Topic: SOLVED – 1957 RDE-19 – removing cylinder head

This topic has 12 replies, 9 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 3 weeks ago by Sam M..

Viewing 10 posts - 1 through 10 (of 13 total)

1 2 →

Author

Posts
July 16, 2026 at 4:58 pm #324590
Ghost_n_the_shell
Good day, folks!

removing the cylinder head on 1957 RDE-19 35hp.

Does the bottom shroud need to come off?

Are people pulling the whole power head off?
July 16, 2026 at 7:46 pm #324598
Bob Wight
Participant
US Member
No, you shouldn’t have to remove the lower pan or pull the powerhead to remove the cylinder head but you’ll have to use a box end wrench to remove the bolts on the lower end of the cylinder head. A ratchet and socket likely won’t fit between the head and the lower pan.

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1955 Johnson QD-16
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1957 Evinrude 3022
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20
1982 Evinrude 25hp

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."
July 17, 2026 at 5:55 am #324624
RICHARD A. WHITE
Participant
Lifetime Member
…

http://www.richardsoutboardtools.com
classicomctools@gmail.com
July 17, 2026 at 11:22 am #324647
Ghost_n_the_shell
Ok! I got it off.
I had to alternate between two different box head wrenches. The tight space didn’t allow enough movement to get a follow up attachment on the bolt head. But I got it.

Anyway: here are the pictures.

there is a bit of rust hazing on the one cylinder wall that I can see – and I have no idea what the white substance is on top of the piston.

So I am soaking the one cylinder (with the piston, but the other travelled far enough so the fluid leaks out. I’m still spraying it regularly – but it can’t soak like the other.

I’m going to let this soak all weekend before going at it again.

With the pistons the way they are, I’m not sure tapping will help. If I do l try a few bumps with a 2×2 is it ok with the gape of those pistons and their “peak” in the middle? I don’t want to break it.
July 17, 2026 at 11:36 am #324652
Ghost_n_the_shell
One more pic of top:
July 17, 2026 at 1:30 pm #324660
labrador-guy
Participant
US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK
Heck that ain’t bad! Get some WD40 and spray that surface rust. Get some fine sand paper and shine that cylinder up. Gently thunk the other piston with a block. Don’t beat on it like your digging for gold. You want to shock it a little. If it moves a little you can try turning the flywheel by hand. Work it back and forth it will loosen up I bet! I have seen motors a lot worse than that come back to life! Those pistons are darn strong.

dale
July 17, 2026 at 3:40 pm #324668
Don
Participant
US Member
This engine was just running a few weeks ago, correct? Wondering why that one cylinder is showing signs of rust like that. Like others have said, use some penetrating oil, and fine emery or a scotch brite pad to clean the lite rust off the cylinder wall. We are going to have to look for a bad gasket, or mating surface that would have allowed water to enter the combustion chamber. The other cylinder is clean, correct? If so, seems unlikely that water in the fuel was the culprit.
July 17, 2026 at 6:05 pm #324674
Ghost_n_the_shell
Don wrote:

This engine was just running a few weeks ago, correct? Wondering why that one cylinder is showing signs of rust like that. Like others have said, use some penetrating oil, and fine emery or a scotch brite pad to clean the lite rust off the cylinder wall. We are going to have to look for a bad gasket, or mating surface that would have allowed water to enter the combustion chamber. The other cylinder is clean, correct? If so, seems unlikely that water in the fuel was the culprit.

No this one is a free “give away pile” take home from an island dump in Georgian Bay 🙂

I’d imagine it’s been a couple decades since it’s run.
July 18, 2026 at 8:14 am #324725
Tubs
Participant
Take a propane torch and heat up the pistons, the one at the bottom will be hard to keep the torch lit, and then add some more oil. Then try moving the flywheel back and forth. Repeat as necessary.

A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
July 18, 2026 at 8:27 am #324729
Gary H.
Participant
US Member
I don’t know if it’s an optical illusion or not but it looks like they’re could be a deep groove in the cylinder of the piston that’s all the way down.
Author

Posts