Re: 1958 Johnson FD-12 18 HP help needed

[frankr]

quote Desert troller:

I respect the years you guys have working on these old timers so with that said, thanks to Mumbles and Wedgie for their input. I would also appreciate anyone chiming in with their 1 or 2 cents worth as I’m not wanting to create a new issue here with the lower unit. I have taken off the top of the weld but not flush with the case yet so needless to say all work comes to a screeching halt. No evidence of a crack covered up has been seen yet. I would think if it would be from freezing up that would have meant water in the gear case and a normal person, I would think, would not let that happen as they put the motor away for winter. I have not cracked the case open yet but it does shift smoothly and doesn’t appear to have any binding up of the gears, good news there but then again, no load placed on it yet. Maybe I can open the case this weekend and look for prior interior damage as Mumbles suggested. I don’t have any idea of the history of where the motor has been in it’s life so freezing is a possibility. Frank, Chris, any thoughts on this?

Considering the location of those welds it would seem obvious that it probably is broken for some reason. Maybe it froze, maybe it puked. But behind those welds is the oil-filled inside of the gearcase. Don’t be grinding it off and let the oil gush out.