1957 Johnson 10hp QDL-18 trial run after a little maintenance

[JBrit12]

Hey guys, only became a member recently so this is my first attempt at posting a video that I hope you will enjoy. I'm am far from a mechanic but had a friend who recently started working on some vintage outboards. Reminded me that my father had a couple and he made the mistake of mentioning one day that he ought to let my buddy look at his. That was all it took to peak my interest. So on a visit to go see him in Traverse City, Michigan I took my father's motor up to see what would have to be done. We tested compression to 60lbs in both cylinders, he showed me how to pull a flywheel, and we changed out the gear case lube, sanded points which looked great, and checked for spark. The coils were obviously junk as they were all cracked but we did have spark to one of the original plugs. So I brought it back home with me and began doing a lot of research and ordering parts. Some of that research led me here where everyone has been phenomenal in dealing with my plethora of questions and the many suggestions/tips have been very valuable and time saving so I give a big thanks to all those that participated in helping a newbie out.

I have to say that all of the fixes went as well as I could reasonably expect. The only issue I'm having still (you will see in the video) is that the gas tank that I had to rebuild leaks from the metal push rod which was a common problem in those tanks made that year(s) (I think 1956 and prior) which led them to replacing them with plastic push buttons and a slight modification to the overall tank design. I wanted to try to keep this as original as possible so I'm just going to try assembling that again when time allows.

Anyways, the video depicts the first time this engine was attempted to be fired in over 35 years because I'm 40 and I don't ever remember seeing it on the water. My father bought it and a 14' Starcraft tin can some years before that from my great grandfather. This is something my father would have never attempted to do but definitely wanted done even though he isn't the type to admit or say it. So it was more or less and honor to take on the challenge and try to bring back to life a quality piece of equipment

Please note, the engine is far from dialed in and I haven't began to try to tune it as I'm in the process of getting a bigger tank (rather than a plastic garbage can) and obviously have to rig up a different stand to get it outside so we can let it run a while while tuning versus for only a few seconds in the garage where all the work was being done. To be honest, I just couldn't wait any longer, haha, and I had to see if it was ready. The long-term plan is to get it on the water in the spring/summer after we replace the wooden trim on the boat and the wooden support for the motor on the transom.

Enjoy the video!

 

[oldboat1]

Sounds like it's supposed to! Maybe you can run the can underneath a little more, prop it up some, fill it to the brim and let the water run. (Guess you might want it out in the driveway.) When the exhaust noise is muffled, you can hear a little better how it's running. I like to see how low and slow I can get them to run.

 

[JBrit12]

Thanks oldboat1. That is the plan to get it outside as this was simply a mere test to see if it would start, never throttled it any or shifted any gears obviously but will soon. I thought it sounded about as good as it could for a newbie throwing it together after sitting so long. No tuning or anything yet, just a lot of praying, haha.

My next project is my father's 1.5hp Evinrude Mate from 1968 I think. Off the top of my head the model # is 1802S. Luckily the tank is spotless with not a bit of rust or anything and overall it looks pretty clean with very few hours on it. I'm trying to compile the research needed to tackle it but it is a little harder to find I'm learning. I think I found that the fuel mixture is 50:1 but some recommended 40:1 maybe at first. My father says it ran good for the most part but he thinks my uncle tinkered with it for some reason (again probably 30+ years ago minimum) and he remembered a part behind the choke or something that may have been broken. I'm still trying to figure out what part that could be as the only thing I've found so far is a silencer or something that may have been a piece of foam/plastic or something. Haven't got into that motor yet though so I'll find out.

 

[F_R]

The 10hp sounds like a keeper. But the tank should not be leaking around the primer. You will need to re-visit the diaphragm support washers and the lower end of the primer rod. Sure the plastic button is an improvement, but that's no reason to condemn the metal rod type.

Mix on the '68 is 50:1 and 24:1 on the '57.

 

[JBrit12]

Thanks F_R. I know the tank has issues still. I was confident as to how it was assembled (had diagrams in front of me) but obviously something went wrong. I didn't use any gasket sealers of any type as an old timer told me on the phone that they didn't have any when they came from the factory. I'm not condemning anything, in fact, it is well known that those designs were susceptible to fail (leak) thus the obvious change. Like I said previously, I want to keep it original but have to find out what the issue is. Thanks on the confirmation of the mix on the '68. I'll probably begin looking at it in the next week or so.