Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

[jimlee5050]

I bought a 1967 Starcraft Seasport TR. The model on the outboard says Model # RKL-29E. Does anyone know what year this outboard is? What part of mixture on oil to gas do I use? Do I need a yearly tuneup and what has to be done to the outboard each year? The person I bought it from said it's running good and just had 2 new spark plugs done. Thanks in advance.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

1967.
50:1 mix
Change the gear oil every year. Change the water pump impeller every other year.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

I hope that you know the electromatic shift gearcases like yours require a special gear lube. Look for Evinrude's Premium Blend or one that says "meets TYPE C requirements".

 

[jimlee5050]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

Thanks, guys! I didn't know about the shift gearcase lube. I will look into this. Here's some early pictures of the motor and boat I took when I just bought her. I will be working on her to fix her up a bit.

 

[jimlee5050]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

One more question if anyone knows on this 1967 Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse outboard: Does this outboard have a built-in generator (like your car alternator) to recharge the 12V battery I have it hooked up to or do I have to buy a battery recharger? I have heard if the battery charge is low, the magnet or something on the shifter control will damage the motor if not kept at a good charge. Thanks in advance.

 

[lindy46]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

Should have a generator on the front port side of motor, opposite the starter. It is connected to the flywheel by a belt. Yes, you need to keep the battery charged as the electric shift requires 12 volts to keep the motor in gear.

 

[jimlee5050]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

Should have a generator on the front port side of motor, opposite the starter. It is connected to the flywheel by a belt. Yes, you need to keep the battery charged as the electric shift requires 12 volts to keep the motor in gear.

Thanks Lindy46! Awesome! This is a nice vintage boat and I'm excited about fixing her up and see how she runs.

 

[euphomus]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

How's the motor coming? I just picked up the same model off Craigslist from a farm nearby. Needs a complete rewire right down to the gearcase, but otherwise looks promising considering the age.

Quick question for you - there's an exhaust cover on the power head with two threaded openings. One has a metal tube leading back to the carb. The other is exposed. Any chance your's looks the same, or am I missing parts?

 

[euphomus]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

How's the motor coming? I just picked up the same model off Craigslist from a farm nearby. Needs a complete rewire right down to the gearcase, but otherwise looks promising considering the age.

Quick question for you - there's an exhaust cover on the power head with two threaded openings. One has a metal tube leading back to the carb. The other is exposed. Any chance your's looks the same, or am I missing parts?

I can add a pic, but I've been using this exploded view for most of my comparison - part 42 being the cover, and part 45 being the threaded openings...
http://www.marineengine.com/parts/evinrude-johnson-parts-diagrams/JOHNSON/382092-POWERHEAD-GROUP.gif

 

[jimlee5050]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

I can add a pic, but I've been using this exploded view for most of my comparison - part 42 being the cover, and part 45 being the threaded openings...
http://www.*****************/parts/...s-diagrams/JOHNSON/382092-POWERHEAD-GROUP.gif

View attachment 195354

euphomus, sorry I didn't get back to check this thread as I thought it was completed. Can you post a picture of that section you questioned about? So, I can know where to take a pic of mine. Your current pic link don't work.

BTW, my motor runs great. I had to get a used propeller, since the bearings on the current one was getting strip/lose. Luckily I found/bought a good used one from a guy who works on them.

 

[racerone]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

I know it is an old posting.------There is a wee heat exchanger in the exhaust manifold.---------Air is drawn in the bottom hole . Goes through the heat exhanger .---Then throught the tube to a " bi-metallic coil " attached to the carburetor then into the engine.-----This controls the choke flapper tension.

 

[euphomus]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

wow, guys - thanks for getting back to me on this post. I ended up pulling the whole thing apart to understand that it was just an air intake. The threads on the opening are what confused me - seems unnecessary to thread an intake port.

