1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

[breeze]

I have a 1950's era Evinrude Fastwin 18. I'm not sure of the year, but the serial # is 15020-19525. The motor is frozen. I removed the spark plugs and they both had some corrosion on them. From what I could see today with a flashlight, there appears to be some in the cylinders as well. SO, in attempt to begin the "freeing-up" process, I laid the motor down and poured some Marvel Mystery Oil in both cylinders. The bottom piston is near the top of the stroke, that one is holding the oil. The top piston is near bottom of the stroke and the oil is running past it and leaking out of the gasket where the lower unit is bolted up. To illustrate: I probably poured in 2 bathroom size dixie cups of oil, the looked in with my flashlight to see how much more it could hold, the top of the piston was still visible and there was a sizable puddle of oil on my floor. It's running right past, not seeping slowly.

A: Is it worth tearing into, and seeing what's really there because the oil could be running out the exhaust port, or past a broken ring?

B: I should tell my friend to put it back in the dumpster he found it in (no joke, there was a '56 RDE-18 30hp with it that runs just fine)

Also, would this motor be the same as the Johnson FD series? I do have the Johnson Service Manual covering all the older motors, and the pictures look identical.

Thanks for any input.

 

[wbeaton]

Re: 1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

Your motor is a 1957. It is the first year of the 18 hp. It is mechanincally identical to the Johnson 18 hp. It is worth saving, but only as a labour of love since it has little monetary value. The 1957 is a beautiful looking motor and a great runner.

PLEASE don't send it back to the trash. Post a free ad on the AOMCI website and give it to someone who can use it.

You can always remove the powerhead from the unit and let it soak in basin.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

It could be the piston in the one the oil is running out of is low enough that it is going out the exhaust port. I'd let it sit a while with some PB blaster in it and see if I could free it up. You really found a good 30hp motor and this one in a dumpster? Wow! I'd be looking back over both shoulders at once while I drove off with 'em! It is the same block as an FD, carb, etc. but the cowl mounting brackets are a different. Actually though, corrosion on the spark plug and in the cylinder is a pretty bad sign. If the crank and stuff inside are corroded, it's pretty much a goner. I'd say there's a good chance the powerhead is worthless, but you could get a handy amount for your rat-hole stash selling the parts off it to jerks like me on ebay. That's what I'd do with it.
JBJ

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

Ditto...sounds like that one piston is far enough down to uncover the exhaust port, where the oil is going. Take a closer look at it. As said by JBJ, if you find corrosion/rust inside the powerhead, take what you can off it and sell those parts to bankroll another motor. The auction site has some good buys sometimes. Don't know where you live, but you can check the aomci.org web site for a local chapter near you. Their local/regional swap meets are a blast if you like/covet the old iron...like me.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

A nice engine. Many of us will take it off your hands for parts if you want

You could always get another and use it for parts. I have around 5 or 6 of the 18's from '58-'66 and love em all. (even my seized ones!)

 

[breeze]

Re: 1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

Thanks for alll the optimistic feedback. Looks like i'll be cracking it open when I have a chance and see what's what. If it turns out to be a gonner, I'll either part it out or donate it to AMOCI members. Something like that. And yes, JBJ, they were both found in a trash load. I got a friend who drives for a large trash company. You'd be surprised what people throw away, once in a great while, he makes a good score.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1950's 'rude, worth a rebuild?

I wouldn't be surprised at all. I got one of my Johnson 33hp motors ( a '69) from an automotive salvage yard. It had been leaning up against the back of a ratted out pickup truck for several months, in view of a road that I used to take to work. I finally went into the office one day to see what was up with it. The owner said it was "junk" and I could have it if I wanted it. I haven't gotten around to fooling with it yet, but I have already bought another powerhead and LU to add to the mid-section, transom clamp, pan housing and hood. Some time in 2008 it will probably be a runner.

I also acquired one of my '58 Rude 35hp motors from my local OMC dealer for a hundred bucks. Someone brought it in to trade for a new one so that's what he offered them, knowing that I would take it off of his hands. The only thing I did to that motor was to perform the usual rebuild/fluid/tuneup items, take the tiller arm off of it, and put a starter from a parts motor in it. I ran that motor along side my other '58 Bigtwin for a couple of years and still have both.