Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

[AMcCall]

My father-in-law has a late 60's Johnson 33hp motor that he is willing to give me. It was never run much, and has probably been sitting in his barn for 15 years. Looks like a good rehab project.<br /><br />It is currently set up for remote steering/throttle. Do you know if those 33hp motors were ever produced with tiller handles or if there is a tiller conversion available? Thanks...

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

Yes they were. Find your local outboard graveyard and you'll find lots. Or you can try with one of the online outboard 'recyclers' like tcoutboard.com or marinepartsoutlet.com.<br />Basically the only thing you need is the arm and the little gear that goes on the throttle shaft. Or you could probably just get the whole throttle shaft. The only other parts you'll need are the mounting bolts and washers for the arm.<br /><br />These parts can come from a early 50s 25hp, a '56 30hp, a '57 35hp (not '58-59 though), a '62-'64 28hp, any 33hp, and even some 40hp engines made after '71. All these will look a lot like your 33hp.<br /><br />On the right side of the handle on that outboard, there's a throttle pointer on a cover casting. Esentially, you remove the pointer, then unbolt the casting. Place the pivot gear on the throttle shaft, and then bolt on the arm and saftey the nut. Nothing to it!

 

[AMcCall]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

Thanks, Paul.<br /><br />One more question...are there any particular weak points on the 33 horse engine - anything I should pay special attention to while working on it?

 

[Paul Moir]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

Nope, not really. It's a pretty rugged engine that traces it's lineage back to the '57-(some of)'58 35hp engines, which were top of the line back then. Little improvements were made since.<br />Like all other J/E 2 cylinder engines from the 50s-70s, the ignition coils can go bad and cause problems. But if they've been serviced in recent memory with the newer style coils, you're likely just fine.<br />The water pump's impeller should be changed out if it's been a few years. It's usually a pretty simple task on that engine.

 

[jchrans]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

Whatever you do ... NEVER remove the PIVOT SCREW!!! I did that once on a 33HP Big Twin on my first attempt to change the lower gear oil. I took out the pivot pin by mistake and could not get it back in. Wound up taking the whole motor apart ... never did put it back together ...

 

[AMcCall]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

Thanks again for the replies.

 

[lark2004]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

if you take the fly wheel off, make sure that you torque the nut back up to 105 ft/lbs when you put it back on, this is really important! While you're in the top of the motor, check the condtion of the coils, the old coils will probably have cracks in them and need replacing, this is cheap and easy, also clean and gap the points to .020".<br /><br />The carb will probably need a rebuild, get a kit with a plastic float in it to replace the old cork float. <br /><br />Probably also be a good idea to replace all the fuel and vacumme hoses in it, if it's been sitting in a barn for 15 years. The rubber will have gone hard and be starting to perish.

 

[AMcCall]

Re: Late 60's 33hp Ski-Twin

one more quick question for now (I'm picking up the motor this weekend)...how much do these 33 hp motors weigh? I know I'll get that information when I buy a manual, but I'd like to wait until I check the model number to determine the year...Thanks.