57 Johnson 18hp - Top Cylinder Missing/Fouling Plug

[CBGale2]

Hello all, just picked up this old girl on an old 15' alum. Seaking. Guy said it only has about 30hrs on it but it hasnt been run in years, and from looking under the hood it is really clean. Ive had a few little row boats with trolling motors but this is my first venture into a gas motor so Im hoping for some help. Im excited to get this cool old motor back on the water.

I've been reading around on here and have seen multiple people say to replace the impeller for the water pump. So I bought the kit for it. Now I just need to know how to put it in, hoping to get a repair manual for it but they are not exactly cheap, its on my Christmas list :redface:. If anyone could give me some steps to replace it I would greatly appretiate it.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Take the oval 2" cover off the midsection and take the bottom bolt out of the shift-rod connector. Now, take the 4, 7/16" bolts out of the top of the lower unit that screw into the midsection, and the single 9/16" bolt out that screws into the lower unit from the midsection. Gently drop the lower unit. Now, carefully take off the O-ring from the groove in the top of the drive shaft. If there's not one, you need a replacement. take off the retaining screws from the top fo the water pump housing. Slide the top of the water pump impeller housing off the drive shaft. Now, carefully remove the old impeller WITHOUT LOSING THE IMPELLER KEY. It's a tiny cylindrical piece of metal that is in a recess in the drive shaft which fits in the recess of your water pump impeller.
Put a little grease on the new impeller fins and reinstall the impeller key, slide the new impeller down the driveshaft and onto the impeller key. SLowly turn the driveshaft clockwise while you reinstall the impeller housing. Reinstall screws in impeller housing. replace the o-ring on the groove in the top of the driveshaft. Reinstall the lower unit, being sure to carefully line up the driveshaft so that it slides in the midsection properly, paying close attention that you line up the water tube with the grommet in the impeller housing. It will take you a few tries to get it right. Once the driveshaft and water tube are back in properly and the lower-unit-to-midsection bolts are loosely screwed in, then slide the shift rod into the shift rod connector, making sure the groove in the rod matches the hole in the connector. Reinstall the connector bolt. Tighten all bolts. You should be good to go.
A manual doesn't cost that much and is well worth it. The following link will be valuable in getting that motor running. It'll likely need new coils and a carb. cleaning.

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=299680
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Thanks JBJ, this will be a great help.

Does anyone have or know were I can see an exploded parts picture of that area, just to help me visualize all this before I start tearing into it?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

http://www.crowleymarine.com/brp_parts/diagrams/29749.cfm

http://www.crowleymarine.com/brp_parts/diagrams/29748.cfm

Not identical, but should give you a basic idea.
JBJ

 

[BDbill]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

This is your lower unit for the 1957 Johnson. Once you take out the bolts and drop the lower unit, it won't seem so hard, it's really pretty easy except ailing the crankshaft and water tube when putting it back together, another set of hands is helpful to turn the prop while seating the crankshaft. If you want a larger copy, send me an e-mail at livinginwi2002@yahoo.com and I can do that.

 

[moldeck]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Make sure you get the tank with that motor, If you need to get one off ebay, you are looking close to 100.00 for the two line fuel tank.

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Newbie w/ Impeller Question

Make sure you get the tank with that motor, If you need to get one off ebay, you are looking close to 100.00 for the two line fuel tank.

Yes, got the tank with it. I acctually got two but one has a small hole rusted in the bottom of it.

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Got the impeller all changed and everything put back together, thanks again JB for the istructions, they were spot on.

Now, I tried to get her running. After much pulling I got her to fire up, doesnt like to run without the choke on and it sounds like its stumbling like one cyclinder isnt fireing all the time, pulled out the plugs to take a look and the bottom one looked like new, top was pretty black, I guess would say it was (fouled?).... did I get the right?:redface: So anyways had some new plugs and changed the top one, got it to fire back up and it ran better for about 10-15 seconds and then started stumbling again, pulled that plug and it was black as the other one. Any suggestions? I had fresh gas mixed 24:1.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

I hate to say it but you obviously have a bad ignition on the top plug. If you've replaced the coils, I'd look at dirty points, possilbe bad condenser if not replaced, or a cracked plug wire. That's almost positively part of your problem, if not all of it.
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

BTW,
Refer to the link I put in my first post, and look under "points and coils". It will tell you everything you need for fixing the ignition. The ignition on those 50's outboards is the most common thing wrong with them. Fix that and you've got yourself a very, very reliable powerhead.
Later,
JBJ

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Doesnt sound at all fuel or carb related? The cyclinder doesnt stumble all the time, its like fire fire miss fire fire miss.

