1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

[kmk89]

I seem to have the disease where I cannot stop buying and restoring these old johnson outboards Recently, I saw a 1955 Johnson 25HP for sale for $95. From the pictures, it looks good. I asked the guy about the condition of the outboard and said he said that he does not know, but I am welcome to do a compression test, check under the hood, and I can bring a pressurized gas tank to try and start it. It's 100 mi from my house, so I want some opinions or initial thoughts from others on this before I commit to making the trip. If you guys think I should, what oil/gas mix ratio would I need for 1955? 24:1 or 16:1?

 

[TN-25]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

16:1 can use 24:1 with modern TCW-3 oil. 16:1 was with the old straight 30 oil.

As for whether you should get it or not, I can't enter into domestic discussion. I have a few hanging around that my wife wishes she didn't see. As for whether an old 25 would be a good project, heck yes! The updated 1955 had the improved silencing from the cowl to the intake to the swivel bracket to the motor mounts. That midsection was carried on for many years with minor detail changes. To a restorer it is nice because it doesn't use any expensive to replace medallions. The 25 became a 1956 30 with that same displacement. Gale kept the 25 to the end, but Johnson & Evinrude essentially brought it back for 1962 as a 28.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

Solid motors, stump pulling power, surprisingly light for their bulk, easy to work on, lots of parts can still be had inexpensively, and the look great in their Sea Foam Green and Cream color scheme. Seems like an easy choice to me...

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

I would say Heck yea! Good old motors and reliable. Those do mix at 24:1 btw. It's the 7.5 and smaller that wants 16:1. I picked up three of the later versions of that last weekend myself so don't feel bad about being addicted to the old classics
The 55 - 57 models are my favorites though.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

is there a pill/patch for this old ob addiction?...my basement is filling up....with stuff that no one else appreciates!!! lol

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

Nahhhhh this is one addiction you don't want to find a cure for. It's nut cases like us, who are going to be the ones who save these old classics from going to the scrap pile. My first is the Zephyr in my avitar. I think it looked better with a new coat of paint on it, than laying in a pile of scrap, wouldn't you think?
Now that Merc in Chinewalker's avitar?? That's a real classic there.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

well....with the way its been raining here......for the last six months, i tell any of the nay-sayers, "i have a bunch of ob's.....now all i need is enough fuel to last 40 days and 40 nights! lol

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

Yea, the heck with the rain, give me some fuel. LOL Me, I need to get a few more tanks with all the outboards I've collected this year. LOL This year alone, I brought home some 10 or more motors and I currently still have 8. Almost all run.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1955 Johnson Seahorse 25 HP Buy or No Buy

Solid motors, stump pulling power, surprisingly light for their bulk, easy to work on, lots of parts can still be had inexpensively, and the look great in their Sea Foam Green and Cream color scheme. Seems like an easy choice to me...

Nice thing about that motor too, is the fact that if you decide to convert it to a single line tank, you can easily do so, by getting a bypass cover and fuel pump from a 28hp from 1962 - 64. A lot of parts from the 28's are interchangeable, with the exception of the shrouding. Even stuff from the 33's are interchangeable, but the powerhead has a bigger bore.