7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

[dfoss]

Hey I just bought a old fleetwin for my jon boat. It is very old but clean. This is my first outboard ever and it starts great, I just want to know any input to it and how reliable they are for being 50 years old. Also it is a short shaft, is there and way to convert it to a long shaft. Any help would be great, thanks.

 

[Hoss the Hermit]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Great motor, last forever with a little care. Why do you want to convert to long shaft for a jon boat? Is your transom really that high?

 

[F_R]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

It can be converted. Shouldn't be too hard to find the parts. Same stuff was used on all 5.5, 7.5 Johnsons and Evinrudes of the era.

You might want to check the coils on that motor. They are 100% prone to failure if they haven't been replaced already.

 

[dfoss]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Ya I have a 20 inch transom. I bought the motor from an older guy that rebuilt it, so I hope the coils have been replaced. I am not very handy with outboards, is there anyway I could tell if the coil have been replaced just by looking. Where do you think I can get the parts to make it a long shaft, and how hard is it to find part for the motor? Thanks for the quick replies I appricate it.

 

[dfoss]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Oh ya I want to get and extra prop for it but when I was putting in the info for one nothing showed up. Any advise?

 

[JB]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

If it still runs great after 51 years why are you concerned about reliability?

With proper care, as defined in an original Service Manual (kencook.com), you can leave it to your grandbuddies.

If your Jon actually has a 20" transom you can probably find parts at tcoutboard.com. If not, you don't want a 20" leg.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

I'll give ya' the same advise I was given, which was good. Try Laing's Outboards on the net. You'll have to call them during business hours but they're almost certain to have it at a fair price and the guy I talked to was very helpful, Knowledgeable, and courteous. They sell salvage parts. You can get a prop there too. Good luck with your motor. If the guy rebuilt it and it starts easy, you can rest assured they're newer coils. If you take the recoil assembly off and look under the inspection cover on the flywheel, you can take a flashlight and inspect the coils fairly well but not great. If they have any cracks or flakes they're bad. When you run it you'll know, trust me. Those old 50's motors are really awesome for reliablility and ease of maintenance. With newer coils, newer lower unit seals, good water pump impeller, and a clean carb., that thing will probably outlast both of us. You will LOVE it. I have a '55 evin. 7.5 and it runs flawlessly although I have to admit I prefer a little more power like a 10 has. It is really smooth, however, and is one of my favorites.
JBJ

 

[dfoss]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Hey when I pump up the pressure in my tank, it leaks out a little where the 2 fuel lines go into the tank. ( How bad is this, it doesnt seem to affect anything) To replace the lines can I just buy that size tubing from home depot and use it or do I have to have that exact type of tubing?

 

[dfoss]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

My mix for this motor is 16 to 1, what type of oil will be best and should I use super unleaded. I know it sounds like a stupid question, but like I said this is my first motor and I dont want to ruien it. Thanks for all the help

 

[rjezuit]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

I believe the correct mix is 24:1 . Use modern TCW-3, either synthetic or synthetic blend is best. Regular gas is fine (87 octane). Rick

 

[steelespike]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

I believe the correct mix is 24:1 . Use modern TCW-3, either synthetic or synthetic blend is best. Regular gas is fine (87 octane). Rick

These motors are all friction bearings no ball or roller bearings.I would stick with 16:1 fuel mix use TCW3 rated oil.If you want less smoke and polution
use synthetic oil.The 10 hp has some roller bearings and is rated at 24:1.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Dang SteeleSpike,
I was thinking 24:1 mixture, too. 16:1 sounds like weedeater mix..
Seriously, though-I have a '55 7.5 evinrude and it says mix it 24:1 on the factory sticker.
Is the 57 or '56 model different?
Very curious....
JBJ

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Hey when I pump up the pressure in my tank, it leaks out a little where the 2 fuel lines go into the tank. ( How bad is this, it doesnt seem to affect anything) To replace the lines can I just buy that size tubing from home depot and use it or do I have to have that exact type of tubing?

DFoss,
You can still buy the original double line hose for about 2.00 a foot and I recommend that. I've tried the cheapo stuff and taped it together but it looks bad and is annoying. Don't get it from home depot, at least, they don't have fuel line...whatever you get it has to be actually fuel line rated for unleaded gasoline or you could booger up the carb. Go ahead and get some original, you'll be glad you did. And you really do need to fix it if it's leaking at all or premix will get all over everything and dirty your boat up, besides making the tank lose pressure when you're not running. It's worth fixing.
Just my opinion,
JBJ

 

[dfoss]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Where can I get the origional gasline at. I'm guessing order it online right?

