Starter motor for a 1956 Johnson RJE-18

[Kevin Kimball]

Anybody know where I could find a replacement starter motor for my 1956 Johnson 30 HP (Model No. RJE 18).
The metal tag on the original motor shows: AUTO-LITE MDH 4001 11K.
The original 1956 parts manual for this outboard shows the starter Part Number is: 277432

I’d be grateful for advice on this.
Kevin

[dave-bernard]

Take the original to a automotive repair shop for starters and get it repaired.

1 user thanked author for this post.

opposedtwin

[lindy46]

That’s a 6 volt starter – I just sold my last one.

[opposedtwin]

Agree with Dave. A good shop will be able to set you up for cheap.

[outboardnut]

I always wondered if a shop can turn a 6 volt starter into a 12 volt.

[outbdnut2]

outboardnut wrote:

I always wondered if a shop can turn a 6 volt starter into a 12 volt.

Those 6 volt starters work fine on 12 volts. Just change the choke solenoid and the starter solenoid to 12 volt units. The choke solenoid could just have a suitable resistor placed in series with it with resistance same as the solenoid to soak up half the voltage – but watch the power rating of the resistor – you want to have a power rating that’s above P=V-squared over R or P = 36/R. Due to the inductive reactance of the motor spinning faster with 12 volts, the current draw is not twice the current draw at 6 volts as Ohms law would suggest – it increases some, but doesn’t double. Leaving the 6 volt starter when converting an old car to 12 volts is common practice also. I have done this on two early 1950s cars and a 1956 30HP Johnson with no problem.
Dave

[Kevin Kimball]

Thanks for the advice.

-Kevin

[Mumbles]

As teens, we used to use ’55 6 volt starters in our ’57 Ford 292-312 motors for better starting. We never had any problems doing that.

[Author]

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