18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

[asdasc]

Is there a way to lock the tilt on a '59 Johnson 18HP? Whenever I go into reverse to park or try to stop my pontoon boat, the motor backs itself up into the air and almost out of the water.

It is still fairly new to me, and the only way to check it prior to dragging the boat out for the winter is to try and hang upside down off the back of my pontoon boat, so I would like to know what I am looking for or if it is even possible.

Thanks!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Front and center between the thumbscrews there should be a bent metal tab that can move vertically. Cast into the bracket between the clamps are the words LOCK and UNLOCK. That's your lock-down...
- Scott

 

[asdasc]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

OK, thanks. Does this stay put when I move it, or do I need to activate it each time? Also, just to confirm, this takes away its ability to give way when I get into shallow water, right?

I have a remote helm and opperate in very shallow water. This could get tricky. Without it, I have no brakes. With it, I risk running aground and causing damage.

I don't suppose anyone has hooked it to a solinoid and interlocked it to the reverse gear selector, eh?

 

[jasper60103]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Also, if I may ask a question.

The LOCK/UNLOCK label is missing from my motor so I want to confirm.
Is the downward position LOCK?

thanks,
jasper

 

[F_R]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Latched in the lower position is UNLOCK. Release it and let it rise is LOCK.

Run it all the time in LOCK position. It has an overload feature that releases the lockdown if you hit an obstruction. When that happens, it will make a loud bang and you will think you busted something. That is normal and just the nature of the beast.

If you don't believe it will release, prove it to yourself. Lock it down, then squat down behind the motor, grab hold of the lower unit and yank it rearward. It will come up with that loud bang. When you lower it back down, it will re-lock automatically.

Having said all that, when I am running in shallow water where I know darned well I am going to hit bottom, I release mine for easy tilt and proceed slowly. Better yet, shut it off and tilt it up and use a pole.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

FR,
thanks, that's good to know.

If I can get hold of a label maker, I'll make a label for it,
and the throttle handle and gear shift as well.

thanks again.
jasper

 

[jasper60103]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

One more question, please.

There's something called a "shallow water drive bracket" right below the
angle adjust rod.

How does it work?
I assume you use it to prop the motor up when in shallow water?
And during normal conditions it should be down, correct?

thanks,
jasper

 

[F_R]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

That must be some sort of aftermarket thing somebody has added. It didn't come from Johnson that way. Before somebody yells at me, yes some models like the 9.5hp did have a shallow water drive.

 

[asdasc]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Thanks FR and Jasper, that is great information.

Even though I am running in really shallow water, it is really soft muck or sand, nothing rocky or immobile. I am more concerned about getting stuck in it than damaging anything.

I will look for and release that lever, that seems to be the key to my problems. It was a real surprise to find out that my 'brakes' didn't work unless I ran back and leaned on the motor!

By the way, I had another interesting problem pop up the other day. I started the boat with the key, just like always. Drove a very short distance and turned off the key which normally kills the engine, but this time there was no effect, it kept running! It was dark and took me a few minutes to realize the electrical harness had vibrated loose from the motor. Once I put that back in the kill switch worked fine. For some reason the manual choke wouldn't shut it off, but I was running in really cold water with a not warmed up motor.

 

[jasper60103]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

That must be some sort of aftermarket thing somebody has added. It didn't come from Johnson that way...

Sorry for the confusion.
I should have started another thread.
My motor is a 1981 25hp and this bracket is standard.

 

[F_R]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Thanks FR and Jasper, that is great information.
By the way, I had another interesting problem pop up the other day. I started the boat with the key, just like always. Drove a very short distance and turned off the key which normally kills the engine, but this time there was no effect, it kept running! It was dark and took me a few minutes to realize the electrical harness had vibrated loose from the motor. Once I put that back in the kill switch worked fine. For some reason the manual choke wouldn't shut it off, but I was running in really cold water with a not warmed up motor.

The manual choke also kicks the throttle butterfly open a bit, and is not very effective at killing the motor. Some conditions might actually make it speed up instead of quit.

 

[asdasc]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Sorry for getting this a little off topic, but FR is right again. It did speed up a little! I actually feel better knowing that is fairly normal and not a sign that I have something really messed up in my carb adjust. When I first revived this motor about 2 months ago I did a full carb rebuild, but didn't replace the wax covered cork float. It seems to be working great but that choke experience the other night had me thinking that I should tear it down again and replace the float to make sure junk doesn't flake off it and jam something in there.

Maybe now I can convince myself it is fine for now.

Thanks again,

 

[asdasc]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

Just as a follow up, I was able to get over to the cottage to check it out this afternoon. There was the latch, just like you said! It works great now.

Thanks again for all the help. It is so much easier when you know what you are looking for. I looked once before as it seems like a lot of parts for the pivot, but I kept looking outside the transom. I never thought to look inside.

 

[coolguy147]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

i got a 1959 evinrude 10hp now my motor has the locking feature too but is the release incase i hit somehting feature do i have this too not sure lol ya it does pop out of the water if u reverse it

 

[F_R]

Re: 18HP 1959 Johnson - tilt lockdown

coolguy, locked down is for normal operation. It will automatically unlock if you hit something. Unlocked is so you can manually tilt it up.