outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

[jebus]

Hi all,

I'm glad I found this forum, as I'm sure I'll be perusing it frequently for info. I just bought an old P-14 fiberglass boat with a Johnson Super Sea Horse 40. The model number is RDS-22, serial 2043818. From what I've read here, it looks like it might be a 1960 or thereabouts.

She seems to run great, but I'm wondering what I ought to look for before putting too many hours on her. The points have been replaced recently. Does the cooling water flow out below the waterline? I can't see any obvious outlet for water. The engine doesn't run hot at all, as far as I can tell.

I guess the first step is to buy a manual, and perhaps replace the impeller. Any way to test or clean the carbs without removing them? The high speed and low speed mix adjustments I think are explained in another thread. I'm thinking I should figure those out, particularly the high speed, before running it too much. I imagine the manual would explain that as well.

Thanks for the info, and any other suggestions would be much appreciated.

Cheers.

 

[Xcusme]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Jebus, Welcome to iboats!

Well, you pretty much have the bases covered with an OEM service manual for your motor. Actually, you're the exception. Most folks 'walk in here off the street' and don't bother to read any posts and put in a call for help.

Since this is a new to you motor, follow the service recommendations in the manual , to include, changing the lower unit lube etc. Change the water pump impeller since you don't know the last time it was done. Write down what you do, what was replaced and date the entries. This will give you a good baseline for future repairs. Do a compression test too. Over time you will be able to track any changes.

Our friend Joe Reeves has a post on mixture valve settings that seems to be re-posted weekly. As for the carbs, there's no quick fix for cleaning them. Removal and dis-assembly is the only way to properly clean them.

BTW, RDS-22 is a 1960 40hp.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Thanks for the input, Xcusme. I'll look for that other post on mixture adjustments.

One other questions though. Any idea where to find an OEM manual for my engine? I see some Seloc manuals for a range of years for sale, but none specific for mine. Can't find anything on eBay either.

Thanks.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Let me check with a couple people,I may be able to find you a manual.
The oldest i can find so far is a 1969 40HP manual.
I'll send a couple emails out and see what i can do.
The Seloc and Clymers manuals are not that great.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Hey, thanks Gary. I saw the Seloc manuals for sale, and suspected they'd be much like the Haynes manual I have for my car, which is almost worthless. I appreciate the help.

 

[Gary H NC]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Ok,My manual expert said that they did not make individual manuals for each model until 1965.Up until that year they made a larger manual that covers a lot more models.But,he does have one and its very rare.
The price is not bad considering i gave about 50 bucks for my 1981 manual.
Here it is.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/e...0204022572&category0=&fvi=1&item=200204022572

 

[BoatBuoy]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

The manual on ebay is $62.95 with $12.85 shipping. The same manual on outboardbooks.com is $73.00 with $9.90 shipping to me. Ebay is the bit better deal.

Nothing will eat pistons and cylinder walls as quick as a lean mixture, except maybe a bad impeller. If it were mine, I would clean/rebuild the carb just so that I had a comfort level about mixture, especially if you don't know if it was ever done. Removing them is the only way but it's not difficult. They're not difficult, but a little aggravating since other stuff has to be removed as well. The carbs themselves are fairly simple, similar to a lawn mower carb only a bit bigger - nothing like an auto carb.

Most of the water exits below the waterline. However, there is an above-water idle-relief that spits water. On yours, I believe it's about half way down the mid-section in the back.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Thanks for the great info. I'll look into getting a manual, and both the impeller and the carb rebuild sound like good insurance. That's again for all the help.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

If it ain't broke don't fix it. I agree on changing the impeller as you don't know when it was done the last time, but if it is running good as you say it is then don't adjust the carb, don't clean the carb imo only change the impeller and put fresh lube in the lu. I've seen too many motors where the guy was just going to tweak it a little to make it run better and before long they don't run at all.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

One other bit of weirdness that I forgot to mention. The electric start doesn't work, and there seems to be a short in the wiring harness. If I hook up the harness to the engine and turn the key to on, nothing happens but I can jiggle the harness and it'll start.

In other words, it's engaging the starter with the key in the on position, not start. It seems to me that there's short in the end of the harness (the molded rubber plug part) that's probably causing this, but any other suggestions are appreciated.

