1959 5.5 evinrude golden jubilee

erik111

Cadet
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
25
Hey everyone, I just came across this site a while back and I must say it has helped me alot. So long story short I got a wicked deal on a boat and motor that I could not pass up. The motor is a 1959 5.5 evinrude golden jubilee and this thing has me stumped at the moment. This motor now runs like a dream in a tub of water after doing some simple but a little extensive work to it it idles no problem, hits WOT no problem, doesnt leak anything literally runs great in neutral , forward and reverse...but only in a tub of water for some reason. I took it out with one of my friends the other day and it fired up no problem as usual it was under 3 pulls but it had zero power. Full throttle was not there it was like it was bogging so bad .at WOT it was like it was running at only 1/8th throttle basically. ?t was just barley enough to keep up with the wind that was throwing us the other direction so we pulled it in. I went home put it back in the tub of water first pull bang fired up like nothing running like a dream again.

Ill fill you in on the work i did to it....and the things i have not done to it

- Carb rebuild kit (gaskets, packing washers etc it came in a sierra kit) with a detailed diagram on how to put back together

-Single fuel line conversion followed identically to the one duckworthsmagazine.com has written up for this motor

- new intake manifold gasket
The only thing i did not replace was the welsh caps or seals that were provided in the kit. I came across one article saying that it may be the problem but i wanted to get some insight before i tore into the carb again.
I have learned alot with this motor and its not my first time around small engines. My thinking is it must be a something with the fuel or fuel intake. Im not worried about the poibts condensers or coils because it runs no problem when its not under load spark is bright blue lots of cracking when pulled over ignition is out of the question in my opinion but i could be wrong. Anybody that could help me out in any sort of way or has had this same expierence i would greatly appteciate it . The boats just a standard 12 ft aluminum i weigh 175 pounds and my buddy is around the same there no reason this motor shouldnt be moving us along quicker.

Sorry about the long post to who ever reads it thanks in advanced.

Erik
 

erik111

Cadet
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
25
No compression not tested. Lower unit is solid with a fresh change of oil when i put it in reverse or forwards and give it throttle it will empty half the tub out no problem. When its was running the motor was still purring no extensive vibration at all. As for the compression part lets say maybe a worn ring or something wouldnt it be hard to start regardless if one had a bad ring or a worn ring? Do you know the proper compression for these motors? It fires up all day long most of the second pull. I have read on here before that running with hood on can have some sort of effect and if you take it off with the old johnson seahorses i didnt try tondo that on the water though. The river i launched in was absolutley littered with weeds and the prop was collecting it but it was not horribly bad.
 

erik111

Cadet
Joined
Jul 15, 2014
Messages
25
Just did a compression test both top and bottom cylinder is 89-90 psi which i have read is good. What could be my next step possibly coils??
 
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