Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

[adt2]

My kids and I have been building a 15' Westport Skiff since mid-March. Launch day is finally here, and we'll be splashing her Saturday morning at the local lake. My plan is to get up early and go with my dad out to the ramp before a) it gets too crowded and b) my wife and kids are awake. I figure the less input I have while making sure everything floats right-side-up, the better.

I bought a 1957 Johnson 35HP (RDE-19) to hang off the transom. It's a tiller-steer with an owner-added electric start setup that seems to work pretty well. I had no problems starting the motor in a tank, and I don't anticipate any trouble starting it at the dock Saturday (fingers crossed). I do have one concern (addressed in a thread in the repair forum) about whether I'm getting full travel on the twist-grip throttle; it only turns from 12 o'clock to about 3 o'clock. It's been 20 years or more since I last used a tiller-steer outboard, and I can't remember if that's all the twist I should expect or not.

My questions here are: What should I take in terms of tools/supplies for troubleshooting? How should I warm the engine up before letting it rip? What should I look/listen/feel for while using it? What adjustments should I make - and how - while underway? Basically, I don't want to end up in a situation where I have to either make a 2-hour round-trip home to get tools, cancel the launch, spend a bunch of money on supplies at the lakeside hardware store, or burn up the motor out of stupidity. Any and all advice gladly accepted. Help us have a good day on the water!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Carry a few basic tools, a plug wrench, electrical tape screwdriver etc.

To check the throttle......... w/o it running place the motor into gear and twist the throttle all the way. Now check that the carb flap is fully open and you should be fine. Many tiller steer will not permit full throttle engagement unless the motor is in gear. I would be very very conservative of adjustments and give it some time and see how it runs.

Bring your paddle/oar and an anchor. Don't forget to put your cell phone in a zip lock bag.

I would run it about 4-5 minutes before I tried full throttle but you can still be moving in that time frame. You are dealing with a 55 YO motor so treat it with care and you should have no problems.

Fresh 6 Gallons gas to 1 quart of tcw 3 oil.
Water pump okay?
snacks?
Oh and don't forget Dad!!

 

[64osby]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

What adjustments should I make - and how - while underway?​

Mine like to run richer when cold and a little leaner when warm.

 

[adt2]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

My plan is to follow the high-speed adjustment and idle adjustment procedures as detailed in the service manual (except I don't have a tachometer, so I'll be doing it by ear for the time-being). Ditty bag will include screwdrivers, electrical tape, large and small adjustable wrenches, pliers, ratchet and plug socket, a stiff-bristle brush, and anything else I panic and throw in there on my way out the door. A little bit of Scotch for the launch ceremony (one for the boat, one for the sea, one for me) and a waterproof container for cell phones etc. Small lunch bag with cold drinks and snacks (and probably some Tylenol).

I'm really looking forward to getting eyeballed while I down a glass of Scotch at 7am on a Saturday morning in the middle of the marina.

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Don't forget the pfd's

 

[adt2]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Thanks - already got those in the boat. Although I've had a few more folks invite themselves to the launch, so we'll either have to take turns riding or they'll have to bring their own.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Good luck!! The 15' Westport Skiff is a nice design.

Sure would also like to see you participate in this thread with photos http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=568781

 

[PuddleJumper]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Carry a few basic tools, a plug wrench, electrical tape screwdriver etc.

To check the throttle......... w/o it running place the motor into gear and twist the throttle all the way. Now check that the carb flap is fully open and you should be fine. Many tiller steer will not permit full throttle engagement unless the motor is in gear. I would be very very conservative of adjustments and give it some time and see how it runs.

Bring your paddle/oar and an anchor. Don't forget to put your cell phone in a zip lock bag.

I would run it about 4-5 minutes before I tried full throttle but you can still be moving in that time frame. You are dealing with a 55 YO motor so treat it with care and you should have no problems.

Fresh 6 Gallons gas to 1 quart of tcw 3 oil.
Water pump okay?
snacks?
Oh and don't forget Dad!!

I had a 57 Johnson 10 hp and we always mixed pint to 6gal (50:1) Quart to 6 gal in the old days when 30 wt oil was used. TCW3 at 50:1

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

No way. 50:1 is WAY too lean for a '57. You need to run at least 24:1 in all models up to about '64 when they started using needle bearings, and even then it's not a bad idea to keep running 24:1. You couold even run 16:1 and be ok. Oil is cheap insurance and these old 2-strokes depend on it. I run 24:1 in all my 60s era motors even those made after '64. Here's a great link that can walk you through a tune up from top to bottom for that old gem. Note the section in the top regarding proper fuel/oil mix. You can get any routine parts right here at iboats too.

http://www.leeroysramblings.com/johnson_QD.htm

 

[adt2]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

I use 24:1 - one quart to 6 gallons of gas. Smokes like hell, but I know that's the right mixture.

