1958 Fastwin 18HP

[cedarrockfarm]

Is it better to use 30W oil or marine 2 cycle oil in gas? The unit is missing the starter, and the bracket that holds the advance rod? stable. I assume it bolts to the starter baracket and would like to know best source for these items. Lastly, what is the best lower unit lubrication for this old engine?

 

[JB]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

Howdy CRF.

Welcome to iboats.

Your engine needs a 24:1 mix, using modern TC-W3 rated outboard oil.

There are quite a few outboard dismantlers. My favorite is www.tcoutboard.com. They should have your parts.

Standard outboard gearcase lube is 90W. Look for the tube or bottle labeled for outboard gearcases.

 

[River Boy]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

Howdy CRF.

Welcome to iboats.

Your engine needs a 24:1 mix, using modern TC-W3 rated outboard oil.

There are quite a few outboard dismantlers. My favorite is www.tcoutboard.com. They should have your parts.

Standard outboard gearcase lube is 90W. Look for the tube or bottle labeled for outboard gearcases.

Hi JB. An academic question, because I haven't had my 58 Johnson 18 for some 25 years now. Wish I had it back. Are you saying to mix modern 50:1 at a ratio of 24:1 for the old OMCs? River Boy.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

a hot debate, but I run the modern outboard oil at 24:1

 

[F_R]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

a hot debate, but I run the modern outboard oil at 24:1

Probably one of the hottest debates going and it will never be settled. Bottom line, you have to make up your own mind. If you want to be safe, use 24:1.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

Stick with 24:1 using modern TCW3 rated oil.

By the starter missing, do you mean the recoil or an electric starter? The electric starter is an uncommon option on those motors. If you are missing the bracket it mounts to, there is usually just an aluminum bracket there on the port side of the motor that supports the recoil, the throttle arm, and the carb silencer.
- Scott

 

[JB]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

Some people mistakenly think that TC-W3 oil is for a mix ratio of 50:1 and even call it "50:1 oil".

It is merely the third generation of oil specifically produced for water cooled, 2 stroke engines. Two Cycle-Watercooled, version 3.

It should be used in a ratio specified by the outboard maker for TC-W oil.

OMC specified, in 1964, that all OMC outboards made before 1964 should use a 24:1 mix and all afterward should use a 50:1 (really 48:1) mix using TC-W outboard oil.

I think they were trying to simplify things but caused confusion instead. There is the idea that a 50:1 mix should only be used in engines with all ball and needle bearings and 24:1 in any engines that weren't all ball and needle bearings.

Why should two engines, one a '63 and one a '64, that are essentially identical, use mixes differing by 100%?

Ooops! That is where the arguments start.

JW (3HP) series engines continued to use sleeve bearings for another 6-7 years and FD (18HP) series engines had been using needle bearings already for some time.

Others contend that the change was because the TC-W oil was so far superior to SAE30 Non-detergent motor oil previously used. That is where the myth about "50:1 oil" came from. When you think about it, though, that doesn't make sense. They didn't say to continue to use the inferior oil at 24:1 in the older engines. They said to use TC-W oil in all of them. . .even in some older ones previously specified at 20:1 and 16:1 for the SAE30.

So, what do you do? I had a FD-16 (1962) 18HP that might have been safely run with 50:1 but I stuck with 24:1 because there just might have been some secret difference that OMC didn't tell about.

I also had a JW-21 (1966) (3HP) that I ran with 24:1 because it had sleeve bearings and 40 years ago I thought OMC made an error in re-specifying it to 50:1. If I had that little sweetheart today I would probably run her at 50:1.

I think that is about all I know (or can think of at this time) about that debate. If it helps you decide what to do, good. If not, well, I tried.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Fastwin 18HP

Yea, I always feel safer about running these older engines at 24:1 but then again a fouled plug is better than a scored piston.

As far as you lower unit goes, it doesn't take the same 90W gear oil like you use in your cars, but rather a "high viscosity" gear case lube that you can get at your local marine dealor. Make sure you specify that it is a manual shift and it's prior to 1972. Good Luck with that old jewel. Those are great engines and will offer many years of great service.