Confused with outboard

Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
8
Hello,

My father recently gave me his old Johnson Seahorse motor. The serial number on it is FD-12. Everything that I have read has told me that this is a 18 h.p. motor, but the cover says that it is a 10 hp. Can anyone help me clear up the confusion?

Is this a 18 h.p. or 10 h.p. motor?
What year is this motor?

Here are some pictures of my motor.

Model.jpg


100_4048.jpg


100_4050.jpg
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Confused with outboard

FD12 is a 1958 18 hp. check for a silver disc on the head,(freeze plug) with numbers on it. what are those numbers? by the way the motor will not run with the cap off the gas tank.
 

jbjennings

Captain
Joined
Jul 18, 2007
Messages
3,903
Re: Confused with outboard

It's an 18hp, your sticker just got scratched and looks like a "10". I'm almost positive a 10hp cowl wouldn't fit on an 18. Sure is a nice motor! An 18 gets good gas mileage, too, compared to the 20's and 25's.
You'll like it!
JBJ
 

Sea18Horse

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
626
Re: Confused with outboard

Nice looking medallion on that one too! That's going to be huge when it comes time to restore! :)

Cheers................Todd
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Confused with outboard

JBJ, i used my magnifier, on the 10 does not look scratched, and the outside lines are definitely a "0". i agree i don't think a 10 cowl would fix and 18.
 
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
8
Re: Confused with outboard

So what does that mean? I can try and get a better picture of the number on the hood. I will also check for the silver disk on the head and report those numbers tomorrow, maybe that will help.:confused:
 

ezeke

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Sep 19, 2003
Messages
12,532
Re: Confused with outboard

It would not have been that hard for someone using that motor on a restricted waterway to alter the number. The 10 has a dimple near the bottom of the cover, the 18 does not. The tiller grips are different too.
 

Sea18Horse

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jun 1, 2008
Messages
626
Re: Confused with outboard

My '57 18 has a throttle stop screw like this one. My '56 10 horse and other 10 horses I've seen do not.

Cheers...................Todd
 

freddyray21

Commander
Joined
Jun 10, 2006
Messages
2,460
Re: Confused with outboard

I agree it might have been altered for use on a horsepower restricted lake. It's done all the time around here.
 

wbeaton

Commander
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
2,332
Re: Confused with outboard

JBJ is right. The 10 hp cowl won't fit an 18 hp. Plus you can see the 18 has been altered. The stop screw is not unique to the 18 hp. However, the real give away is that you have a 5 bolt lower unit on that motor. The 10 hp has a four bolt.
 

samo_ott

Vice Admiral
Joined
Jun 18, 2006
Messages
5,125
Re: Confused with outboard

Yep, Wayne pegged it, It has the 5 bolt LU so it has to be an 18. But I also don't think the 10 hood would fit the 18. Maybe it was re-decal'ed in the past? Seems weird but plausible.
 

cc67

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Nov 4, 2007
Messages
365
Re: Confused with outboard

Those are good motors. I have a 57 FD-11 and a 58 Evinrude 15024. The emblem on your 58 has 3 screws where as my 57 only has 2. Is this something they changed in 58?

Picture020.jpg
[/IMG]
 

tmcalavy

Rear Admiral
Joined
Aug 29, 2001
Messages
4,005
Re: Confused with outboard

Yep, that's an 18 hp Jonny...someone 'smudged' the 18 on the cowl so they could fish in 10hp or less waters.
 

wbeaton

Commander
Joined
Jul 30, 2006
Messages
2,332
Re: Confused with outboard

Those are good motors. I have a 57 FD-11 and a 58 Evinrude 15024. The emblem on your 58 has 3 screws where as my 57 only has 2. Is this something they changed in 58?

Picture020.jpg
[/IMG]


cc67, its very subtle, but the 1957 emblem is different from the 1958. The 1957 has only two holes which are centered in little stars. The 1958 has three holes and no stars.
 
Joined
Jun 10, 2008
Messages
8
Re: Confused with outboard

I had to look at the cover very close, but someone has definately altered the decal. It is a 18 h.p. motor confirmed.
 
Top