1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

kyteris

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Apr 6, 2008
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I have an old 59 Johnson Super Seahorse 35 hp engine mounted on my boat. The motor wasn't pumping water, so I disassembled the lower unit and replaced the water pump that had a broken vain on it. Put it all back together and in the water, motor isn't pumping water. So tore it apart again and checked the water pump, it is in place and installed properly. Noticed that the grommits the water tubes run into are torn, and partially blocking the path of water. I'm trying to find out where I might be able to find these grommits as they are all dryrotted and one of them is now trash.

Also the alternator belt is missing, and the gear that mounts on the flywheel has came off. I have the gear still, but it doesn't fit tight on the flywheel. Any ideas how to fix this and where to find a belt for it? Ol motor takes a decent bit of power to start, and after a day of fishing the battery has had it.
 

rjezuit

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Try laingsoutboards.com for the parts. Rick
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

should come in the water pump kit.
 

jay_merrill

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

The grommets are readily available at your local OMC/BRP dealer.

What gear are you talking about on the flywheel? The DC generator on your motor has a toothed belt that runs from the generator pulley to a cast-in pully that is an integral part of the flywheel. Both of these have teeth to match the belt. If you are talking about the toothed plate that bolts onto the top of the flywheel, that is engaged by the recoil starter when starting by hand. It has nothing to do with the DC generator.
 

kyteris

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Try laingsoutboards.com for the parts. Rick

Thanks, I'll check them out..

The grommits didn't come as a kit, got just the impeller.

The toothed part I'm refering to for the alternator/generator is a small ring that sits on the top side of the flywheel, not the flywheel ring itself. I'm assuming since it was said this is a intergral part of the flywheel I'll have to find a complete flywheel assembly and replace the whole unit?
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

the part on top of the flywheel is what the rope start tines engage when the rope is pulled. if it has electric start no problem, as long as the starter and battery work. you ordered an impeller, not a water pump kit. besure to put the O ring in the groove at the top of the drive shaft. keeps the splines from rusting together.
 

larky

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

if after you replace the grommets and you still have problems pumping water, check the t-stat. it is located under the small cover above the spark plugs. it has three screws that holds the cover on. when you have it apart, check the pressure valve also. when you remove the t-stat you will see it down in the hole below the t-stat. it is a spring and a ball. also test the t-stat in a pot of water on your stove. suspend it with a wire and use a thermometer to check the water temp at which it opens. should be around 143 degrees. if every thing looks to be in order, run the motor with the t-stat cover off. you should get a good spray of water up and out of the hole. if not, the problem is before the t-stat. probably in the water tubes themselves. good luck and let us know what you find
 

F_R

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

The notched generator drive pulley (on the flywheel) is notorious for coming loose on that model. Try putting it back on with some Loctite #680. It is made for fixing loose sleeves and bearings and stuff, and has gap filling capabilities that should take care of it unless it is really, really worn out. Next thing is trying to find the #680. But that's another story. I have a bottle of it, if you want to mail me the flywheel and pay the postages, etc.
 

kyteris

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Yeah, figures I'd end up with a model that has issues with gears coming loose. Heh. I appreciate everyones help, I just ordered grommits from Laingsoutboards. I have yet however to find the belt, and I am also becoming concerned about the voltage regulator. Where is this located? I read in a thread on another boards about a guy who had a 71 OMC and his was built into the wiring harness? I hope this is not the case with mine, cause I don't feel like buying a new wiring harness..
 

kyteris

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Oh yeah, while I'm thinking about it, anyone tried putting a tell-tale in one of these old motors? Noticed a few threads about doing them, but not on a motor quite this old. Any thoughts?
 

jay_merrill

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Although I am not completely sure, I believe the voltage regulator for that motor would have been located in the starter solenoid box that mounts to the boat's transom. I don't think you will have much luck finding an OEM replacement if you need one but I seem to remember an aftermarket unit being available in some of the catelogs.
 

F_R

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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Right, the regulator is in the extra-deep lid for the junction box. They are still available--about a hundred bucks last time I checked. So-o-o, with that in mind, if you don't have all that stuff you might just as well forget the charging system. That was an accessory anyway and most motors didn't have it. Big battery or two batteries and a charger workes pretty well. How do you run it down in only one day of fishing anyway? It should last a lot longer than that unless you are running a lot of accessories. Remember, the generator only puts out 10 amps and that only at over 2000 RPM.
 

spy1309

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Jul 31, 2007
Messages
100
Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

For $50 you can get a 7W solar panel and forget the generator plus that one will kill some of your total hp output, the solar panel I use keeps the battery charged even when I am using the boat radio all day.
 

yam350yfm

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Dec 26, 2007
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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

Where do you get the 7w solar panel charger? I could use one for charging a battery for a trolling motor.
 

wbeaton

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Jul 30, 2006
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Re: 1959 Johnson Super Seahorse 35hp problems

A 7W solar panel will only output upto .58A (probably closer to 5A), which on a sunny day with 12 hours of full sunlight is only about 7AH. Not very much to say the least when you consider your starting battery is probably +75AH. Those panels are only for maintaining an already charged battery. Don't let this discourage you, just don't expect big things from a small solar panel.

I keep a 5W panel on my batteries all the time, too.
 
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