Fixing Old Johnson Sea Horse 3 HP

[Scott M]

I don't know if this should go in Equipment and Expert Information, but I'm putting it here. I am just wondering what people advise I should do with this old motor. I got it at a garage sale and it needs some TLC. I would like to get it running again for use on my duck boat. Should I sell it to a collector or a place like Twin Cities Outboards and take the money and buy something else, restore it by myself (but with much help and over a long time), or pay someone else to fix it? What are the likely outcomes from those scenarios, as far as costs?

I don't know what year it is from but it is a green old little thing with a built in gas tank, all metal parts, and pretty basic components.

[kunk]

I would see if I could find someone that could give me an idea of what it would cost to fix it. I don't think you'd get enough out of it to buy another for your duck boat. That's the motor my dad used to borrow from my uncle to take us fishing when we were little. We would pick it up and rent a boat at Boreen's on the north end of Big Marine. Later my dad got the same motor in a 5 horse and bought a 14 ft Ward's boat. Great memories of those old classics.

[sparcebag]

Its really a good tough motor!But if you dont work on them or know very little (the basics)It could get costly! I dont think there is any antique value,and only a select group of people would want it.Does it turn over?

[Scott M]

Doesn't turn over. Friend of mine's father used to own a little 2 cycle shop. He said he could help me, but he's a busy guy. Thanks for the input.

[Grant]

chise- email me at gpbakken at gmail(Contact Us Please) -

thanks~

[The_Duckslayer]

If "it dosent turn over" means it is froze up it might take a lot of time, effort, and money to get that one running again on the back of a boat. Have a good one././Jimbo

[dkf]

Sometimes after sitting for several years the rings develop a little rust and "Freeze" fast. You could try spaying a small amount of PB Blaster in the spark plug hole and let it sit for a few days and then try to turn it. Even if you break it loose it would be a good idea to pull the head and clean out the cylinder.

You should be able to get parts for your motor to get it running. These older motors are pretty simple and just need some knowledge of how to set-up point gaps and such.

[Scott M]

My buddy's dad may be able to help me with it depending on how old it is.

Can somebody tell me what year a Johnson Seahorse 3 HP model number iw-10 is?

Thanks.

[Surface Tension]

Year is early 50's.

You'll need to address that locked up outboard and determine if its worth proceeding.

It has a direct drive so you'll need to figure out if its froze in the cylinder or lower unit. Remove the lower unit and you'll find out right away which it is.

Froze powerhead, parts aren't cheap and hard to find for old outboards. For that reason you don't want to pull head, once you do you'll need to find gaskets. Try the penetrating oil, let it soak before trying to free it up. If you get it to free up, remove the penetrating fluid and give it some oil down the plug hole. Get it to coat all of the cylinder by keeping the cylinder vertical and slowly rotate the flywheel, a lot. Remove most that oil. I'd then want to know what the compression is before going on.

Lower unit froze. I wouldn't trust it without a tear down and inspection and replacement of rusted parts.

What ever happens, plan on replacing the impeller and lower seals. I wouldn't do that till I knew the engine was running. With having the lower unit off and no cooling you can still run the engine for short periods. What you want to know is if the electrical end it good. Coil, condenser, points and stator.

Something else you can plan on doing is a complete tear down of the carb and new a kit. Add that expense to the lower unit seals and impeller. Your getting to the point of no return with that old outboard, one that is frozen to start with. In the end it might end up as a nostalgia piece at a resort or bait shop. Or sell it for parts.