Sell or keep?

[jaybird56]

Today i got a 1956 10hp Johnson model QD 17 B with the fuel tank, it runs great and fuel tank is clean inside. But the pressure style tank worries me about safety and reliability i tend to get a hour or 2 away from dock and dont like to be stranded. Your opinions and advice on these motors will be helpful thanks

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Sell or keep?

nothing wrong with a pressure tank.... if it really bothers you then retrofit a pulse pump to it and run a regular tank

 

[southkogs]

Re: Sell or keep?

^^^ Yeah. I've got one that I'm in the process of re-working right now ('57 71/2HP). No real reason to worry about 'em in that sense. Well cared for the motor is as reliable as any.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Sell or keep?

^^^ Yeah. I've got one that I'm in the process of re-working right now ('57 71/2HP). No real reason to worry about 'em in that sense. Well cared for the motor is as reliable as any.

my first was a '56 7.5 rude..... got it for free from my 7th grade teacher with a thrown rod.... got a used rod for $20 and JB welded the block and ran the snot out of it for 10 years... stored it for a 10 years and sold it to a friend... he is still using it to this day with it's original pressure tank

Oh and it is STILL running on the same 2 champion spark plugs I put in it in 1987

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Sell or keep?

I wouldn't use a motor that old for a "daily driver." sell it to someone restoring a boat of that vintage.

 

[jaybird56]

Re: Sell or keep?

EDIT: Solicitation.......

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[jbjennings]

Re: Sell or keep?

JMO, I own one and wouldn't sell it for any amount of money. I think with new fuel lines, ignition systems, wp impeller, lower unit seals, and carb kits, they are EXCELLENT motors for any kind of use. THey're old, but those motors are super reliable. I'd bet my '56 10hp would crank up easier than any motor I own in any conditions.
Awesome motors with no flaws other than a possible lower crank seal which is easy to replace.
JBJ

 

[JimS123]

Re: Sell or keep?

Back in 1956 we all ran 2 hours away from the dock and didn't worry about it. I remember having to replace the diaphragm and some o-rings back in about 1967. It was a 1955 motor.

For about 20 bucks you can get a kit to replace all of the rubber parts in the tank. Add another 10 bucks for a new hose. Then, you'll be good to go for another 12 years or so.

I sold that '55 in 1987 and looking back I wish I hadn't. Now I have over 60 of the old classics, and I'd gladly trade any 10 of them just to have Grandpa's old '55 back again.

 

[jaybird56]

Re: Sell or keep?

well it is easier to operate then i thought , put gas mix in tank pumped a few times fuel went right up,,it has a clear filter before the connecter easy to see fuel,, pulled rope couple times it hit then few more times it fired and ran when it was warm i shut down and thought i would see how it cranked when warm, pulled rope and it broke, dang just my luck now got to work on it......hope this is not a sign of things to come on this motor, but how hard can it be to put new rope on this motor ?

 

[64osby]

Re: Sell or keep?

Installing a new rope is not hard.

Sounds like you have a good motor if it fired right up.

Now that you know it runs it is time to look it over and get it ready for the water. Replace the impeller, check to LU fluid for water replace all the fuel lines. While you have the start bracket off look at the points and coils. If the coils are old / cracked replace them.
I have several 57 / 58 models that have been refreshed and would take them anywhere. Easy to work on, most parts are easy to find and not expensive.

 

[jaybird56]

Re: Sell or keep?

yes i plan to look at everything to get to know it better after all it has been sitting for a few months at least i like old motors of any kind and the idea that this is as old as i am. i read somewhere that the pressure tank needs to be level with engine does that mean it needs to be up high or can it sit in floor under the power head?? like the new style tanks?

 

[metriccrescentwrench]

Re: Sell or keep?

i read somewhere that the pressure tank needs to be level with engine does that mean it needs to be up high or can it sit in floor under the power head?? like the new style tanks?

That doesn't make sense. Just sit the tank in the boat near the engine and you should be good to go.

When I was a kid my dad bought a 14 ft. aluminum boat and threw a '56 Johnson 7.5 on it (with the pressure tank) that he already had. I nearly lived in that boat for a few summers, ran the snot out of it and that engine never missed a beat (except that it had a bad clutch dog and would jump out of gear, but a piece of 12 gauge wire to hold the shifter in position took care of that).

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Sell or keep?

I own two 57 Johnson 35's for my old Lone Star, the kits are available to switch the fuel system but I decided to leave them original too. These old engines run for ever and they are quite easy to fix and keep in good running order. Parts are not a problem, and the pressure tanks don't seem to be that scary. I haven't seen any issues with my set up either. Has anyone ever seen or herd of a accident from using this type of system?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Sell or keep?

ANytime you've got gasoline there's an opportunity for a dangerous situation. The pressure tanks only operate at about 8 psi. Modern tanks will make MANY times that if left in the sun with the vent closed! The pressure tanks have a safety valve, so in my opinion they're as safe or safer than the modern ones. The only negative I can say about pressure tanks is that if you disconnect the line from the engine and there's a leak in the connector, the tank will pump out fuel into your boat. Modern tanks can do the same thing by siphoning action, though.
JBJ

 

[Scott Danforth]

Re: Sell or keep?

ANytime you've got gasoline there's an opportunity for a dangerous situation. The pressure tanks only operate at about 8 psi. Modern tanks will make MANY times that if left in the sun with the vent closed! The pressure tanks have a safety valve, so in my opinion they're as safe or safer than the modern ones. The only negative I can say about pressure tanks is that if you disconnect the line from the engine and there's a leak in the connector, the tank will pump out fuel into your boat. Modern tanks can do the same thing by siphoning action, though.
JBJ

two $0.35 o-rings cure the leaking connector.

 

[jaybird56]

Re: Sell or keep?

is there a gasket that goes on the male part where the lines connect ? looks like a thin amount of black part way around the part im talking about and after i run engine a little while and shut down i can barely hear a hiss at the connection like a air leak but tank builds pressure. are these engines a little hard to start on a 40-50 degree day ? thanks guys for all the replies i like this motor better everyday