’57 Big Twin Flywheel Choice

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  • October 31, 2017 at 4:41 pm #8582
    Mumbles
    Participant

      I’m in the process of converting a rope start ’57 Big Twin to electric start but have a choice of flywheels to use. Was the generator an option in ’57? If so, I have a flywheel with the cogs for driving the genny belt but I have another one which is smooth in that area. Since the motor will probably never have a generator mounted on it, I’m leaning towards the smooth one with the inspection window in it. Would this be right?

      October 31, 2017 at 5:01 pm #66850
      frankr
      Participant

        Generator was an option in ’57, and the electric start models had the drive pulley on the flywheel. However the drive pulley fell off of most of them because of poor design. Perhaps that is what you are looking at. No biggie deal if you won’t be installing a gen.

        October 31, 2017 at 5:07 pm #66851
        opposedtwin
        Participant

          US Member

          I have seen a 1957 RD Johnson with a generator so i would assume they were offered on the big twin as well. I guess, since you’re not planning to install a generator, i would not install the generator compatible flywheel. Maybe save it for another project where you might want the generator?

          October 31, 2017 at 11:06 pm #66859
          Mumbles
          Participant

            Lazy me finally looked in the ’57 RDE parts book and found the same style of flywheel with the cast in cogs for the belt. The smooth one is the same style and both of them came from ’60-’61 Lark and Gale built Viking 40 horse motors. No separate pulleys here to fall off!

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            November 1, 2017 at 12:26 am #66863
            WAYNE
            Participant

              Canada Member

              Finding the generator brackets is the hard part for 1957-58 regular series Johnson/Evinrudes. It took me years to find a pair. Of course, I then decided to use 40 hp Johnson’s instead.

              Wayne
              Upper Canada Chapter

              uccaomci.com

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