMCI are the best at sharing it.

I myself am glad to be here in this site to offer my inpute to help my friends. My inpute may not be entirely acurate, because there are certain motors I haven't seen in quite a while, but I'll help out when I can. Anyone is welcome to contact me directly.

I can see that some of you are AOMCI members as I am too. After this post, I will be registering under a new name. You will see me as 1946Zephyr.

Leon

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Keep it and get it running again...you can always use another outboard. I have a 57 Big Twin and a 58 Johnson 18hp on the back of my boat, see attached pix, and a 56 Lark in the shed that I'm going to get running again...just for fun. I like the combination of 35hp and 18hp so far, but if the Lark proves up I may end up with matched twins on the Texas Maid. Mounting twin motors isn't any harder than mounting one...just a little more hardware to deal with.

 

[asdasc]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

My retired father got the bug about 2 years ago when he wanted a Martin to run on small boat out to my cottage. That quest turned into 3 Martins and counting, plus got me into the older Johnsons. I now have 6 of my own, only one of which is running.

Once you get started, you don't have to look for them anymore, people start bringing them to you. I have a spare garage by the lake and plan to make a wall long engine stand so that I can line them up and work on things. I have an 18HP that runs and one 18HP for parts. A 25HP that I haven't looked at yet, and all the rest are below 5HP.

I would really like to get a 40HP Johnson or Evinrude, but until I find the right one, I will keep working on the ones I have.

Keep it!

 

[gjonz]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Well,
This is just my opinion:

You should sell it. Junking up your garage with antiquated pieces of polluting junk is just plain shameful. You should send it to the scrapyard to get rid of it. Why would you want one of those things anyway? They aren't reliable. And they're ugly too. And those metal cowls are so noisy. Do you really want to keep something like that? I'm disappointed you would even think about it. Yes, you must really have an illness to own a motor like that. I've seen your javelin and you can dress it up with new paint all you want but it's still ugly.
I hope you make the right decision.
Sincerely,
JBJennings

BTW, here's a pic of some of mine.

Well...while I was almost sold by all of the kind responses by everyone with the "illness". Mr. JBJennings brought me back to reality. Why should I keep a multitude of the smoking, noisy relics of a by-gone era running?

I should be looking forward to newer technologies such as Al Gore's BioSolar One (Or BS-1 as I like to call it )

At the first chance, I'm going to march right out to my garage and then haul that beast to the curbside for trash pick-up. Then if JBJennings doesn't come around my neighborhood to snatch it up for his own greedy collection of shameful, evil, and infectious motors, (and since the trash men won't accept anything over 40 pounds without a bribe)...THEN...AND ONLY THEN...will I haul it back in to my garage and rebuild it.

Whew! You guys almost made me regret thinking this through. You almost made me feel ashamed for considering junking this thing! SHAME ON ALL OF YOU! Trying to make a forum newbie make such an awful mistake. Spreading your illness! FOR SHAME!

Thanks Mr. Jennings...where ever you are! You have set me on the path to righteousness by forcing me to reconsider the thought of keeping both 30hp Johnsons! Perish the thought of my "pigg-ery". Hogging and hoarding outboard motors.

I am very ashamed.

Greg

P.S. I'll order the parts tomorrow for both Johnsons. Thanks for the advice guys. It'll give me ammo for the wife.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Hahahhaha, that was a good post, JBJennings. You almost scared me. I almost thought you beatin' up on someone here, until I saw your picture. Nice collection. The '57 Javelins look great fully restored. I picked up an ad poster on Ebay for the '57 Javelin, so if someone is interested

Leon

 

[samo_ott]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Well,
This is just my opinion:

You should sell it. Junking up your garage with antiquated pieces of polluting junk is just plain shameful. You should send it to the scrapyard to get rid of it. Why would you want one of those things anyway? They aren't reliable. And they're ugly too. And those metal cowls are so noisy. Do you really want to keep something like that? I'm disappointed you would even think about it. Yes, you must really have an illness to own a motor like that. I've seen your javelin and you can dress it up with new paint all you want but it's still ugly.
I hope you make the right decision.
Sincerely,
JBJennings

Jason, what are all your engines doing sitting in a field??? They're supposed to be on boats! And what are those ugly black ones? Did your neighbour sneak them into the photo? Good thing you're not closer to Ohio or you'd be trying to grab that 30 Johnson also!

So I was winterizing many of my engines today. Fogging, stabilizing and changing the LU oil and putting em in the back shed before the snow... The shed was getting full so I counted em... I now have 51 outboards! Yikes! Good thing the wife does not have a key for the shed!

 

[BigJ08]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

I say keep and fix it up. You never know when you might get the urge to throw it on an old aluminum boat and go for a ride!

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Steve, you're crackin me up. What are those black ones?? Hahahaha. Those mercs don't look like they qualify as collectables, but the rest do. Nice collection.

samo_ott.....make sure your wife doesn't find the key to your shed, not unless she is like gjonz's wife, who may help add to your collection.

My wife is cool and doesn't care either way. She knows I work hard for my money and supports whatever my interests are.

I love this site though and the entertainment value is good

Leon

 

[jbjennings]

Re: What to do...What to do? Repair or sell or junk?

Look here, McCullough Man,
Keep up the remarks about my black beautys
(aka. early-morning-arm-breakers) and I'll let the secret out of what you've been buying!
Every SERIOUS outboard man has to have at least a couple of mercs! You know you're a real man when you can change the water pump out on a Mark 10. (I can't--or at least don't want to that bad...)

Of course I'd keep the 30! I like the looks of the '56 30hp a lot. And if I saw one on a curb I'd probably wreck my truck turning around to get to it first. But I'm a little far form Ohio so it's safe from me gJonz......
good luck with it. I'm anxious to see the completed javelin!
JBJ