Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

[~Nickolas~]

Hi guys,
I'm curious about these late fifties motors and how they start, run , warm up. I have a 57 Johnson 18 that I pretty much replaced everything but the rings and bearings. It runs great once warm but when cold it is a bit cold natured and coughs and spits. After it warms up it runs great. I recently got a 57 Lark 35 and it too is the same way. Is this just how these motors are when they are cold? Seems like I always have to tinker with the low speed adjustment a but till it warms up then it's fine. I not used to these older motors and was just curious if is just the nature of the beast.

Nick

 

[katman123]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

I have a 1958 18hp that I just got running myself, it ran rough at first and spit and sputtered untill I rebuilt the carb, it was filthy inside and all gummed up, now it starts on the first pull and runs like a dream

 

[~Nickolas~]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

I rebuilt the carb on my 18 and it still spits and sputters when cold. After about 30 seconds it smooths out and runs fine. It doesn't matter where you turn the needle valve too it won't smooth out and run properly. Just seemed odd that the Lark I just got its the same way. I'll rebuild the carb on that one and see what happens. That is going to be the motor I will be running. They both have great compression with 120 on each cylinder. I got new coils, points, head gasket, etc and just can't seem to get this to run smooth at start up. After it is warm you can pull it with ease and it fires right up and purrs on that one pull but when it's cold it just coughs and spits. I just got the lark so I'll see what happens after I work on that one.

 

[64osby]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

I rebuilt the carb on my 18 and it still spits and sputters when cold. After about 30 seconds it smooths out and runs fine. It doesn't matter where you turn the needle valve too it won't smooth out and run properly. Just seemed odd that the Lark I just got its the same way.

Are you using a pressure Tank? If yes, is it holding good pressure and are you getting it primed properly? It almost sounds like it is starving at start up.

 

[~Nickolas~]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

Are you using a pressure Tank? If yes, is it holding good pressure and are you getting it primed properly? It almost sounds like it is starving at start up.

I am using a pressure tank and it pumps up tight and holds pressure for quite some time. I can come back to it a few weeks later and unscrew the lid and it still has pressure. It fills the fuel bowel and always has gas in it. I hope when I rebuild the Lark it will run right. It has an electric pump on it and does the same thing.

 

[kodibass]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

I have yet to find one of these oldies that don't sneeze when cold at least a couple of times' some more then others, But I think most do imho.

 

[bbstacker1]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

Hi guys,
I'm curious about these late fifties motors and how they start, run , warm up. I have a 57 Johnson 18 that I pretty much replaced everything but the rings and bearings. It runs great once warm but when cold it is a bit cold natured and coughs and spits. After it warms up it runs great. I recently got a 57 Lark 35 and it too is the same way. Is this just how these motors are when they are cold? Seems like I always have to tinker with the low speed adjustment a bit till it warms up then it's fine. I not used to these older motors and was just curious if is just the nature of the beast.

Nick

Having just about the same birth date (1958 in my case) I kinda know how the motor feels when first getting going. Bob

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Fifties Evinrude and Johnson motors

Richen the mixture when you cold start, they like it.