Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

[mwreynolds]

Last night I finally got my jonson started for the first time in 12 years. I could rev it up and it sounded great, hiwever there was so much smoke I could not see a thing. I shut the motor down and felt the shaft that goes to the prop and it was hot as could be, thought maybe the impellor is out, but I want to run it again with some help to see if it was peeing. I went to start it this morning and nothing. I have fuel, spark, and what seems to be almost to much compression. Please anyone who has advice, please help!!

 

[Goodoleboy]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

Check lower unit for oil. Dont try to start it again until you know for sure.<br /><br />seized gears in lower unit may be what you think is compresion.<br /><br />And when you get the lower unit free. Make sure your water pump is working. dont try to run it without water.

 

[mwreynolds]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

I have replaced the lower unit oil already, it was not milky nor did it have metal shavings in the old oil. I have the motor in a 50 gal. drum filled to about 6 inches below the pee hole. Another thing is after pulling on the motor for 10 or 15 minutes I pulled the plugs and only the bottom one was wet? Dont know what this means.

 

[Goodoleboy]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

That prop shaft shouldnt be geting hot, somethings wrong inside. Have you done a compression test.<br /><br />Try squirting abit of premix in the cylinders then give er uh few pulls. if starts look for water discharge if none shut off quick.<br /><br />Check passages with wire to see if its obstructed some place. If you deside its not, then its time to have a look see at the water pump.<br /><br />Compresion test will tell you a lot about this motor.

 

[mwreynolds]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

Well good news. I desided to go give her a crack again. First thing I did was a compression test. It was great with both at 73 lbs. So next I tried to give her a pull, she started but then died. I remembered I had opened the lid to the gas tank so the hot sun would not make it explode. I quickly closed it and gave her a yank, she started right up, after messing with the carb knobs for a little while I shut her off and could start her every time after. My father in law said the motor was peeing and the shaft should be a little warm. So it looks like after 12 years of sitting all it is going to take is a change of lower unit oil, and new spark plugs. Talk abouut lucky!

 

[jfm1]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

you better change the water pump after 12 years or your luck may run out real fast

 

[mwreynolds]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

When you say water pump, is that different than the impeller? Or are they one in the same? Also my motor runs very well from the start position to fast bust as soon as you try and put it in shift or slow it dies. any suggestion?? Also where is the easiest place to get a "water pump"?

 

[jfm1]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

if your pump housing is in good shape then just impeller, if you have a napa auto they may have what you need also right here on IBoats. you need a repair manual also. its been sitting along time you should get a rebuild kit for the carb/fuel pump. also check your wires/fuel lines for cracks. I would pull the flywheel and check the coils.

 

[mwreynolds]

Re: Please HELP '56 johnson 5 1/2 horse

I checked the points coils and condencers and they look like they were intalled just yesterday. Being it is a 1956 it does not have a fuel pump it uses a pressure tank. It probably could use a carb rebuild but these are not the easiest things to get parts for. I did notice the pistons had quite a bit of carbon build up on them. Hoiw big of a deal is this and should I run some decarb though it?