FD 12 Shift handle

[reelfishin]

I'm going to look at an older 18 hp, FD 12 Johnson motor this week, the owner says it runs perfect, and will let me check the compression. The motor was rebuilt and partially restored last winter, he found a larger motor for his boat so is selling this, and two parts motors, another FD 12 and an older FD 11.

The only defect he says it has is a broken shift lever, but he says the one on the parts motor is good.

My question is, how much of a hassle is it to change the shift lever on an FD-12? (1958).

 

[freddyray21]

Re: FD 12 Shift handle

not too hard. If I remember correctly that will have one that will clamp on. Even if it is one that you have to remove the powerhead it's not that bad.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: FD 12 Shift handle

Those are workhorse motors, too...if it checks out okay, I'd take the pair home.

 

[reelfishin]

Re: FD 12 Shift handle

Well, I got all three motors, they all need some attention but the two 18 HP motors are decent, the one needs a shift lever, I don't see where it clamps on, it looks like it's part of the shaft, but the parts motor looks like it's clamps on, it's an FD11. Two have good compression, 118/115, and 111/114 psi, the parts FD12 has only 40/60 psi. and has a crack in the shift lever. I may just weld on an arm or lever and use the thing the way it is for now.
The one is camo painted, the other two are all original paint. The camo painted motor runs the best, but has an intermittent miss, but from what I can see, the points are probably original, as is the fuel pump and tank. All three came with return hose tanks, one tank looks ok, the other two leak around the pump button or gaskets. All of the tanks are camo painted.
The one has a newer tiller arm on it, which is light blue but it looks the same as the others. All three need cover mounts, the rubber is all but worn down or just plain gone.

I got the three for $40, so the price was more than fair, and I can no doubt get away with a tune up and run two of them as is even if I have to jury rig a shifter for now. The one came with a brand new pair of Vise Grips for it's shifter lever, and the guy gave me two new water pump kits, a new prop, two 3 gallon plastic fuel tanks, (of no use to these motors the way they are now), two new fuel line and primer bulb hoses, and two new motor clamp screw assemblies, the parts alone were worth the price. Plus, I got two good used boat seats he was throwing away, a boat trailer for free, and a box of other boat parts, VHF radios, and two anchors.

I will probably just make one good motor, converting it to a later style fuel pump and tank, then maybe see about making the second one run, if I find a good shift lever, I'll fix that too, but I'm not loosing much sleep over it being broke, I can make up something that works as good or better than the original pretty quick. There's enough of the old lever left to just drill through it and bolt on a longer handle too. Anything besides the vise grips, although they did work fine when I test ran them in a barrel tonight.