So how nasyy is this job going to be, if Im going to tear this apart I mine as well replace it all, so what am I going to need.

I found these on eBay,

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/John...fPartsQ5fAccessoriesQ5fGearQQsalenotsupported

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...em=&sspagename=STRK:MEWAX:IT&salenotsupported

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

As JBJ said, check the coils. Even if it is carb related you will need to change them anyway. Pull the pull starter off and some of the engines have a little plate you can look in. I forget if the FD11 has one or not.

But, I do have a copy of the parts manual in pdf form I can email you if you want. If yes, pm me with your email address and the manual requested.

 

[Sea18Horse]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Be sure not to overlook the seemingly small details when you bring this motor back to life. A broken starter rope or a broken prop nut cotter pin can end your boating day as surely as a holed piston. These old motors can be every bit as reliable as a new one. But they depend entirely on us for that reliability. Make sure to check everything from the top of the rope starter to the end of the prop nut Including the gas tank. Is the rope a little frayed? 7/32" starter cord 72 1/4 " long. Has the rope ever broken in the past? Might want to get a new rewind spring. Sierra sells one p/n 18-6501 available right here at iboats. You'll want new fuel hoses 5/32 available at OMC dealers. OMC dealers can still get the correct styles of clamps for the fuel lines both inside and outside the cowl. ishopmarine.com has them also. You'll want to go through the carburetor with a kit and a new float. Even if it is working ok now I guaranty that cork float is getting ugly. You'll want to go through the gas tank. laingsoutboard.com has the rebuild kits. You'll need to specify plastic primer button or metal button. They include the o rings for the fuel line connector but they don't include the gasket for the fuel gauge window BRP-0302571 or the gasket for the gas cap BRP-0301835. The float for the gas gauge is also available BRP-0302559 from an OMC dealer or ishopmarine.com. laingsoutboards.com has the two line hose also. If you're interested in any kind of cosmetic restoration stuff then nymarine.ca has everything you might need. Be sure to look through the "pictures of painted motors" section for some inspiration.

Cheers........................Todd

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

I took off the plate on the top of the flywheel so I could see how things looked, too me it looked really good in there, but Im guessing this may be a looks can be deceiving situation. Ive heard other say the coils were cracked and dried out, these look pretty good to my untrained eye. I will attach some pictures I tried to take through the small hole, the pictures really look worse. I dont have a puller so I couldnt take the flywheel off.... sorry. So Im not doubting that something could be bad, I was just suprised how good things looked in there.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Post pics

And a puller is $10 at Harbour Freight I hear... But get grade 8 hardened 1/4" - 20 bolts for it...

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Awaking the beast

Pics are posted, are they not showing up?

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Top Cylinder Missing/Fouling Plug

Can you guys see the pictures, wondering what you guys thought. Looks may be deceiving or does it look ok?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Top Cylinder Missing/Fouling Plug

Regardless how good it looks, you probably have a bad coil. I've even had a brand new one or two that were bad. Get yourself a puller and the correct aforementioned bolts and pull the flywheel. It's gonna happen most likely anyway. If you're that leery of pulling it, at least clean and regap the points as best you can and see how that works. I'll bet your're going to need to pull the flywheel, though. The fact is, on those oldies with the universal magneto, I pull the flywheel right after I check compression on a new to me motor. They almost invariably need something fixed in there.....coil, condenser, points cleaned/regapped....etc. I do usually wind up using the same spark plugs no matter if they're 50 years or old, and they usually work like new with a good cleaning and regapping.
C'mon, get a puller and get that rascal off there.
BTW, I can't see any pics.
JBJ

 

[CBGale2]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Top Cylinder Missing/Fouling Plug

Im going to get a puller, it was just midnight and I didnt have one at the time, so all I could do was peek in there.

Wierd about the pictures..... I can see them. I'll try something differant, how about now?

 

[BDbill]

Re: 57 Johnson 18hp - Top Cylinder Missing/Fouling Plug

Pics show up now, what a beautiful motor, I'm jealous! If you pull the flywheel, you might as well change the points, condensers, coils and spark plug wires, your looking at maybe $60. You can find the parts on this forum, Laings, wholesalemarine.com ect. But to make things easier for you, get a manual of some sort. You'll have one heck of a motor when finished and piece of mind out on the lake.