 

[dfoss]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

JB, nevermind I found it on the site you gave me before. Thanks a lot man.

 

[F_R]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

This is what the maker sez:

 

[samo_ott]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Hey FR, that's a good chart, thx. It looks like pretty much everything is mostly 24:1 (1/3 pint per gallon) except for the Fleetwins which are 16:1.

JBJennings, that chart appears contrary to your sticker?

Wow, look at the old Speedsters and Sportfours... 8:1! Would that smoke up the bay or what! I'm surprised the thing would run with that much oil in it!

 

[steelespike]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

Dang SteeleSpike,
I was thinking 24:1 mixture, too. 16:1 sounds like weedeater mix..
Seriously, though-I have a '55 7.5 evinrude and it says mix it 24:1 on the factory sticker.
Is the 57 or '56 model different?
Very curious....
JBJ

That's interesting I have a 63 after market service manual covers 55-58 7.5 motors Sometimes these manuals say "refer to text" for fuel mix On this motor it is right in the specs 16:1.with outboard oil.then in text as well.The clearance text indicates all friction bearings.I wonder if some how a 10 hp sticker got put on your motor?Does your sticker say Outboard oil or 30wt oil?My 70 after market manual only covers 5.5 60 -64 Before 64 they say 24:1 even though they are all friction bearings to 61 with needle bearing 62 up.64 is rated at 50:1.However no other indication of increased full bearing specs.
I'm thinking that as true outboard oils became available manufacturers lowered oil requirements.Maybe Chinewalker or somebody will check in with more info.Probably nobody runs more old motors than Scott.
To further confuse things The 6hp motors are rated at 50:1 but sometimes experience failure when driven hard or error on the lean side.I forget what Scott reccomends But it seems 40:1 comes to mind.With the 7.5 I'd be inclined to stick with 16:1 for normal use perhaps 24:1 for extended trolling.When adjusting the high speed mix I would run it just slightly toward rich but not enough to change performance.

 

[F_R]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

You may notice the chart was updated in 1960. Some ratios were reduced, others not. There must be a reason the 7.5 needs more oil than the 5.5 even though the construction is similar. My hasty WA guess is that maybe it is because there is a higher load on the rod bearings due to the higher horsepower. I have also heard from a very reliable source that some of those motors suffer from an obstruction of the incoming oil spray. Have no idea if that applies to the 7.5.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 7.5 hp 1957-56 Fleetwin

That's interesting I have a 63 after market service manual covers 55-58 7.5 motors Sometimes these manuals say "refer to text" for fuel mix On this motor it is right in the specs 16:1.with outboard oil.then in text as well.The clearance text indicates all friction bearings.I wonder if some how a 10 hp sticker got put on your motor?Does your sticker say Outboard oil or 30wt oil?My 70 after market manual only covers 5.5 60 -64 Before 64 they say 24:1 even though they are all friction bearings to 61 with needle bearing 62 up.64 is rated at 50:1.However no other indication of increased full bearing specs.
I'm thinking that as true outboard oils became available manufacturers lowered oil requirements.Maybe Chinewalker or somebody will check in with more info.Probably nobody runs more old motors than Scott.
To further confuse things The 6hp motors are rated at 50:1 but sometimes experience failure when driven hard or error on the lean side.I forget what Scott reccomends But it seems 40:1 comes to mind.With the 7.5 I'd be inclined to stick with 16:1 for normal use perhaps 24:1 for extended trolling.When adjusting the high speed mix I would run it just slightly toward rich but not enough to change performance.

Steelespike---You are of course 100% CORRECT! My BB brain must have had the big one. I'm so accustomed to 24:1 I must have been hypnotized the first time I read the sticker......I've been running 24:1 in it,too! I've also been wondering why it didn't have any power but am going to ask that question on a different thread so I don't hijack DFoss'. SORRY DFOSS! I'm glad these other experts took the time to correct my big mistake, hopefully before anybody listened. I was thinking I must be wrong as I know you guys are incredibly knowledgeable and am very embarrassed at my idiotic mistake.
My apologies, I will be sure to double and triple check before I make anymore replies.
JBJ