1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

Gwichers

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I am in the middle of restoreing and can't find the part numbers for the pistons, rings or rods. Would rather just get 376424 (piston and connecting rod assembly, with rings). But the none of the numbers are good anymore. My compression is at 60 and 62. Took it to my outboard guy and he said the pistons look bad and recommended i change them and the rings. Cylinder walls look good enough to just hone. I just found the rings in a previous thread (378432). Just need piston and rod numbers. Not sure if i need rods yet but would like to have just in case i need them. Thanks
 

tx1961whaler

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

I am in the middle of restoreing and can't find the part numbers for the pistons, rings or rods. Would rather just get 376424 (piston and connecting rod assembly, with rings). But the none of the numbers are good anymore. My compression is at 60 and 62. Took it to my outboard guy and he said the pistons look bad and recommended i change them and the rings. Cylinder walls look good enough to just hone. I just found the rings in a previous thread (378432). Just need piston and rod numbers. Not sure if i need rods yet but would like to have just in case i need them. Thanks
60 and 62 psi are not too bad for a pull start motor of that vintage. I'd do a decarb on it with Sea Foam/Deep Creep and go from there. I'm afraid that you will go through a lot of effort and cash to get a motor that has 70 psi and performs no better than a properly tuned motor with 62 psi.
 

Gwichers

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

I already did a decarb with deep creep and let it sit for two days befor even attempting to check compression/ turn the crank. Person i bought it off said it has been sitting for at least 15yrs. You could be right about the compression. Seems to be alot of controversy about what it should read. My local outboard shop told me compression should be around 100-120(new) 90-100 (used). My outboard guy said hes never seen one that high, but cant remember the last time he worked on one that old. I pulled it appart just to be safe. One piston does look bad (two large grooves in it) There is a small amount of metal transfer in the bottom of the bore about this size(). Talked to the outboard shop and he gave me a number for pistons (386692 standard) and (376427 .20 over). Looked the numbers up and found them to fit a 1964 5.5hp cd-21. Not sure if they messed up or if the pistons are realy the same. Going to do a little investagation to find out. The cd-13 has a 1 15/16" bore and a 1 1/2" stroke piston displacement is 8.84 cu. in.
 

kfa4303

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

Hi Gwichers. Welcome to iboats. I agree that that 60-62 psi are pretty good. You may see improved numbers once its been up and running again for a while, but I think you can get her running. Tune up kit, spark plugs and wires, carb kit and an impeller should be less than $100 and you'll end up with a motor that will run another 50+ yrs. Here are some handy links.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086
http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/07/columns/max/index1.htm
 

Gwichers

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

Thank you, iboats has alot friendly people and info. Last month i restored a 62 johnson 3hp with the info from www.outboard-boat-motor-repair.com. Runs awsome! I found this outboard and figured why not do it again. Its fun to restore vintage anything. I found a 1955 cd-12 with about the same compression as the 1956 for free. Going to take the 3 out of 4 odds of advice and tune up everything and try to run it. If it doesnt work i'll just order the pistons+rings and rebuild one of the powerheads. It's getting a paintjob anyways. Thanks to everyone for the help and info.
 

kfa4303

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

free is good.
 

jmendoza

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

I have a 1954 CD-11 5.5 hp, it has 65 PSI in both cylinders and runs great, has score marks on one piston and cylinder, and you can see where the case has a piece JB welded back in place from where it threw a rod a long time ago...but the engine does not care and runs fine.
 

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kfa4303

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

Nice lookin' motor. They never look that good down here in my neck of the woods. Thank god for JB weld! Great stuff.
 

Gwichers

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

Turned out the 55 powerhead i got for free was bad. Upper cylinder was at 40 and lower at 80. pulled it appart to find a ring broken. So i ordered rings and rebuilt the 56 powerhead. Compression is at 90 and 93 now. Now im stripping the paint off and rebuilding the carb. P.S. Thanks for all the help .
 

nwcove

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

ok, why is my 56 cd 13 maroon in color, and that one is green? did they change mid-year?
 

jbjennings

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Re: 1956 Johnson 5.5hp cd-13, low compression/ part numbers needed

I think your '56 is red because you have a '56, and his is green because it's a '55.
JMO,
JBJ

BTW, I'm impressed with your 90psi of compression. I'd bet that was what it had when on the showroom floor. The guy that said it should have 100-120psi was wrong.
 
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