57 5.5 Johnson lower unit skeg

[JasonJ]

If anyone happens to have the lower unit skeg/gearcase cap for a late 50's 5.5 horse laying around collecting dust, I need one. Otherwise, I am trying to figure out the best way to repair the crack that it has in it. Any help would be appreciated, either by means of repair or replacement. I checked ebay, no help there...

 

[joaklay]

Re: 57 5.5 Johnson lower unit skeg

'54-'58 Johnson 5.5 parts motors are very common on Ebay but you have to keep watching for them and it might take a while.<br /> Otherwise, if no one here has one, try contacting Dan Gano as odds are good that he'd have one.<br /> ganotech.com/

 

[rwise]

Re: 57 5.5 Johnson lower unit skeg

Jason, I could be wrong on this but I think those have to matched, both halves kept together.<br />Richard

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: 57 5.5 Johnson lower unit skeg

The cap and gearcase are machined as a pair. There is a product called Alumiweld that works fairly well on that crude old cast. It's available most places that sell propane torches and brazing stuff. That's all you need to heat it, but Mapp gas works faster. (You can also use oxy-acetylene with the O2 turned down as low as possible to maintain a good blue flame.) It's like soldering, but with more heat. Check out alumiweld.com<br /><br />You also may be able to epoxy it if you bake-out all the comtaminants in the metal and clean-out the residue with Brake Cleaner. It gets stinky, so send the wife out on a shopping spree so she doesn't catch you with that dirty part in her oven. Come to think of it, the Alumiweld option is probably cheaper.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 57 5.5 Johnson lower unit skeg

Yes, they're machined as a pair and the manuals state you can't mix and match BUT in practice it is done frequently. The tolerances on those old units are pretty forgiving and as long as installing the cap doesn't bind the unit as too tight, or allow water in as too loose, it'll work. Done it dozens of times over the years with good results. <br /><br />I might have something somewhere - remind me this weekend to take a look...<br />- Scott

 

[CFronzek]

Re: 57 5.5 Johnson lower unit skeg

When you repair a crack in aluminum you have to consider the strength required in that part of the assembly. <br />Low temperature fixes, using mapp gas or oxcy-acet. are more like solders. They'll work for hole or crack filling but may not be strong enough to support a bearing or shaft. For high strength repairs arc welding is the answer. TIG or MIG done by a pro. Any area that has a lot of outboard activity probably has several outfits that specialize in welding the alloys that show up in outboard motors and outdrives. Aluminum comes in a gazillion different alloys so the experience of the welder can mean a lot.