The electrical mojo eludes me, so I'm not sure even how to test for a short. It has started with the key a couple of times though, which makes me think it's a short.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Nope, it's not a short in the harness. Those plugs are notorious for getting cruddy. You just need to clean the contacts thoroughly, and it's not all that easy. For the female side use contact cleaner spray (auto parts store or hardware store) and smoking pipe cleaners. Look for the ones with the nylon bristles mixed with the softer ones are best. For the male side (on the outboard) it's more difficult, but you can do it with a very small brush that will fit in between the contacts and more of that contact cleaner.

Trust me, it'll work out just fine. Be careful. Those plugs are virtually impossible to find in good condition.

Voice of experience speaking. Mine used to do that all the time, until I took the 20 minutes to really clean the contacts.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

So, dirty connections can actually cause the starter to engage when the key's in the on position? I figured it must be a short, since it was doing that. I tried cleaning up the connectors last night, but maybe I need to do a better job.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[F_R]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Be aware that the wing nut holding the cable to the motor is the ground cable connection. If that is cruddy, you will get the works-when-you-wiggle-it syndrome.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

So, dirty connections can actually cause the starter to engage when the key's in the on position? I figured it must be a short, since it was doing that. I tried cleaning up the connectors last night, but maybe I need to do a better job.

Thanks for the tip.

Sorry. No, they can't cause the starter to engage when the key's just in the on position. I missed that. Could be the switch, though. If it's as old as the outboard, it could be broken internally.

Could also be a problem in the cable, but more likely somewhere else. Does this have the separate box for the solenoid? If so, check in there, too.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Okay, I got the electric start working on this beast. I removed the plug from the inside of the engine case so I could clean the male contacts thoroughly, and used a wire brush on the female side of the screw connector. Also, it turns out the key switch was wired wrong, with both on and start wires connected to the same terminal. So, I fixed that and all's well.

Thanks for all the tips. I just had a couple other questions. Is there a kill switch somewhere on this thing? I can't find one on the engine, and turning the key to off does nothing. I've been shutting it off by turning the choke on, but I don't imagine that's the best method.

Also, how much fuel should I expect it to use? I just had it out, cruising around at maybe 80% throttle for thirty or forty minutes, and I think I used 2 - 3 gallons of gas. Is that normal, and if not, anything I can do to maybe increase the fuel economy?

Thanks again everybody.

 

[spy1309]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

I have the same engine and had the same issue I couldn't shut down the motor from the key, the reason was that one of the 2 black wires was intrerupted 2 inches after the connector plug cable, get a ohmeter and verify the continuity of the 2 black wires all the way to the electrical connection box where the starter solenoid is housed.
The fix ....i striped the insulation till I got to the black wire, cut it solder it, with a brush I painted 2 layers of liquid tape, put 2 layers of electrical tape followed by another 2 coats of liquid tape.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Ah, you must be talking about those two black wires that are currently disconnected. I was wondering what those were for. I have no idea where they go, but thanks for the tip.

How much gas does your engine use? Are these beasts at thirsty as mine seems?

Thanks.

 

[spy1309]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Well depends on more factors, the condition of the engine, weight, load,......you have to get around 2 hours at WOT, more if you drive a mix of WOT and trolling at lower speeds, the factory was estimating 2.5hours at WOT but that was an optimistic estimate.

The 2 black wires go from the connection box to the ignition switch, they are grounded toughether when you turn the ignition switch off.

 

[jebus]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

You mean I should get 2 hours out of a six gallon tank at WOT? I'm not sure what you're saying there.

Thanks for the tip on the black wires.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: outboard newb with johnson super sea horse 40

Ah, you must be talking about those two black wires that are currently disconnected. I was wondering what those were for. I have no idea where they go, but thanks for the tip.

How much gas does your engine use? Are these beasts at thirsty as mine seems?

Thanks.

The two black wires go to the two M terminals on the switch. When the key is turned to OFF, they short together, killing the engine.

The 2 hours per tank at WOT is just about right. 3 gallons per hour. You can do better if you put your boat on plane at full throttle, then back the throttle off to about 75%. You'll lose a couple or three MPH, but your mileage will improve, giving you about another half hour per tank.

Going out for more than that? Take two tanks. The big twins are thirsty sorts of engines, but wonderful performers.