So, I, Errrr, Bought Another Project

Those of you who've been here a while know that I have a problem with small cheap projects. As soon as a stupid idea pops into my head, I instantly put it into motion. The knife, motorized bicycles one and two, and fixie are a few examples of this affliction that have made it to the forums.

Anyway, here is forum-worthy project number four:

A 1948 outboard!

Poor quality camera phone picture of them going in the back of the truck.

While we were at the Clayton, NY wooden boat show swap meet, I strayed over to a booth filled entirely with cheap old outboards. I saw a pair of Johnson 5 hp Seahorses, both listed for $40, and knew I'd found my next stupid cheap project. One was seized, while the other spun easily with good compression. Both had ~ 10 year old plugs in them, so I think I have a chance of getting one running. They are from 1950 and 1948, respectively.

My dad and I made a deal: I'd make one running engine out of the two, and he'd keep the other shell to put on the wall of the Lake House. We handed the guy $60 for the pair, and threw them in the truck.

Then I realized I'd need a boat to put the engine on. I pulled up the Daytona Beach Craigslist, intending to find a little wooden skiff. Unfortunately, nobody in Daytona likes wooden boats, and I couldn't find anything. I did, however, find an 8' inflatable boat, with a rigid floor. It might not match the engine, but it's $50. I haven't picked it up yet, but the guy seems honest and I'm fairly confident I'll get the boat.

So as soon as I get home, I'll get a motor running, put it on the little boat, and have a ~$100 boat that weighs ~100 lbs., and fits on the roof rack of the E30. I think it will be perfect to explore all the backwaters of the Inlet Waterway, ecspecially because 62 year old outboards are known for their reliability.

Assuming the engine works well, the plan is to stick with the inflatable for a while, then eventually find a 1950s Penn Yan Cartopper to go on the Edsel.

I've already got friends lining up for the "I'm on a Boat" parody.

Oh, right, the endless questions.

What kind of gear oil goes in the lower unit? I'm assuming I should change it?

The oil mixture is 24:1, right?

Anybody have any tips/tricks for old outboards?

Actually - sounds pretty cool.

Clayton's a cool place; I want to rent a houseboat there. Glad you're rounding out your mechanical fetish with something yachty, it helps a lot.

Dan

If I had a boat...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-_W18CWypE

Kiss my ass, I bought a boat...

i just got an old firestone motor like the one u got.. i think its a 1946. i dunno crap bout boat motors.

Why not build a wooden boat as well? Wooden Boat Store Has been a source of many a daydream for this wooden boat lover awash in a sea of fiberglass.

Working on old boat and engines, a link to www.jamestowndistributors.com may be helpful.

an old wooden garvey would be perfect for that outboard.

and you might never know.. those old engines are pretty overbuilt with some loose tolerance.. so they might be quite reliable and last near forever.

After all, how many outboards do you see from the 80s still running around as opposed to those ancient outboards that seem to be like the energizer bunny

I personally think all questions of "what gear oil" in non-syncromeshed applications should be answered with "Mobil SHC630." You can get it at Graingers.

I am not sure... but I am pretty certain it should be a marine rated gear oil just due to water intrusion if you left the engine sitting with the outdrive down

I actually was going to build my own boat, but then I realized that an inflatable would be way easier to transport and store. That and my mom only said okay because I promised to roll the whole mess up and put it in my closet if it started to bother her. For some reason, the parents don't see the appeal of this when we have a 2 perfectly good boats, 2 friends with boats, and canoes.

Once you get them running, make sure the water pump is working. There's an impeller somewhere inside the lower unit that can fail (at least that was the case in later 1950s motors, I think the earlier ones were the same.)

There's a whole world of outboard motor restorers out there, so you should be able to find plenty of information online.

Tommy Suddard wrote: I actually was going to build my own boat, but then I realized that an inflatable would be way easier to transport and store. That and my mom only said okay because I promised to roll the whole mess up and put it in my closet if it started to bother her. For some reason, the parents don't see the appeal of this when we have a 2 perfectly good boats, 2 friends with boats, and canoes.

and how many cars?

Tommy Suddard wrote: I actually was going to build my own boat, but then I realized that an inflatable would be way easier to transport and store.......

Don't forget that they are also way easier to become accidentally deflated-sometimes while in use. Don't ask me how I know this.

Couple of 4x8's of ply and some 2x4's and you can build Totch Brown's Gator boat.

http://www.make-sample.com/make-sample/vol06/?pg=52

-Rob

Tommy Suddard wrote: I actually was going to build my own boat

My dad built one from plans from Popular Mechanics way back when. He put the whole damn thing together with brass screws. He said it was the toughest thing he'd ever done.

I built one once also. 14" all mahogany with brass screws and hardware. When I got it done I sold it immediately because I was so tired of looking at it.

And at the time I was a shop teacher with a fully equipped wood shop to work in!!.

When it comes to what gear oil to use in the lower end, DO NOT use current GL-5 grade oils. GL-5 will eat/corrode any copper or bronze gears/seals. You must use a GL-4 grade--not the easiest to find. I found mine in a big Napa store/distribution center: "CRC Sta-Lube Multipurpose hypoid Gear Oil SAE 85W90 API/GL-4."

"Non-corrosive to copper, bronze or other non-ferrous alloy bearings and bushings"

I paid $8.50/qt and the layer of dust was free. If you use the current lower gear end lube, you'll blow the lower end of that outboard--or what's left of it. Modern synthetics tend to leak like a sieve in older machinery. Fifty years with organic oil, then a switch to synthetic, and I've seen new-found leaks were there were none before.

Stronly suggest you contact Mystic Maritime Museum, for they hold the annual Antique Engine Exhibtion, where this age of outboard is common. Great group of people who organize the show, and they should be able to get you in touch with the clubs that eat and breath these and other older engines (like Harley outboards).

There are some ads in the back of Wooden Boat magazine that specialize in these and other older engines, too.

And 24:1 ratio might be a little too high for a rebuilt engine of this vintage for breakin. 18:1 wasn't that uncommon. Smokey exhausts..but lubricated parts. A can of starting fluid will help, and a friend to relieve you when your arm is ready to fall off from trying get get it to run.

Mount the engine on a make-shift test stand, with the lower end in a water-filled garbage can. It's eaier to adjust the carbs, check plugs, etc...than mounted on a transom. My 2cents. enjoy..

If it says Johnson or Evinrude on the box of ignition parts, you will likely pay too much. FInd a Lawn-Boy dealer, and just use those. Outboard Marine Corp. identical stuff, at a fraction of the price.

You mentioned canoes, and not just to flag the post, I wonder what one of those could get a canoe up to?

Another project! Awesome! This looks interesting too.

Why not clean them up and sell them for some profit? That's what I usually do with my parts stash when I have too much inventory (projects).

InigoMontoya wrote: You mentioned canoes, and not just to flag the post, I wonder what one of those could get a canoe up to?

I had thought of that engine on the back of a transomed canoe.

It might also make a nice kicker for a sailboat

Annnnnnnd DONE! I have one engine that runs almost perfectly, and another that looks good. And I'm picking up the boat tomorrow afternoon.

That was easy, anybody have a bad idea for the next project?

I'll throw up some pictures once it's on the boat.

Woody wrote: If I had a boat... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-_W18CWypE Kiss my ass, I bought a boat...

Awesome song!

Tommy Suddard wrote: Annnnnnnd DONE! I have one engine that runs almost perfectly, and another that looks good. And I'm picking up the boat tomorrow afternoon. That was easy, anybody have a bad idea for the next project? I'll throw up some pictures once it's on the boat.

Now that it runs, add boost?