Just a few updates on my progress in case anyone is curious:

1. Took the motor on our annual fishing trip in temagami. It ran great for the first mile and then flooded itself to death. I'll save you the suspense. The spark wires were horribly frayed under the flywheel. I ran it at night and you could see sparks anywhere they could find a ground. Since fixing, the motor runs great.

2. The automatic choke solenoid was shot. I can't find a cheap replacement, so I installed a plate where the solenoid belongs to cover the opening (and ensure air exchange comes from the block), and I manually choke the engine. Do you guys see any issue with that?

3. The generator works, but it needs to be polarized quite regularly. Is that because I disconnect the battery?

4. The farmer who sold me the motor didn't have the controls for the electromatic shift so I made my own using a 10a 3-way switch. I thought I'd get crafty and put a green and red diode on the positions so one would light on forward or reverse. Well they both lit up when the motor ran, stressing me out until I realized they were lighting by the induced current from the electromagnets. The fix was a dual pole 3-way so I could isolate the diodes.

5. I know the electromatics evolved from forward-hot to neutral-hot a few years later, so you can still get home if your battery died. Does anyone know if there is a way to convert the '67 to this setting? I would think it could be as simple as swapping clutch springs or repositioning forward (rear) electromagnet. Any thoughts?

6. Last question and an easy one - Has anyone mounted a hydrofoil on the '67? Just want to make sure it wouldn't mess with the water intake

Thanks for everything. I can't wait to get this classic back in the water!

 

[euphomus]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

Thought I'd share a picture of the control panel mods. The choke button is actually a kill switch as the ignition switch is a generic one that doesn't short the sparks in the off position.

 

[racerone]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

In nuetral there is no power to either electro-magnet.------For forward there is 12 volts to forward.----For reverse there is 12 volts to the reverse magnet.------The later hydro-electric units were totally different from the electramatic.-----There is no way that you can make your electramatic work like the hydro-electric !!!!!!!!!!

 

[euphomus]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

In nuetral there is no power to either electro-magnet.------For forward there is 12 volts to forward.----For reverse there is 12 volts to the reverse magnet.------The later hydro-electric units were totally different from the electramatic.-----There is no way that you can make your electramatic work like the hydro-electric !!!!!!!!!!

On the hydro's, you needed 12v across green for neutral but the reverse set up was the same as the electramatic. I've haven't looked at a gearbox schematic yet to see what else, if anything, is different. Maybe I'll get a chance today. let you know

 

[racerone]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

?????--The reverse requires 12 volts to the green and also 12 volts to blue at the same time !!-----These units are totally different and they do not work the same at all !!----There is zero chance that you can make your eletramatic default to forward in case of power failure !!!

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

I'm afraid this is starting to confuse people. Electramatic is green forward, blue reverse. NEVER both at the same time, as that would put it in both forward and reverse at the same time, and if running will surely bust something!!!! Hydro-Electric is green neutral and both blue and green for reverse. So, you can imagine what is going to happen the first time you shift to reverse-----Wham!! Absolutely no way to use the wrong one on either system. However, you can swap out the shift switch in the control boxes.

 

[racerone]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

The man is unaware of the fundamental difference between the 2 shift systems.--------Electramatic shifts with electro magnets and springs that wrap around a drum.------Hydro-electric shifts with a spring loaded clutch dog , oil pump and oil pressure directed by 2 solenoids and valves.

 

[euphomus]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

The man is unaware of the fundamental difference between the 2 shift systems.--------Electramatic shifts with electro magnets and springs that wrap around a drum.------Hydro-electric shifts with a spring loaded clutch dog , oil pump and oil pressure directed by 2 solenoids and valves.

'nuff said, racerone. That explains the difference quite well - they're entirely different gearboxes. Well everything works quite nicely right now so my question was more of speculation. Thanks for taking the time to post, guys.

Did you have any thoughts on the generator? Does it sound normal to have to polarize it every few weeks?

 

[F_R]

Re: Johnson 40 Electromatic Super Seahorse

No, not normal at all.