1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

samo_ott

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

I agree with the above. Don't use an easy out. It'll almost always make it worse! The last head bolt I did I was able to drill it out with right hand bits 1 size up at a time (started with 1/8"). It works but you have to start off dead center or it will get tricky. and I agree with Jason, I'm still looking for a reasonably priced left handed bit set.
 

Johnrude122

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Dec 3, 2008
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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

ok got the bolt out, drilled it out and then collapsed it with a screwdriver. Now i need a new powerhead gasket. havent been able to find online my next move is to call the guys at Sea Way in Washington state and order it.
 

ooldschooll

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Nov 23, 2008
Messages
124
Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

I'f you mean the gasket between the leg and power head you can use almost any thing there. silicone the black sheet gasket from auto zone. And cut one out.
 

samo_ott

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Yes, you can make your own, just be careful not to cover any important holes... like for water flow! They are real cheap, less than $10 each...
 

Johnrude122

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

ok have replaced everything took the boat for river test yesterday. She ran pretty good but would cut out after 60 seconds, but if you pump the bulb she would run good again for a while. The rubber seal on the fuel filter on the crb was cracked. Went to lowes got a #17 rubber o-ring and it fit just right. I have one question. The high speed needle is the only needle that seems like it does anything. If i turn it 1/4 the engine revs up or down depending on the direction of the turn. BUt the slow speed needle does nothing. I can turn it either way five times and nothing happens. What do i need to do to get it a reaction out of the motor with the slow speed needle. And i would really like to get it idleing real slow so i can troll for trout.
 

jbjennings

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Messages
3,903
Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

You said primer bulb.......did you mean primer button? If so, your fuel tank must not be pressurizing if you can push the primer button and keep it working. If the idle adjustment has no effect, you definitely need to rebuild your carb.
JBJ
 

wbeaton

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Jul 30, 2006
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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

What do i need to do to get it a reaction out of the motor with the slow speed needle. And i would really like to get it idleing real slow so i can troll for trout.

Revisit the carb. You need to clean the carb again paying special attention to the idle/intermediate circuit. Make sure you remove all the old packing washers and clean and blow out under the welsh plug on top of the carb.
 

Mas

Lieutenant Commander
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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Looks like fun!

You may want to take care of the mating surface between head & cylinders. It looks like some pretty deep gouges. I do not know if I would trust a head gasket to "fill" those!?

Maybe others with more experience could comment?

MAS
 

Mas

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Sorry, I did not see "page 2." I only saw the pics. Sounds like you've already put her back together. Any problems with the gasket?

MAS
 

Johnrude122

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Jennings im running the mikuni fuel pump on it not a pressurized tank. I dont think there are any vacuum leaks my theory is the pump isnt strong enough but i could be completely wrong. any ideas on fixing the fuel problem. As for the gasket. Motor quit running on me a few days ago ended up having to paddle .5 mile, "NOT FUN" Got it home and pulled the spark plugs an the inside of the cylinders looked really wet so i pulled the head off and the gasket had a tear in it on the lower side of the bottom cylinder and it was basically pumping water straight into the cylinder, water+gas= no fire. and with a leaky gasket no compression either. i then realized i had put the gasket on upside down thinking it was universal in its position but there is a slight difference. Thank the lord iboats sent me two for some reason i guess the knew i would screw it up.
 

Vic.S

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Pictures added!!

But they are only pictures of an old outboard engine, who wants to look at those.
Where are the pictures of the GF?

n1496160026_30011542_3948.jpg
 

Johnrude122

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

who is the bird with the wet tits and puny fish.
 

Vic.S

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

I thought you'd recognise her. You've left several pictures or her and loads of fish lying around the place. ;)
 

coolguy147

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Jul 14, 2008
Messages
2,817
Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

:eek:dont ever use staring fluid!!!
people here always complain about using to use mixed gas and oil in a spray bottle into carb. well for me if it dont start then soemthing is wrong and i dont even bother with the spray bottle lol
 

Johnrude122

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

well guys she is complete, thanks to many pointers from guys here i have rebuilt her and she runs good. I had one problem a couple weeks ago where it would idle for 20 mins in a bucket and then shut off, so i was thinkin loss of compression due to heat. But no i pulled the head off and realized i had put the gasket on upside down and a hole had been burnt in the gasket between the cyklinder and the water ducting and it was basically pumping water straight into the cylinder equalling no combustion. Replaced the gasket and walla no problems she runs great. Tghe only thing im am still working on is the carb. I can get a response from the low speed needle so i am gonna tear down the carb and put it in a acid vat to clean out all the ducting and replace the welsh plug. But i did take her doown to the keys for new years and put prolly 5 hours on her with no problems.
 

Vic.S

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

gonna tear down the carb and put it in a acid vat
Careful what you soak it in, you dont want to use anything that will attack the alloy. I remember when someone suspended a carb in a caustic soda tank where I worked. Next day all that was left were the brass bits and they were out of reach in the bottom of the tank!
 

BSDenning

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

I would just remove the welch plug and push a wire through the holes to make sure that they are not clogged. You can soak it in carb cleaner. I use a gallon size can that looks similar to a can of paint to soak my carb. I got mine at Advanced Auto Parts and it is similar to this: http://doitbest.com/Main.aspx?PageI...ce=Yahoo&utm_medium=PI&utm_campaign=BeyondROI

After soaking over night, blow it out good with compressed air and you should be good to go.

Once your motor is put back together screw the slow speed knob all the way in and then back it out about one and a half turns. Then with the motor running at as slow of an idle as it will without stalling, slowly turn the knob in about 1/8 of a turn and then wait for the motor to respond. Eventually you should hear the motor begin to rev up some. Mine runs best about 3/4 of a turn from fully closed. If you get it completely snug and the motor has not responded, you have a problem.

A few things to check:

Check that your slow speed packing nut is not overtightened. Sometimes the packing nut can be so tight that the packing will not allow the needle to get past them. If this is the case, you may need to replace the packing and not tighten the packing nut as tight.

Check the tip of the needle. If it has grooves in it, then it has been damaged by being turned in too hard and it will need to be replaced.

Or there could still be a clog in your carburetor and you may need to soak it again. This may not be the best idea, but I try blowing through the holes with my mouth and you can feel whether the air is passing through the holes easily or if there seems to be a clog.

Best of Luck!
 

samo_ott

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Biodegradable carb cleaner? Huh! Never heard of it... That's a first! Has anyone used the stuff? Does it work?
 

Johnrude122

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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

can i get a new welsh plug without buying a whole new carb kit
 

BSDenning

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Messages
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Re: 1957 Johnson 5.5 sea horse Pictures added!!

Actually, I used this:

http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(apqyni55thquza55c2dt3mz1)/ProductDetails.aspx?SKU=8058836

I couldn't remember the exact name of it, so I was just doing a google search for carb cleaners and I found that other one and posted it because it looked like it was in a gallon size paint can. So, I've never used biodegradable carb cleaner.

As for the welch plugs, I'm not sure if you can get them outside of a carb rebuild kit or not. Maybe someone else on this forum will know.
 
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