Johnson HD-25 paint scheme

[aquasonic]

Steve’s restored motor has the decals used on the 1941-1942 HS & HD 20 and also on the 1946-1948 HS & HD-25. In 1949 the decals took on a more angular shape and the word "Sea Horse" is in cursive writing as seen in Wedgies repair catalogue picture. Apparently the 1950 HD-25 and the 1951 HD-26 had the third version with "2 1/2" on the side decals.

American Outboard has nice waterslide decals, but none of the H series decal sets are correct. They combine the compound radius side decals from 1941-1942 and 1946-1948 with the angular 1949-1951 starting and oiling instructions for all models.

[Buccaneer]

Interesting on the decals. The HD I’m working on is a 1950.
I’ll take a look today to see if there any hint that "2-1/2"
was ever on the tank decal.
I see that the parts manual instruction decal is a crescent
shape, and the one in Steve’s photo is oval.
I haven’t shopped for decals at this point, but guess I’ll
have to pay attention when I do!

Prepare to be boarded!

[wiscoboater]

That Ben Ditmar motor in the video sure runs sweet!

[Buccaneer]

There are differences in decals throughout the HD’s run
according to "Outboarddecals" ……

http://www.outboarddecals.com/index.php?cPath=81_42_71

However, they do not show the 1950 decal having the 2-1/2
on the side of the gas tank.

Note differences in the instructions decal between 1941-1946,
and between 1948 – 1949 with the "Sea Horse" script
and the "sea horse" horsey!

I have not looked at other decal vendors yet.

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Prepare to be boarded!

[Buccaneer]

There were no traces of decals on my 1950 HD-25.
Me thinks it was repainted at one time.
I took photos of my HS / HD line-up to compare
decals. Most decals are in rough shape, but there
are two different styles in the bunch.

Also found out that the 1950 HD-25 has
"Use Hypoid Oil" by the large L.U., upper screw.
The pre-50 all had a small upper screw and no wording.

Also learned that the 1941 HS-20 and 1946 HD-25 had
the tanks that took smaller gas caps than the 1947 & 1950
in my line-up.

Lastly, found out when I was going to swap an older,
non dented tank to replace the dented tank on the 1950 HD,
that the 1950 tank was a lightweight aluminum, stamped,
one piece tank, and the pre 1950 tanks were all heavy,
cast, two piece aluminum tanks.

Was 1950 the first year Johnson use Hypoid gear lube?
Anyone have a 1950 HD-25 with original decals to look at?
Thanks!

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[garry-in-michigan]

That seemed a little confusing – so I worked on it a bit. . . 😕

[aquasonic]

I always think that the vendors are wrong when it comes to the 1946-1948 decal sets. The 1946-1948 set should be the same as the pre-war HD/HS-20. It is the one labeled 1941 on Garry’s chart. It has a compound radius style starting and oiling instructions decal. I own two 1947 HD-25’s and both of them have the more rounded starting and oiling instructions. I can also see in Bucaneer’s pictures that the two HD’s that he points to as "1947", have the same decals as mine.

[aquasonic]

Here is a nice example of a 1951 HD-26.

[olcah]

This HD25 is sn 844847. I believe 1950.

[Buccaneer]

Gary, Thanks for your handy "art work"!……. looks much nicer!
Aquasonic, It seems that the decal vendors are not doing
their DD on researching and creating decals! Thanks for the photos!
Olcah, it appears the 1950 in your photos has the light weight
aluminum tank as well, as it’s dented like mine!
Discontinued Decals shows a 1951 HD-25 with the 2-1/2 (hp)
in the side decal, but not on the 1950. Perhaps they changed
decals mid year?
Looks like I have options as far as decals, which may or may not
be 100% correct. I really want to put an older cast aluminum
tank on the 1950 if it fits, so it wouldn’t be 100% correct anyway 🙁

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