Johnson TD-15 or TD-20

[Buccaneer]

I just picked up a 5 hp Johnson Sea Horse from the 40’s. How
do I tell if it’s an earlier TD-15 or later TD-20 ?
I see no ID, but haven’t pulled the side covers off yet.
Where do I look for ID?
I’m not sure if it was originally all silver or not, as parts
of it look like it was spray painted at one time.
Thanks!

Prepare to be boarded!

[retiredoz]

You’ll find the ID when you pull off the side covers. Just look for a small rectangular area, maybe even raised..

[legendre]

On the port side of the powerhead, very near the bottom there is a flat rectangular region (On the TD20, the arched water line passes above this area).

The model ID is stamped there, along with the serial no.

[aquasonic]

quote legendre:

On the port side of the powerhead, very near the bottom there is a flat rectangular region (On the TD20, the arched water line passes above this area).

The model ID is stamped there, along with the serial no.

The Model/Serial No. stamp would be the defining feature. No need to remove the lower cowl to see that. Almost all of the parts are identical to the TD-20, so who knows what has been mixed and matched over the years.

The TD-15 was manufactured in 1941 and 1942. The manufacturing for civilians ceased during WWII. After the war, in 1946, civilian production resumed, and many of the pre-war motors were produced with minor changes for a few years after that.

The TS, TD, HS, HD, and Zephyr come to mind, but I’m sure there were many others. Garry could elaborate on that.

[Mumbles]

[Buccaneer]

Thanks for the help and replies! Were the TD-15’s painted all silver?

Prepare to be boarded!

[aquasonic]

Buccaneer, Yes the color for the TD-15 was Dull Aluminum (silver) and I would think that you would find some evidence of that at least in the powerhead area, but what does the stamp say?

[reivertom]

I think all the Td-15s had cast fuel tanks that didn’t dent very easy also. My ’41 TS-15 has a cast tank and had a red fuel cap , until it cracked and fell apart, that is. It is on my list for me to get off my but and shine it up.

[aquasonic]

The two piece cast tanks were also used on the early TD-20’s, and the reddish bakelite fuel caps were also a staple on the TD-20’s. Many of the bakelite caps broke over the years due to getting brittle, and got replaced by the much more durable aluminum caps. The same ones that were used on the Lightwin and JW series.

[Buccaneer]

I looked for a number and found on the lower port side of the powerhead,
41E-350. Is this just a serial number? Does the "41" mean 1941 ?
I didn’t see TD-15 or TD-20. Perhaps it’s under paint.
I have another unit that says "TD-20" in the same place.

Prepare to be boarded!

[Author]

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