Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

[timmeraw]

Hello all,

I recently was very fortunate in picking up a 1955 (Thompson maybe..the jury is still out) molded mahogany plywood outboard boat that had sat in a barn for 40+ years. It originally had a 25hp Johnson Seahorse that was in the barn but rusting away so bad I left it and the pre-50's trailer it was sitting on there. As I work to restore it I was looking for a similar engine and today I found/bought the EXACT same outboard(a '54 Johnson 25hp) that is is good shape cosmetically but has not been run in a great many years.

It does turn over and has good compression(maybe too good as it is a lot harder to pull than my fathers 80's Johnson 25 we used when I was growing up. But in any case....my question is...before I even attempt to get some new gas in the old pressurized tank I got with it...what is the procedure that I should do to prepare to attempt the first start? Such as check/replace the plugs ...check spark, go right to cleaning the carb, replacing the coils/points etc. Get a shop manual(which is my next step on the internet) etc. Or should I just put some new gas in and give it a shot?

Of course if it is not pumping water I will shut it off and replace the impellar(gonna do that anyways).

Any tips/hints will be greatly appreciated. I am so psyched that I found the same original motor...in the same day I went back to the seller or my boat and rooting
around in the barn found some various original parts(stern light, deck spotlight, a missing piece of stainless trim for the transom and the big find....the center deck piece that brings it all together.

Thanks for your help with this old motor.

Sincerely,
Timmy

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

I also have a '54 Johnson 25hp. Good power, just a tad noisy.

Read the secret info at the top of the forum about awakening a sleeping outboard.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

Thanks for the reply. I am having trouble finding what topic you are referring to "awakening a sleeping engine". Can you go to it and copy the link from your browser address and paste in here or maybe there is a number associated with it?

Thanks,
Tim

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

Never mind my last post Steve...I found it..perfect. Off to ebay etc to find a shop manual.

Thanks,
Timmy

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

I have the parts manual I can email me if you PM me with your email address.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

****...I just bought the parts manual on ebay for $20..when I was looking for a shop manual. Thanks though.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

Ok I am getting at the engine already(at the expense of the boat restoration of course). I started by draining and changing the lower unit gear lube and to my pleasant surprise it showed no signs of water but of course was
pretty dark after sitting for years. Next ..on to the powerhead. After removing the handfull of screws to get the cowl off(who the heck came up with that foolish idea?), I took the starter recoil off and the plate covering the "peek" hole in the flywheel. Bad news...both coils are really cracked and falling apart so they will need to be replaced.

Question...how does one remove the flywheel? Is there a way to hold it while cranking on the main nut? When I get it off i will also check the points etc.

I also added some oil into the cylander heads and cranked it a few time to get it lubed up. Boy this is going to be interesting trying to get it started some time soon on a motor rack....it is pretty darn hard to pull. I don't remember my dads 25(early 80's) being hard to pull start at all....of course that was on a transom and I was standing up over it.

Oh the fun....

 

[BDbill]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

Here is a link that explains how to remove the flywheel and change the coils, ect. even has pictures.http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=294072

You might as well replace everything in the magneto, that way you know whats been done, plus it will give you peace of mind while your out cruising the lakes.

A service manual is a must. I'd get the Factory one from Ken Cook Co., it's expensive, around $85 but it's by far the best. They do sell a CD version on ebay for around $15.

Remember to change the water pump impeller, that is a must! Good luck.

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

Thanks for the information Bill. I think I will try to get the CD version of the manual and then go into work and print it off .

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

Yes, aren't all those screws the dumbest design ever? I never took my cowling off again once I got it running... what a pain in the butt!

If it's electric start you can usually get a big screwdriver wedged in the ring gear to hold it while taking the flywheel nut off... If you have no ring... good luck! It's tough...

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

I have a black note book binder, marked in gold letters, Thompson Boats, Peshtigo, Wisc. Would that go along with the restoration?

 

[timmeraw]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

It certainly sounds like it would. What is in the notebook? Are you looking to sell it?
Feel free to email me @ tmeraw1@rochesterDOTrrDOTcom

Thanks,
Tim

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Starting a 54 Johnson 25 after 20 years

The town I grew up in had a Johnson dealer who also sold Dunphy, Thompson, and aluma craft boats. It was in with a bunch of stuff he sold me when he retired. I have a parts, and probably a service manual for that 54 Johnson also. When I get out to the shop, I'll check. PM me if your interested.