18 hp Evinrude 57-58

[Brianjason6]

I am going to look at and possibly purchase a 57 or 58 18 hp Evinrude. The current owner never aquired a tank. Say's he got fooled. Anyhow he claims to have never started it. I would mainly like a link or personal experiece help in finding information on these motors. Did they have electric start? Are they worth the time to rebuild? Should I check anything before buying, other than compression, shift ability, or all parts included. I will not be able to run this motor while checking it out. I do plan to brings some fuel to wet its whistle and and check compression. Any advice, tips or information will be helpfull.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Also, how can I find the post for "Waking up an old outboard?"

 

[Sargent Skiff]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

All the info you'll need is here:

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/columns/max/articles.htm

Especially:
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/06/columns/max/index6.htm

The 18's were and still are an excellent motor.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Awakening a sleeping outboard is in the Top Secret file at the top of the Johnson/Evinrude forum. Those are great motors...if it's complete and has compression, snap it up....for the right price.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Thanks men. I'll check out the duck works magazine links. Much appreciated.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Awakening a sleeping outboard is in the Top Secret file at the top of the Johnson/Evinrude forum. Those are great motors...if it's complete and has compression, snap it up....for the right price.

I'll second that motion. Get that old bugger. I own one and I'm amazed at how well it runs, after the condition I found it.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

First I must say, I can't help but try to kill that bug... Anyhow. I'm also buying today a bucket of 18 hp evinrude parts for the same year. Said to be complete except rings. But I can't beat the price for parts and another tank. Just in case the other one work beautifully and I want to attempt putting the parts back together, where might I find rings? A part number would be extremely helpfull. If I bought books for every motor I buy, I couldn't afford to fix them. Thanks for the help and advice everyone.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

If you want to buy all the parts needed to rebuild that other motor, I would try Sea-Way Marine in Seattle or Engine Blade and Prop. These dealors have a nice supply of NOS parts for those 18's

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

While you're waiting for your parts to ship, take a look at this thread.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=370228&highlight=1957+18hp+iBoats+favorite

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Found out for sure it's a 58 and the parts motor is also. I read that thread, directy above. It sounds like these motors are very promising and forgiving. I hope it forgives the previous owner and promises to run good for me.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

I would take a compression test on it and see what you get. That old one of mine has 100psi on each cylinder and that's using the pull rope to check. It may even be better now, since I ran it for about an hour and got everything loosened up and cleaned out.

 

[rjezuit]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

http://old-omc.de/e_1958/seite_28.jpg
Just some info on it. Rick

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Alright..Today's events. After a sleepless night of anticipation I got up early and started to look over the two motors. First thing I noticed was that the "all together" motor had a broken transom mount. At that point I decided that I would have one motor. Considering that the parts motor may or may not be all there. 2 hrs later I had it remounted on the good transom mount. I only took it loose at the bottom and the top bushings. Then on to the lower unit. To my suprise the parts motor had a new impeller. I also ran some light weight oil through the motor to clean out any junk. I cleaned the old water pump and moved the impeller. Then replaced the O rings at the water pump housing and the top of the drive shaft. When replacing the lower unit I found that the shift linkage bolt was stripped. I pulled the lower unit back off and mounted the linkage to the shift rod on the lower unit with a longer bolt and a nut. Then put it back on and tighted the top linkage. Piece of cake! Along the way I did check shift operation, emptied the light weight oil and added new lower unit oil.

Finally on to compression. Using a cheap compression tester, and pulling 3 times I acheived between 95 and 100 on both cylinders. Looked pretty even. I checked fire on both plugs and it was hot and blue/white. Depending on how hard I pulled.

While looking at the carb I noticed that the body boss gasket was on the high speed needle. Hahaha. I realized immediatley I better pull the carb apart and see what they had done. It was very clean..Must have been soaked. Luckily the body boss gasket was the only one out of place. I threw on the carb, replaced the fuel lines, cleaned the sediment bowl, used the filter from the parts motor since this one was invisible. To my disappointment some yelled the dinner call and I was done for the day.

Tomorrow, points, fuel, start attempt. If the coils look cracked, I also have a brand new set from the parts motor. Anything I'm missing? Starting tips for this beast would be helpfull.. Thanks everyone.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

http://old-omc.de/e_1958/seite_28.jpg
Just some info on it. Rick

Thanks Rick. I've searched everywhere for more and more information and hadn't bumped into that one yet.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

starting tips:

pump the primer on the tank until the fuel bowl on the carb fills. Pull the choke out. Gently seat the idle needle and back it out about 1 1/4 turns, dently seat the fast needle and back it out about 1 turn. It will crank by the second or third pull. ONce it cranks, push the choke in and run it a minute or two and then set your idle and fast needles (instructions in the top secret thread). I'd use a fan to blow exhaust fumes away so you can get the idle set better.
Nice motor!
JBJ

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

It's a nice motor. I have one and it is very reliable. Towards the end of last season, I had a little trouble starting it, but found that it was a pressure tank issue...needed to change the o-rings in the connector and cut off some line that was cracked.

Not sure how much you got it for, but I'm sure you'll be happy with it.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

It started! Then died. I've lost fire. I'll be back to the magneto tomorrow to check it out. Coils look good but havn't been properly tested yet..possible bad plug wires, or I may need to remove the flywheel and file the points.

 

[restornator]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

It started! Then died. I've lost fire. I'll be back to the magneto tomorrow to check it out. Coils look good but havn't been properly tested yet..possible bad plug wires, or I may need to remove the flywheel and file the points.

that's a symptom of a stripped out flywheel key. you'll have spark but it definitely won't "fire"

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

that's a symptom of a stripped out flywheel key. you'll have spark but it definitely won't "fire"

Wow..Just as I was about to post that exact problem..Good call. I pulled the flywheel this morning and...the cranshaft key is broken. For future reference, is there anything I can do to prevent this? or does it just happen?
I'm going to pick one up this evening for about $3.50. Maybe two.

 

[Brianjason6]

Re: 18 hp Evinrude 57-58

Good thing I got a parts motor because the flywheel was broken also at the key slot. Unfortunately the crankshaft threads were stripped as well.. Did I get myslef a money pit? I have any extra crank but, don't want to tear down that far. I used a die to pull the threads back out and got a nut on good and tight. The motor ran perfect for about ten min. then lost fire on the top cylinder. It ran so good at first! I know it's gonna be a great motor when I get the bugs worked out...if my patience can last that long. Otherwise, someones gonna be selling parts.