57 5.5 johnson ?

[smoken]

new to outboard world Dad passed away I got his 1957 seahorse 5.5 put in drum of water ran fine took to lake couple times 3rd time out hard to pull start run a minute and die found this web site started reading (very good bunch of people on hear) took apart installed new coils, points, condenser,
plugs gap 20 plugs 30 installed new water pump cleaned all up still hard to pull went step by step and with lower end apart turns over good but can not find anything obvious is the lower end supose to be tight or a little lose have to force propeller on and shaft gears kinda lost any help appreciated sorry so ;ong just thought the more you knew the better

smoken

 

[film495]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

you could try it without the propeller to see if that is binding and causing the stalling, but I would bet carb. you really did a lot of work on restoration out of the gate, didn't see you mention anything about putting a carb kit in it.

make sure the gas to oil mix is correct
change the lower end gear oil if you didn't already

actually, since you mentioned it was running good and then started to start and die, I've seen gas get some water in it and make a motor do that.

 

[smoken]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

you could try it without the propeller to see if that is binding and causing the stalling, but I would bet carb. you really did a lot of work on restoration out of the gate, didn't see you mention anything about putting a carb kit in it.

make sure the gas to oil mix is correct
change the lower end gear oil if you didn't already

actually, since you mentioned it was running good and then started to start and die, I've seen gas get some water in it and make a motor do that.

thanks for imput I try to take care of motor the way my Dad did I have and eska 5hp that belonged to grandpa and Dad never used it just tune and run every now and then in a drum so trying to keep Dads favorite motor going and learing alot on this site the carb is rebuilt alot of parts come from napa
prices not bad at all the hard pull start is my main concern at this time I was thinking about emery clothing the shaft and bushings to losen things up but dont want to hurt anything once again thanks

 

[junior1113]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

buddies got a 56 5.5 we cant kill the damn thing there is a high speed and low speed adjustment on those carbs and also these run on 30 to 1 gas / oil not 50 to 1

 

[junior1113]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

becuase the carb is rebuilt doesnt mean its tuned in to your motor

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

I don't fully understand your problem. Are you saying your lower unit seems to be binding up the motor and causing it not to idle right? Have you triec taking off the lower unit and taping up a water hose to the water tube and seeing how it runs, making sure you don't lose your lower crank seal setup?
Does it run well without the lower unit on? I'm thinking if your lower unit is binding up, it is due to one of two things. One possibility is there is something inside the pocket that the drive shaft splines slide into beneath the powerhead that is increasing the pressure on your pinion gear and putting too much pressure on the pinion, causing it to bind. The other would be that the pin in the carrrier, or the hole in the forward gear is not lined up and when you tightened down the lower unit skeg half, it binded up. I would think you would have had trouble getting the lower unit halves together if that were so, and feel it when you tried to turn the prop in neutral with the lower unit off.
Can you describe the problem a little more clearly?
Thanks,
JBJ

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

I think those motors also may have a shock absorber in the lower unit, that binds up when the spring is broken.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

I think those motors also may have a shock absorber in the lower unit, that binds up when the spring is broken.

I don't really understand the problem either, but if the lower unit is binding its likely the shock absorber.

 

[F_R]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

I don't really understand the problem either, but if the lower unit is binding its likely the shock absorber.

I don't know how we got sidetracked on the question, are we talking about a tight/binding situation or a carburetor problem? Those two situations are worlds apart.

However if we are talking about a tight/binding situation, chances are 99% you have a broken shock absorber spring.

 

[smoken]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Yes lower end binding is the problem and I appreciate the advice I went through steps of eliminating and it is the lower end this shock absorber
spring you are talking about were is it located there is a spring that rides just under power head on drive shaft is this the one I need to tear down and look at
thanks

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Yes ,
It is definitely a lower unit tear down. Not hard. You just need to find a replacement. If you can't find one, pm me as a last resort. I may have one.
Later,
JBJ

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

No. It is not the spring under the powerhead. That is used to seal the crankcase. The shock absorber is in the lower unit, just above the gears.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Definitely sounds like a shock absorber issue... Only fix is to find another shock absorber - usually comes with a parts motor attached. Not a bad thing to have with a 50+ year old motor.

I just assembled a '56 version of the same motor. Mine came in pieces with a connecting rod busted. Found another crankshaft and connecting rod and put it all together Friday afternoon. Runs SWEET!

- Scott

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

FYI - if the motor you're speaking of is the one in your avatar pic, it's a 1958, not a 1957...
- Scott

 

[smoken]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

I called my brother down south and he is getting me a blowed powerhead off
a model cdl 15 mine is a model cdl 14 I think it will work

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Why are you getting a blowed powerhead? Do you mean the lower unit off a motor with a blowed powerhead? Just curious,
JBJ

 

[smoken]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Yes I worded that wrong he told me he had access to a complete unit with a blowed powerhead if it would work all I have to do for it is go hinting with him this fall something we have not done together in a few years I said heck yea going to pick it up nexy weekend.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Sounds like a plan. Your '58 is a sharp-looking motor.
Hope you get some game,
JBJ

 

[smoken]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

I got lower end, replaced started good. kcked in fwd and rev, then noticed no water spraying out ,shut it down .did something wrong gasket maybe? but lost my water pump, so tear it down in morn. see if I can figure it out bought a manual from this site loads of info glad I found this site, thanks

 

[fix_it]

Re: 57 5.5 johnson ?

Are you using the impeller from the used lower unit? If so it may be bad. Also, I did not see where you even replaced the one in your old lower unit. I would make that a top priority. Also, make sure the water tube is in the gromet and that the impeller key is in place.

I know I'm a little late on this, but I had one of these motors and the shock absorber pushed apart without breaking the spring. I just pushed it back together with a vise. I don't know if that would have helped in your case or not, but something to keep in mind. Good luck with detting it running. That is the smoothest little motor I have ever touched.