1958 Johnson 50hp

[cc67]

Look at this thing.It looks like an old Edsel.

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[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

a fat 50. was top technology in it's day. all the v-4's today are based on it.

 

[cc67]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

You would look cool tooling around in an old Starcraft with that monster on the back.

 

[BruceAML]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

It doesn't get any better than old OMC V-4 motors.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

My family had the same engine on a same vintage Thompson (wood) runabout, in the seventies. It was an antique then, and still is. That old 50 performed well on that old hull. The hull "woke up" when we bolted on a 1973 John. 85.

That engine has great nostalgic value. Put it on ebay and be surprised by the response.

 

[Weldor]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

My family had the same engine on a same vintage Thompson (wood) runabout, in the seventies. It was an antique then, and still is. That old 50 performed well on that old hull. The hull "woke up" when we bolted on a 1973 John. 85.

That engine has great nostalgic value. Put it on ebay and be surprised by the response.

But if memory serves ya need an oil well to keep it in fuel.lol


And about looking like an Edsel I agree and they were built at the same time. I think the Edsel was only built for two years 58 & 59 I could be wrong though, that has happened once before a long time ago. Well now it's happen twice(me being wrong)lol the Edsel was also built in 1960 last year of it. And it sported a new look as well, lost the trademark grill and still died out.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

But if memory serves ya need an oil well to keep it in fuel.lol


And about looking like an Edsel I agree and they were built at the same time. I think the Edsel was only built for two years 58 & 59 I could be wrong though, that has happened once before a long time ago. Well now it's happen twice(me being wrong)lol the Edsel was also built in 1960 last year of it. And it sported a new look as well, lost the trademark grill and still died out.

I thought I was wrong once too but I found out I was mistaken.
Edsel ran from 58-61.To fit a well researched?nitch between Ford and Merc.
low end Edsel shared with Ford,high end with Merc.By 61 it was a glorified Ford and a mishmash at best.It was no worse or better than the other Ford lines but the"horse collar" Grill and push button transmission in the center of the steering wheel were probably not the best features.As I recall the grill was designed to absorb minor bumps.61 was also the last year for the Desoto another nitch car brought out back in tha late 20s to fit between Dodge and Chrysler.
Plymouth also arrived about that time both made it through the depression only to die at a much later time.Enough useless trivia.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

a fat 50. was top technology in it's day. all the v-4's today are based on it.

They were, but they sure had their teething problems.A friend had the Evinrude version and it was amazing how quickly it would empty a 6 gallon tank and it appeared most of the gas was floating on the water.Once ran out in front of a freighter on the Sea Way.
Today we all think of the fat 50 as a very heavy 50hp.but at 207 lbs is actually lighter than todays 40,50 and 60 hp Etec motors.
When the new 75 came out in 60; advertising claimed "lighter than the 50"
but actually was 216 lbs.Still light by todays standards.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

I had two of the fat-fiftys. The fuel system was designed such that the motor would idle smooth. To accomplish this, they had a reed valve in the base of the intake manifold (behind the normal intake reed valves). This reed valve allowed any fuel that pooled up to be blown back into the water jacket and out the lower. Newer outboards have fuel recirculation systems that allow this fuel to be burned.

At the end, my "Fattys" dumped 1/6 of their fuel directly overboard. I eventually built a fuel recirculation system to cut down on the pollution.

On the positive side, the motor had strong low end power, and was reliable. Let me clarify the fact that the "fatty" was the prototype for the OMC 90 degree crossflow, V4 motors that followed, and the design changed a bit each year. The magneto distributor, downdraft carb and external generator were eventually phased out. The gearcase went electric etc.

 

[cc67]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

Did all those old motors throw that much juice into the drink? I know my 66 leaves a slick when I stop but I thought it was just unburnt oil/gas dripping out of the bottom cover.

 

[Caveman Charlie]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

I have a running or, at least not stuck, was running 3 years ago, 1959 Mercury kiekaefer 35 horse setting on a 69 Mastercraft in my yard. I wanted to get it running but, it's a two cycle and nobody locally can fix them. That's why I now have a Mercruiser inboard that is just a 4 cylinder Chevy. Anybody can work on that. Anyway, I've been trying to give away the old merc and mastercraft but, nobody wants them. Too expensive to pay to get rid of the fiberglass.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

I had two of the fat-fiftys. The fuel system was designed such that the motor would idle smooth. To accomplish this, they had a reed valve in the base of the intake manifold (behind the normal intake reed valves). This reed valve allowed any fuel that pooled up to be blown back into the water jacket and out the lower.

Ah yes! Designed in the days of $.20/gallon gasoline!

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

I have a running or, at least not stuck, was running 3 years ago, 1959 Mercury kiekaefer 35 horse setting on a 69 Mastercraft in my yard. I wanted to get it running but, it's a two cycle and nobody locally can fix them. That's why I now have a Mercruiser inboard that is just a 4 cylinder Chevy. Anybody can work on that. Anyway, I've been trying to give away the old merc and mastercraft but, nobody wants them. Too expensive to pay to get rid of the fiberglass.

Nobody can fix a 2 stroke outboard.?? Where do you live Oz?While the Merc isn't quite as simple as an OMC built motor; but the 2 stroke is about as simple as they come.Age does scare some of the younger mechanics.
Sometimes its hard to justify the cost of professional repairs on an older motor.There are plenty of 40 and 50 year old outboards in regular use and still some 60 year olds running.Then if you go to the old outboard meets you might see motors that date back to the early 1900s.Not in daily operation but
able to run.By the way the basic 2 stroke concept is the same for a 1900s motor as for a 2000s motor.

 

[DJ]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

I have a running or, at least not stuck, was running 3 years ago, 1959 Mercury kiekaefer 35 horse setting on a 69 Mastercraft in my yard. I wanted to get it running but, it's a two cycle and nobody locally can fix them. That's why I now have a Mercruiser inboard that is just a 4 cylinder Chevy. Anybody can work on that. Anyway, I've been trying to give away the old merc and mastercraft but, nobody wants them. Too expensive to pay to get rid of the fiberglass.

Gee, I have a 1957 7.5 HP, two 1967 3 HP's, a 1972 4 HP and a 1974 (I think) 6 HP (all OMC's) that see regular service. I wouldn't trade any of them for a modern outboard.

Yes, the old 50 used some fuel but gas was less that $.30/gallon when we owned it-who cared?

 

[Runaboutskier]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

any ideas of where or how to work on the 1958 Johnson V50. I have noticed that my engine seemes to be skipping, as if there is an electrical issue.

 

[ezmobee]

Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp

Post your question in the Johnson/Evinrude repair section. You'll find a wealth of information and knowledgeable responses to your question there.