Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

[kkutzner]

I am a brand new guy to the world of vintage outboards and just bought a 1951-10 hp Johnson Sea-Horse off of eBay for $129.00. The add said the motor was bought at an auction and had not been started. Well, I guess I know why now......The strater grip is frozen and can't be pulled. When I place the engine in forward or reverse....the prop will not turn.

Can anyone offer some suggestions on what my problem is and what I need to do to begin my quest on outboard motor repair. I do not have a service manual - (only an owner's manual and parts book so far).

Thanks!

Ken

 

[asdasc]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

Let me open by first saying 'welcome to the insanity'. I got hooked a few weeks ago by getting a 'free' 1959 Johnson 18HP. Now I suddenly have grease under my fingernails always, 2 additional outboards, and have spent tons of money on things I never knew existed a month ago. But I am having a blast.

I would start by suggesting you find the engine FAQ (elsewhere on this website) on reviving an engine that has sat a while. It is very imformative. Of course, it also assumes that the engine turns over and is not frozen. I would check first to see if it is in neutral, then try again. This should let you figure out if the powerhead (engine) is seized or if the lower unit is seized. From there, start taking things apart very carefully until you figure out WHY it is frozen. If it is the powerhead, pull the plugs and squirt in some Marvels Mystery oil and let it set overnight. With any luck, this will free up some things.

Good luck with it, and keep us posted.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

Let me open by first saying 'welcome to the insanity'. I got hooked a few weeks ago by getting a 'free' 1959 Johnson 18HP. Now I suddenly have grease under my fingernails always, 2 additional outboards, and have spent tons of money on things I never knew existed a month ago. But I am having a blast.

That's funny.

What Steve said was basically right. You have to determine if the powerhead or lower unit are seized. The best/only way is to separate them which is not hard. I forget if that early QD has access to unhook the shifter or not on it as I have the later models) Also, take off the pull start and use a wrench on the flywheel nut to see if it will turn over, dont pull the rope. If it's the powerhead, take out the plugs and put oily stuff in there to see if it will free up. MMO is one of many choices. You might have to let it sit for days before you get any movement.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

A few suggestions:

1. take the cowl off, then the recoil assembly and see if you can turn the flywheel with a 3/4 socket and ratchet. DON'T try to force ANYTHING!
2. If the flywheel won't turn, take off the lower unit. You have to disconnect the shift rod for it to come off, along with the bolts that attach it to the midsection.
3. Will the flywheel turn now? If so, check compression. If compression is good, proceed to fixing the lower unit which will likely require replacing.
4. If the flywheel is still frozen, you should pull the bypass covers and spark plugs and spray the heck out of the cylinders through the plug holes and pistons/rings through the bypass covers with PB Blaster and let it sit a few days and try to turn it. wobble it back and forth with the ratchet if it moves at all and go slow and easy until hopefully it turns easy. If you take off the bypass covers and see a bunch of rust, you probably have a parts motor.

Keep in mind, it's very likely that you bought a "parts motor"!
But, you never know. It's possible that you might be able to fix it with a little work. There's good ones and bad ones.........
Hope you got a good one!
JBJ

 

[kkutzner]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

Thank you gentlemen!

I like everything I heard, except the part about a parts motor.
I will not be able to try these steps until tomorrow night or the next, but I am eager to try any and everything to get this ol' girl up and running.

I will post a reply as soon as I make some progress.

Ken

 

[kkutzner]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

Just ran out and threw her in neutral and still will not pull. Does that mean powerhead is frozen? Or should I remove the recoil assembly and see if I can turn the flywheel to make sure?

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

As mentioned, you have to separate the powerhead from the lower unit to see which is seized... Usually it is the powerhead but I have seen the LU seized also...

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

Yes, being able to shift into neutral doesn't tell you anything except that you can shift into neutral.

First, please post your model and serial number. If its a 1951 it is model number QD-12 or QD-13 and is the same as the 1952 10 hp. The lower units changed a lot from 1949-53. I've never worked on that particular lower unit so I don't know if it separates like a 1949-50 QD or like a 1953 QD. I'm assuming by the mid section that it separates like the 1953. Be greatful if it does.

Also, get a factory service manual.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

if when you shift to neutral does the prop spin freely? Have you taken the recoil off and see if it is frozen? If the motor is stuck it will depend on how stuck. There are several threads on stuck motors on here. Even if you get it unstuck I would personally always be leary of it unless rebuilt.

 

[kkutzner]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

Update from tonight's progress:

Took off the cowl (cover) and the coil...tried to turn the flywheel nut (3/4 inch) with no luck and nothing broke. Next step will be to separate the upper and the lower - (I have never done this and will need to have the factory service manual and perhaps more guidance/research before I can take this on).

Here are the motor specifics:

* MODEL = QD-13
* Serial Number = 931 746

Thanks for everyone's help so far....very informative!

Ken

 

[wbeaton]

Re: Johnson Sea-Horse 10 (Model QD)

You have a 1952 Johnson 10 hp.

I'm not familiar with that lower unit, but if you remove the small cover on the midsection just above the lower unit you willl have access to the shift shaft linkage. Hopefully, you can disconnect it there. Otherwise, you will have to disconnect the shift linkage up by the powerhead and then unscrew the linkage at the bottom.

You definately need the factory manual. The early QD's are much more difficult to work on than the later ones. If you end up with a boat anchor then my advise is to part it out, sell or trade it for a 1954-63 QD. That is a much better motor for a beginner.