1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

outboardnut

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Oct 27, 2006
Messages
323
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

I played around with a fat fifty a few years back. I remember the specs for the displacement being the same for the 65 HP.

If you do some research you might be able to make it into a fat 65.
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey Rodbolt.. I disassembeled(sp) the lower unit in its entirity, and low and behold there was a bit of water in there, not much more than say than a tablespoon? Anyway, I have the new O-ring, retaining ring, spaghetti seal, impeller, both impeller gaskets for the plate and top of housing, and also the foam/rubber ring, basically all gaskets for the lower unit. Now here is a question. As I was reading the service/repair manual, it says to use a hardening cement on the seams, not on the gaskest, but just around the seams before I put it all back? Is there something you would reccomend, or any off the shelf gasket sealer? I am not sure what they mean by hardening cement?



if you drained no water and no metal shavings I cant see a reason to flush it.
kerosene or diesel will work but no need to turn any gears.
currently my rides are,18 hydrasports fish n ski with the 07 175 ETEC,a 21 seapro with a tower and second station steering powered now by an 07 F150 and my trusty 14 jon with a modified 15 jonnyrude.
luckily I sold my 27 albemarle last fall , a happy happy day.
 

cougar1985

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Oct 7, 2005
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1,023
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

COME ON SPRING!boy, reading this thread has me hopping from foot to foot .cant wait for good weather so i can get the woody out and replace the 92 90 hp evinrude with a classic 63 75 hp starflite 75hp.had a thompson years ago ,nice boats !with a 21p prop boat will hit 47.9 mph .i imagine with the 75 will be a bit slower but dont really care.
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Well, we had temps around 40 this weekend, should be on the lake by april....The Fat-fifty is comming along. I brought some of the exterrior housing in the basement and put them into paint, turned out pretty good. The chrome Motorcycle light bezels I am using to replace the cracked original sparkplug door medallions really look good. I cant wait to see how this old girl performs. I've been told that the fat-fifyt should hit 28-30mph?
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey everyone... PhilfromOhio here again, I guess this post should be in the lower unit forums, but for some reason i can not get it in there?? Anyway, here goes and I hope someone can help. I am a half way decent mechanic, with a couple of old car resto's under my belt, but this fat fifty V4S-10 lower unit has me stumped. I bought a really detailed service manual 100 bucks, but it does not tell me me howto test my lower unit once I have it sealed. I have read here in the forums that there is a way yo air test them? Do I just put the aircompressor rubber cone in the fill hole, with the drain hole closed and see if air escapes in a tub? Seems logical? I used all new spaghetti seals, new O-ring and locking outer ring. used permatex-1 hardening sealant on the upper portion of the gear box and was sure to cut the shaphetti seal 1/16 longer on the edges. Before I put fresh oil in it and all I would really like to make sure it properly sealed. Am I being overly cautious??
 

cougar1985

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Oct 7, 2005
Messages
1,023
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

make sure you use new oil and vent washers as they are one time use units or all is for nought!
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey cougar1985..thanks for the quick response. By fresh oil and vent screws, are you referring to the fill and drain washers on the little screws? Just want to make sure I understand? I will order them now? Just making sure. Actually I used the old ones. but I will certainly order new.
 

tx1961whaler

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
5,197
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey everyone... PhilfromOhio here again, I guess this post should be in the lower unit forums, but for some reason i can not get it in there?? Anyway, here goes and I hope someone can help. I am a half way decent mechanic, with a couple of old car resto's under my belt, but this fat fifty V4S-10 lower unit has me stumped. I bought a really detailed service manual 100 bucks, but it does not tell me me howto test my lower unit once I have it sealed. I have read here in the forums that there is a way yo air test them? Do I just put the aircompressor rubber cone in the fill hole, with the drain hole closed and see if air escapes in a tub? Seems logical? I used all new spaghetti seals, new O-ring and locking outer ring. used permatex-1 hardening sealant on the upper portion of the gear box and was sure to cut the shaphetti seal 1/16 longer on the edges. Before I put fresh oil in it and all I would really like to make sure it properly sealed. Am I being overly cautious??

