1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

[freddyray21]

Picked this up out of a guys barn for I think 20 dollars. Motor had good compression and thank to Joe Roth, a fellow member, it now has hot spark. Took the carb apart. It already had the new float in it and cleaned it. Bob Heida, another fellow member, made me some new bushings for the lower unit and I put in new seals. Runs very good now pumps water well. Some before and after pics. I am too cheap to buy the right color paint or decals.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

Nice job.Does it run as nice as it looks.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

runs very good. got a set of "new coils" from a friend. cleaned the carb. It idles nice and I've ran it in a barrel at high idle. Have not had it out on a boat yet, but will in the next week or two if this warmer weather holds.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

Those little generic Mercs (Wizards) are great motors. You may be able to find decals at American Outboard Salvage online. I think your WG4 is rated at 6 hp, but I've run a few and I think that's a conservative rating.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

nymarine.ca has then, but I am just too cheap.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

Somewhere I have a 50s mag. with a Wizard add. I think they claim 18 to 20 mph for the WG4.I'm going to look for it now.
I found that Wizard add;1951 claim up to 20 mph with the 6hp and up to 35 with the 10.Must be "when properly equipped"

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

way back when according to the old timers in the club Mercury used to under rate their motors so they could make claims like their 6hp out performed a Johnson 7.5 and the like. Supposed to be true I don't know. Sounds like something the marketing people would have done back then. It is now a joke among my Merc friends. If a guy has a 10 hp we will say, "yeah, but it's actually a 25 hp" I plan on using this on my sailboat this year. I am kinda known for showing up with old motors and running them at the "yacht" club. This one will make them envious. My sailboat is smaller than most of their's at only 17 ft so last year my 6hp Chrysler. (1967) was out running their boats running 8hp motors. This six should really leave them. Made some homemade decals for it today.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

I don't have the specs for 53 but the 55 Merc/Wizard was a little over 7 cu. in.and rated at 6 hp at 4,500 OMC/Gale were almost 9cu. in. and rated at 5 and 5.5 at 4,000.I believe the Merc/Wizard was about 40lbs, johnson TN 5hp about 44, 55 evinrude/johnson full shift about 47.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

this motor is the same as the late 40's KD4 just different cowlling.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: 1953 Wizard WG-4 before and after

Yep, same horsepower rating as the KD-4...basically the same motor in different clothes. Simple technology and easy to run and keep.