Reply To: 1955 Johnson 5.5 HP CD-12

[Don]

OK, looks like you have everything you will need most likely. I didn’t see the new plug terminals: 581027, but you have plenty of plug wire for sure. What brand of impeller is that? I recommend using the OEM impeller, too many reports of poor pump performance with the aftermarket impellers.
You may not need the gearcase seal kit, have you drained the gear lube? Please do not remove that small phillips screw in the skeg, the shift linkage will fall apart inside…
Normal gear lube will probably appear dark/black in color which is normal for the older lubes that were used back then…
Milky colored gear lube means trouble
Any signs of raw water draining from the gearcase spells trouble also
Perhaps I have misunderstood the condition you describe on your carb body. You make it sound like the hinge pin holes for the float are either cracked or actually broken…Once again, there is no way to reliably repair this, you will need to find a used carb or upper body, there are plenty of these around… Post a picture of the carb body if you think I have misunderstood what you described.
Finally, I don’t recommend pulling that powerhead apart…There is no need to if compression numbers were even. These engines usually never got enough hours on them to be worn out…The powerheads were only damaged by overheat, lack of correct fuel/oil mix, or water/rust.
Finally, those 55 models had kind of an automatic lock that held the engine down in reverse…The engine should tilt up in forward or reverse gear. There is a little latch that catches on the tilt angle rod on the bottom of the stern brackets…It will be easy to see if you just tip the engine upside down on the floor. You will be able to pop the lock off the tilt rod with a screwdriver… Once the powerhead and gearcase are off, you can get back to this to see why it doesn’t work… The only other thing I can think of is that the transom bracket tilting bolt is too tight. Try loosening the nut on the top right side of the transom bracket. This is a friction fit that is tightened enough so the engine will stay tilted up…