1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

[thefairlaneman]

What is the red "engine overheat light" mean .Is it inportant?

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

Very important. Although if the light comes on, it is usually too late, as is the case of the horn in newer models. Are you overheating, or just curious?? Overheating can be caused by a number of things, mainly restriced water flow, poor water pump ie impeller, etc...

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

they had lights back then, but was change later to the horn, because people burnt their motors up, cause you could not see them in the bright sun.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

Who keeps their eyes glued to the lights anyway? And how many people drive the boat two miles with the horn blaring away? You'd be surprised. ??Whazzat?? Neither one is worth a hoot anyway. They come on after the motor is already cooking itself. Best defense is periodic water pump replacement whether it needs it or not.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

Good and realistic replies. To those, I would add that one of the best ways to insure proper cooling to pay close attention to water depth and bottom condition. Running through very shallow water where the bottom is muddy or sandy tends to kick up a lot material which can be sucked into the cooling system. Mud tends to clog water passages and get deep into the cooling system. Sand, if fine enough, may do the same thing and is pretty good at chewing up impellers.

 

[thefairlaneman]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

I dont know if anything is wrong with it or not. I plan to bench run it and check the water flow and compression etc as soon as possible. guy said it ran well but the light came on last time out . For the price I paid I know Im taking a chance but its all in the game of learning . Having to learn how a new engine works is fun. If its shot I will go find another one and be a smarter buyer.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

here's a good place to start http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=158086

 

[Joe Reeves]

Re: 1961 lark III "engine overheat light"

The old warning "Overheat Light" or the later "Warning Horn" would activate before the engine got hot enough to do any damage, hence the term "warning". Sixty seconds later could be another story.

It would be better to convert the Overheat Light system to the Warning Horn system as one is not alweays looking at the light, but the horn, if placed properly, would be heard.

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