Guess the Year of My Johnson (with pics)

[Captain Caveman]

I just picked this Johnson Seahorse 5.5hp and was told it was a 1963. It runs decent but I will go through the carb and everything else. However, I am struggling to establish the exact year. The plate is missing from the transom bracket. The plug on the motor (bottom pic) just lists the serial number. The cowling looks to me to be more like a 1959 or 1960. The handle was obviously replaced so I'll have to find a matching one.

I've looked everywhere on the web for a list of Johnson serial numbers. Can anyone help me definitively identify the model/year?

 

[flyingscott]

Roughly 59-61ish

 

[F_R]

2077737 is a 1960.

 

[jbcurt00]

Looks to be a franken-motor, so it may not be 100% just 1 model year.....

 

[F_R]

https://web.archive.org/web/20101220125043fw_/http://old-omc.de/j_1960/seite_18_19.jpg

 

[Captain Caveman]

Thanks everyone.

F_R - do you have a link to the serial number list?

That ad is fantastic! I'll print that out and hang it in the workshop.

 

[TN-25]

1960. Like the 1959 except it has a better tiller handle grip & also was the 1st year Johnson's 5½ came with a built in fuel pump with a single line. Swivel bracket color looks like 1956-58. Make sure to run that bronze-bushed motor with enough oil in the mix.

 

[oldboat1]

For cross referencing model year/number and serial number: Peter Hunn, The Old Outboard Book. About $20. Try Amazon.

 

[Captain Caveman]

Make sure to run that bronze-bushed motor with enough oil in the mix.

She'll be sipping a stiff cocktail of 24:1. A little 2-stroke oil never hurt anyone!

Thanks everyone for your responses. 1960 is the ticket!