Best years for OMC 10 horse?

[chris-p]

I wish I could make it but no. Perhaps next year!

[fleetwin]

All this talk about 10hps fired me up to buy another one….So, I guess that makes four runners and three donors, guess I’m all set when it comes to 58 Sportwins…Now, I just have to sneak it out of the trunk and into the basement before heading off to work.

[20mercman]

All this talk about 10hps fired me up to buy another one….So, I guess that makes four runners and three donors, guess I’m all set when it comes to 58 Sportwins…Now, I just have to sneak it out of the trunk and into the basement before heading off to work.

😆 😆 😆 On a trip to Rochester MN a few months ago, (daughter was at the Mayo Clinic,) My wife was staying at the Ronald McDonald house. I made that trip back and forth many times in that three months. On one trip, I made a slight detour and stopped by Jerry Blanchard’s place. I was looking for a 63-65 Merc 20hp lower cowl part. I ended up putting two motors, (a 64 & 65) in the trunk of my wife’s Mercury Grand Marquis. (Big trunk! 😉 ) I continued on to Rochester, and made sure to keep the trunk closed while I was there. I had Kevin help me carry them down the basement when I got home. 🙄

Steve

P.S. The 58 Sportwin is on my "Someday" list. The last two years I have passed up on some at our club swap meet. I don’t know how long I can hold up on my will power!

[1946zephyr]

Seen plenty of these "sneak" stories on here. Pretty humorous too. Luckily, I’ve never been in that situation. LOL

[lindy46]

Been working on a 1962 QD23 and as I’ve seen in this post, a lot of wear on the lower housing bushing and lower part of the driveshaft where it passes through the bushing. The gears were all shot. So I’ve replaced the gears (forward, reverse and pinion) with new ones, a new clutch dog and new seals. I’m wondering if the wear to the housing bushing and driveshaft will damage my new gears? The shaft turns freely in the bushing, but for all the money I have invested, I don’t want to ruin what I’ve done. Should I look for another gear housing and driveshaft? Looks like a housing from a 5.5hp/7.5hp will work – maybe would have less wear than another old 10hp.

[1946zephyr]

quote reivertom:

I have a ’55 Johnson and I wouldn’t trade it for any other 50s 10hp models. I like the green color scheme and the heavier lower unit. It’s just a matter of taste as far as color. I don’t hate the holiday bronze or white, but the green just has the classic look I like.

I actually have one of those in pieces right now. It’s on my restore list. 😀

[fleetwin]

quote lindy46:

Been working on a 1962 QD23 and as I’ve seen in this post, a lot of wear on the lower housing bushing and lower part of the driveshaft where it passes through the bushing. The gears were all shot. So I’ve replaced the gears (forward, reverse and pinion) with new ones, a new clutch dog and new seals. I’m wondering if the wear to the housing bushing and driveshaft will damage my new gears? The shaft turns freely in the bushing, but for all the money I have invested, I don’t want to ruin what I’ve done. Should I look for another gear housing and driveshaft? Looks like a housing from a 5.5hp/7.5hp will work – maybe would have less wear than another old 10hp.

Well, excessive lower bushing/driveshaft wear will certainly cause premature wear/possible failure to the gears….The question is just how much are the parts worn? Were you able to wobble the driveshaft in the lower bushing? If so, probably worn too much. Sounds like you spent some money on new gears and clutch dog, you sure don’t want to ruin those new parts. It would be one thing if you pulled the gearcase apart, found some wear, but resealed and reused the old parts. But, you have invested in expensive new parts, and you mentioned that old gears were ruined…
Unfortunately, good driveshafts for these engines are hard to find, most used ones are worn just like yours. Replacement gearcase housings aren’t too tough to find because 9.5hp housings will work, but their driveshafts are too short for the 10hps…

[lindy46]

A little wobble – the driveshaft has grooves worn in it though and the bushing is pretty rough. Looks like that bushing is the only thing that aligns the driveshaft to the pinion – no bearing at all. Probably an ok design for the smaller motors, but not so good for a 10hp.

[labrador-guy]

Yes, those 10hp OMC from the early 50’s are great. I have a bunch of them. The 1953 QD is my second favorite motor. Little noisey but, it pushes my 14’er to about 22mph. Funny how the OMC engineers had the four bolt lower unit in 49 on the 10hp the 14hp and the 15hp through the "54 models. Then in 55 they switched to the five bolt on the 10, 15, and in 57 the 18HP. In ’58 they went back to the 4 bolt in the 10hp. Maybe they couldn’t make up their minds about how strong it needed to be!

[johnyrude200]

Slightly off topic, but I just finished a full rehab on a 5.5hp ’55 johnson for a customer. Was his grandfathers from Missourri, still has the registration sticker on it from that state. I only work on a handful of these 50’s motors each year and they are all rehabs for folks looking to get their motor going again for nostalgic purposes.

The motor needed pretty much everything, but now has a new lease on life for hopefully another 61 years…! Still amazes me how easily they start (almost with no choke!), how low it idles down, and how smooth it runs. This one had been sitting for decades and has no rod knock at all, quiet, and smooth through the whole power range.

One thing I have to say that I didn’t notice before is the beefy springs used as vibration dampeners throughout. (and can these 5.5hp be fitted up with the newer style 6hp shift linkages to eliminate the need to remove the powerhead for gearcase servicing?…any issue with the lower crank oil seal with this type of conversion?)

After having changed out a hundred or so rubber motor mounts on the 60’s and up motors I work on everyday, I may just try to get my hands on one of these mid 50’s motors for my own personal use. Definitely built to last and take abuse back in the day!

Next job order is for a ’58 Fastwin…same deal…full rehab, but both motors are nice original condition, complete motors in decent cosmetic shape.

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