Vintage Johnson Seahorse

[Niedhogg]

Hey everyone, I just picked up a pair of old seahorses and could use a little help identifying them. I have a model number for one of them and it is- JW-10, and the decals say it's a 3 hp. But the other one doesn't have any model or serial tag on it, it just says johnson seahorse on the tank, and I'm pretty sure it's older just by comparing the carburator setups of both. Any info or direction to a site that could help would be great. I'll try to post pics, but they are usually to large to post.

Thanks, Dave

 

[Niedhogg]

Re: Vintage Johnson Seahorse

Maybe some starting procedures for the one pictured? I got it to pop a few times, but the mixture thumb wheel is kinda free wheeling as it will easily rotate fully 3-4 times, so I'm not sure what a basic start point is from all the way in. And then there is the small needle valve where the mixture enters the head, is this just another shut off valve or a mixture screw as well?
Thanks

 

[Niedhogg]

Re: Vintage Johnson Seahorse

Looks like they made the JW-10 motors for a number of years, I've seen 59s and 52s, and the serial on the 52 was 100XXX, and my serial is 980564 so I guess it's a later model, and it looks like I might be missing a front cover plate so I'll be starting that search soon, along with a proper tiller handle and some case screws and recoil screws a cord and pull handle, lol, but hey the other one is totally complete, it just needs a new tiller grip. I'd really like to find out what year and hp it is, where is the serial tag??

 

[F_R]

Re: Vintage Johnson Seahorse

JW-10 was made 1952 through 1954. The serial number says yours is a 1952.

The picture is too dark to make positive ID on the other one, but it is either a HD-xx or TD-xx or TN-xx Look on the side opposite the carburetor side, and the numbers should be stamped on the cylinder. HD's are 2.5hp, TD/TN is 5hp.

Open the dial (high speed mixture adjustment) about a turn or turn and a half to start, and press it down to prime. The needle on the front is the slow speed mixture adjustment. It is very sensitive, 5/8 turn open is about right.

 

[Niedhogg]

Re: Vintage Johnson Seahorse

Hey thanks for the help! And I finally found the model and serial numbers, they are cast or stamped on the bottom of the block and it is an HD-25, serial 683483, can you tell me the year?? So anyway, I'm messing with it again tonight and moved my barrell and both motors to the shed, pulled and cleaned the spark plugs on the HD and put it back in the barrell to try it again, set everything like you suggested and pushed the primer, and unbelievably, fuel squirts out of the slow speed mixture area!! The screw where the needle and fuel line meet is missing now! It must have fallen out during the move, I never messed with it at all and now it is missing... can anyone tell me size and thread count of this screw?? So i pulled the cord anyway, and it tried to start! How frustrating...