1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

[1946Zephyr]

I just picked up another toy for my collection today. I just couldn't leave this one alone. I just got me a 1954 Fleetwin that hasn't ran for many years. I found a pair of old J4J plugs in it, so that tells me that it's been a while since it's been ran. The coils are the good old "antique coils" that we often find in old classics, such as this. The good news of it is, I squirted a bunch of fuel mix into the cylinders and crank case and got 75 psi in each hole and the oil in the gearcase looks really good. It even looks good enough to use for a season. LOL No water intrusion in the gearcase, which is amazing for a motor that's almost 60 years old. It has a broken prop, which apparently happened in moving it around. No biggie, I found a nice replacement at the AOMCI website, as well as a few things for my 1955 CD-12.

 

[JB]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Some of those old JohnnyRudes know how to find owners who will give them the TLC they deserve. I think you got a winner, there, Zephyr.

 

[AlTn]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

That should keep you outta mischief for awhile....have you checked on any guvmint grants for historical preservation?

 

[mla2ofus]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

I have a '54 Fastwin and love the ol' thing. The only major thing I've had to do is replace the coils because the insulation cracked on them and they would break down.
Mike

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Yea, it's a dandy JB. The guy I bought it from was telling me that his dad bought it brand new in '54

LOL Good one AlTn Yea I have a few others to keep me out of mischief as well. I got just about all of them ruuning already;

mla2ofus, those are great motors and very reliable. With new coils in it, you'll probably be good for another 50 years before you have to do that again. Of course, withe the new insulation that is on the modern coils, they'll just die on ya and the insulation will be the best part that remains The coils on this old Fleetwin are so old, that the pieces of insulation are pulld away from the coil and sticking out in the air. LOL My best looking antique coils yet.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Sweet!

I prefer to buy motors that have the original cracked coils, original J4J of J6J plugs in them, etc...

Means no one has tinkered with them, and they were usually run with the proper fuel/oil mix.

The ones that are partially mechanically restored were sometimes run on 50-1 or worse 100-1 when some neighbour down the street told the owner that it is ok nowadays.

The ones that have been sitting 40 years were definately run on at least 24-1 and are usually have great compression.

I usually find though that the gearcase seals have to be done on one sitting for so long. The oil is good from when they put it in the basement, but after being submerged in water they leak like a siev. Not always, but usually.

Good find.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Yea, Chris, I think the original owner likely followed the correct fuel mix, because I popped of both bypass covers and the pistons looked great. As far as the old J4J's go, I'll keep those for my old 40's and put some newer J6C's in it.

So now, I have a matching pair of cousins: 1954 Fleetwin and 1955 CD-12.

You should see the boat I just bought, but that's another story.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Lets see

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Well, unfortunately, I don't have a pic of it yet. I didn't save the pic, before the seller deleted the ad for me. I went and seen it and paid for it and I liked what I saw. It is a SaberCraft with a 1964 Johnson 40 on it, all for the sum of $100. I went today and picked up two new tubes for the tires, so I can get it home. The boat has the steering cables and remote controls hooked up, so that's a big plus. I think what I'll so, is put my 1961 Lark III on it and re-sell the package, because the 40 Johnson on it now isn't set up for electric start, so I'll keep it. I'll only have to clean it up and wire it up for electric start to make a nice outfit.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Ive been on the hunt for a nice 50s Alumacraft or the like for the 57 18hp I got. THey are getting harder to find, or guys just dont want to sell them! Maybe a Feathercraft? Most of the Feathercrafts around here are good for 35hp though, so will be too much for the 18

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Yea, the older aluminum boats are really nice. I'll probably make my '59 Lone Star my last keeper as far as aluminum boats go. The nicest classic I found yet.
I think your 18's will move a 14' FeatherCraft okay, but it won't break no speed records. It would be good for a pleasureable day on the water and good trolling. I think if you restored that '52 Big Twin, that'll be a nice motor for an old FeatherCraft. Strip that motor down and repaint it with the original Polychromatic Blue, it'll look awesome.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

I dont keep the 25hps. Dont know why, I guess for the larger engines I like the 35hp motors.

She is an ugly one, Ill send you a pic. Only paid 40 bucks for it though, just to get another motor I wanted and the seller would not split them up.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Well, we'll make a deal on it then

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Another nice find Zephyr...gotta ask...do you have a quality control inspector for your shop yet? I took in a feline inspector a few years ago...non-union to boot...and now I have almost one for every motor in the shop...but I'm varmint free, except for wasps, etc.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Well, one of my old 40's got hit by buck toothed varmits, but that was before I even bought it. Oddly enough, in all my years of outboard tinkering, haven't found a nest in any of my motors yet

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Well, one of my old 40's got hit by buck toothed varmits, but that was before I even bought it. Oddly enough, in all my years of outboard tinkering, haven't found a nest in any of my motors yet

I found my first the other day. Took the motor to the shed (did not inspect it at all when I picked it up), took the cowl off only to have mice jump out at me. The kids next door thought I was posessed by the devil swinging my shovel around inside the shed, and using a few choice words. I hit every wall and tool in there. Good thing I dont play baseball for a living.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Well, just a little update:

LOL Chris. Yea, my baseball skills aren't too great either.

Anyhow, I got the coils and spark plug leads replaced today. I gotta tell ya, I haven't seen insulation curl up on these antique coils, like I've seen today. It was kinda hilarious. Got good hot spark to both cylinders now, and this baby will be fired up this weekend.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Another fine set of coils

$100 for a boat / motor / trailer? Excellent deal I paid $300 for a similar boat in Dec. The 40 was electric shift tho! Ugh. Gonna see if it works in the spring though.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Yea, my motor is 100% manual. No starter either. LOL I have to fix the recoil assembly, before I can pull it over. I cleaned it out the other day and the floor looks to be decent in it. The coating is peeling, but the wood seems okay. The windshield is even real glass too. I wonder if I can swap it with the windshield on my Lone Star.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 1954 Evinrude Fleetwin

Speaking of Lone Star's. What model is yours? I have a Malibu (so I was told) and was also told it was late 50's. I'm hoping to put Twin 30's on it this summer.