There is a pressure tester for the lower end, but it only puts a couple of lbs pressure on it. Any more and you'll blow the seals out.
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Is this pressure tester an air tester? I'll have a look online for one...thanks for the info, I am searching for fresh oil & vent washers.. but I think I am looking for drain and fill washers? I have a parts manual and that is the closest I can find..
 

cougar1985

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Messages
1,023
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Is this pressure tester an air tester? I'll have a look online for one...thanks for the info, I am searching for fresh oil & vent washers.. but I think I am looking for drain and fill washers? I have a parts manual and that is the closest I can find..
sorry phil ,thats exactly what your looking for, i just used a differnt name, same meaning .
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
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Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

tx196whaler & cougar1985.....Thanks alot for all your help, and information. in he process of ordering the tester and washers now. usually wholesale marine or marine engine has the parts..ie..washers, however Lowes has exact sized brass or stainless washers the same exact size. I am thinking brass? however stainless will most likely hold up better. looking forward to playing with this tester...gotta love new tools...
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
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82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Hey everyone? got a new gadget tonight. it looks like salad tongs with big rubber suction cups on it and you run the garden hose in one end and then you can test the motor minus the barrell. anyone ever use one of these? I know or assume that it isnt very safe for long use, neither is a barrell, but for a quick 4 or 5 minute test, it should be safe??? anyone have any thoughts on this??
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

tx961whaler: Got a tech question for you. I have replaced all the lower unit oil seals and gaskets, new impeller, and gaskets, oil gasket on upper and lower areas on drive shaft. I goth the old fat fifty started, ideling quite roughly as I have re-set the slow and fast needles to seats, and then backed them off for starting according to the repair manual. the engine idles at slow and fast speeds pretty well, however I have it in a deep tub so I can start it. I have had it idleing slow and fast for no more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. However there is a lot of dark nasty thick oil seeping out of the tiny pin hole near the water intake vent. and the barrel has a lot of nastys floating on the top. is that just from the exhaust, and is that oil seeping out of that pin hole normal?
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,119
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Phil, That sounds pretty normal. Smell the stuff. If it stinks like sulfer, it is gear oil. If it smells like oil or gas, it is 2 cycle oil.

BTW - the normal flusher devices don't work on that motor too well. Stick with the barrel.
 

tx1961whaler

Vice Admiral
Joined
May 31, 2008
Messages
5,197
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

tx961whaler: Got a tech question for you. I have replaced all the lower unit oil seals and gaskets, new impeller, and gaskets, oil gasket on upper and lower areas on drive shaft. I goth the old fat fifty started, ideling quite roughly as I have re-set the slow and fast needles to seats, and then backed them off for starting according to the repair manual. the engine idles at slow and fast speeds pretty well, however I have it in a deep tub so I can start it. I have had it idleing slow and fast for no more than 10 to 15 minutes at a time. However there is a lot of dark nasty thick oil seeping out of the tiny pin hole near the water intake vent. and the barrel has a lot of nastys floating on the top. is that just from the exhaust, and is that oil seeping out of that pin hole normal?

Normal 2 stroke gunk. Especially for a fat 50. They dump alot of unburned fuel overboard.
 

PhilfromOhio

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Feb 7, 2010
Messages
82
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Thankyou for the info. I was a bit concerned. Cant wait to get it in the water.
 

Liberal623

Cadet
Joined
Nov 12, 2010
Messages
21
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

Woot reading this thread has me motivated, I just bought a 1958 Fat 50, I know next to nothing about repair =-(
As soon as I go pick it up i will test it in a barrel, to the extent of my knowledge, (thats not much =-P) And try to post up some pics here.
I am still restoring an old 1958-59 Biesemeyer, just ripped the deck out last week, just have to start cutting new stringers, and reupholster the seats, and of course glass the new deck. Maybe one of you guys can lend me some advice, as to where to find a rub rail for this boat, check out my other post for pics.

Good Luck PhilFromOhio, I hope your craft and engine are out on the water by now, unfortunately in my immediate family I am the only one with patience, and the determination to restore these classics.
 

h@nnaha12

Cadet
Joined
Sep 21, 2011
Messages
25
Re: 1958 Johnson 50hp V4S-10 " Fat Fifty"????

any thoughts and what would be a fair price to pay for 1958 johnson fat fifty 50 hp v-4 electric start restored several years ago that has not been run for several years that appears to be in good condition?
 
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