Thanks for the link - looks interesting, and I'll definitely be doing a full tune-up in the near future. I do have another question, though, regarding these old Johnsons: How on earth does the cowling mate to the motor unit? Mine has what is obviously a replacement gasket around the motor unit; the cowling fits over the top of the motor, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how to "attach" it to the lower unit. It appears to just sit on top, which doesn't seem right to me. Baffling.

 

[64osby]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

There a 4 black rubber nubs , for lack of a better term, over cast posts that are on the motor and the case has 4 cups that lock on them when the case is clamped shut.

Here is a pic, on the right 3rd, these have been replaced, the originals have ribs.

 

[adt2]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Ah, I see. Mine is missing those black rubber dealies. One more thing to track down and buy.

Thanks.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

hmmm....... I've always run 24:1 (approx. 5.5 fl. oz. of oil to 1 US gallon of 87 octane gas) in my motors, even my old 33 hp Big Twin, and they make virtually no smoke at all, except for start up, or in the test tank. I usually round up to 6 oz per gallon too, but I've never had an issue with smoke? What brand of oil are you using adt2? I use the Pennzoil TCW-3 marine, 2-stroke outboard oil they sett at Wally world and it works great. Are you getting a nice hot spark on both cylinders (can jump a 1/4" gap)? You should be running Champion J6C plugs gapped to .030" using 7mm copper core wires with the points set to .020". Here are some more handy links.

http://www.duckworksmagazine.com/04/s/columns/max/24/index.cfm

http://www.marineengine.com/parts/v...ntage-evinrude-johnson/377023/37702300001.htm

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...on 3 HP 1952-1967 Ignition System Tune-up.htm

http://www.outboard-boat-motor-repa...hnson 5.5 HP 1954-1964 Carburetor Tune-UP.htm

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

Bring your paddle/oar and an anchor.

Fresh 6 Gallons gas to 1 quart of tcw 3 oil.

I NEVER leave the dock without a paddle. Not only is it capable of getting you home usually, high current rivers, or wind swept bays excepted, but you can also use it as a pole to keep things from banging together...like coming along side another object, boat-pier-whatever.

And back then the mix was 24:1 so you need the quart, not the pint that the newer engines can use.

Have fun. That engine was the powerhouse of the day when I was growing up.

Mark

 

[adt2]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

We had a good time, although some engine trouble kept us from staying out there too long. We did end up using the paddle, because the motor died every time we slowed to idle - making docking and trailering a real adventure.

And yes, I'm using a quart of oil for each 6 gallon tank of gas. Now if I can just get my water pump issues figured out, I'll be in good shape.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

I NEVER leave the dock without a paddle. Not only is it capable of getting you home usually, high current rivers, or wind swept bays excepted, but you can also use it as a pole to keep things from banging together...like coming along side another object, boat-pier-whatever.

And back then the mix was 24:1 so you need the quart, not the pint that the newer engines can use.

Have fun. That engine was the powerhouse of the day when I was growing up.

Mark

+1. Gotta have a back up paddle, or two. That way your buddy can help too I'm OCD about having back up propulsion of some sort, so I have a 3 hp air cooled kicker, extra long paddle, and 15 ft. bamboo pushpole. I'm thinking about a bow mounted electric trolling motor too. Overkill? Probably, but there's nothing worse, or more embarrassing, than getting stranded and hoping that someone will help you. Especially, if there are tides, current and/or weather to deal with. Then it goes from being simply inconvenient to down right dangerous.

 

[adt2]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

The paddle was a concession to my wife. She's been asking me since the beginning of this project, "Is it going to float?" So when she started asking if I had oars, and how deep the lake was, I flashed. I told her I wasn't wasting money on oars, that a) the lake is not big enough to get out of sight of land and therefore people, and 2) there's no way to paddle this thing - it'd be like trying to paddle a barge. I told her if the motor crapped out, I'd flag down another boater and get a tow back to the dock. I actually don't mind asking for help, and I don't mind offering help if I come across somebody who needs it. I've been stranded more times than I can count on both hands, and I've helped strangers more times than I can count on two hands. Boats are fun when they work, but there's an awful lot of times when they don't work.

As usual, I ended up caving and picking up a single paddle before launch. Turns out I did, in fact, use it a couple of times - although not for paddling. It was handy at the ramp, to keep us from fishtailing into either the concrete bank or the boat next to us, and it was handy during docking maneuvers, when the motor died every time we shifted gears.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Taking 1957 Johnson out for first time this weekend; advice?

+1. Gotta have a back up paddle, or two. That way your buddy can help too I'm OCD about having back up propulsion of some sort, so I have a 3 hp air cooled kicker, extra long paddle, and 15 ft. bamboo pushpole. I'm thinking about a bow mounted electric trolling motor too. Overkill? Probably, but there's nothing worse, or more embarrassing, than getting stranded and hoping that someone will help you. Especially, if there are tides, current and/or weather to deal with. Then it goes from being simply inconvenient to down right dangerous.

The TM is not overkill on a bass boat. Just part of the package. Grin. But I still bring a paddle AND an anchor which I never had to use, but it's there anyway.

Mark