Fisherman 5.5

[lamphega]

My sister has an old fisherman 5.5 that has been on a stand in her garage for the last 20+ years. It was her late husbands and she hated to give it up, emotions and all but today she asked me to help her sell it. I am more on a sterndrive guy so I am looking for a bit of help. I will get pics and serial numbers tomorrow. I think it is mid fifties, outside is complete and in very nice shape, been sitting inside garage under cover a long time. I want to know what I need to check to see if it will work. I did give the rope a tug and turned over easy. After all this time I bet plugs are shot-what else can I look for? Can you use a muff to test run or do I need a water tank? Coil, points? It was a great little engine years ago, went out a few times and it started and ran a dream but this was a long, long time ago. Any help would be appreciated, thanks.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Fisherman 5.5

I would check the compression first.

If that checks out, time to test the spark. If the coils are original, they will need to be replaced. Im sure the points will need to be cleaned and re set to 020.

Carb will likely need a clean, and change the fuel lines.

Change the gear oil, along with the impeller, as it will be dry rotted from sitting.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Fisherman 5.5

The Evinrude Fisherman 5.5, was built from 1956, on. It's basically a Johnson CD model, in disguise. Johnson introduced the 5.5 in 1954. Excellent motors and very reliable. I have 4 old 5.5's right now in my posession and love how nice they run. Below, in my signature, I have a '58 Fisherman and it's a nice runner. By the time Evinrude was built with this marque, they were smoother runners. Tune it up right, and someone will enjoy that motor for years.

Do what HighTrim has just suggested. I further suggest 16:1 fuel mix and fresh oil in the lower, especially when it is put away for the winter.

 

[lindy46]

Re: Fisherman 5.5

To get it in good runnning condition could cost more than you'll get for it if you sell it. Parts alone could be up to $150, and that's if you do all the work yourself. If you have a mechanic do the labor, forget it. I'd probably throw some new plugs in, change the gear oil, stick it in a test tank and try to fire her up. If she fires and pumps water, then at least you can sell it as a running motor. If she doesn't, then you're in for some work if you feel you want to tackle it. Or at that point just sell it as a parts motor. Just changing the water pump impeller on that motor requires removing the powerhead, so it can get pretty labor-intensive.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Fisherman 5.5

Thats very true. That '58 Fisherman of mine, I re-kitted the lower unit, replaced the coils and wires and water pump. I have about $100 into it. I didn't re-kit the carb, because it runs fine. I did however, go into the block. When I got it, it had a loose rod and would stop against the cranck case, when you turned it. So I cleaned up the crank (how lucky I was) and buttoned it back up, with new rod locks and now runs like a dream. So yea, these can require you to go into them prettty good to replce the impeller. Two of my old CD-12's are going to get the total restore.