1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

[HighTrim]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

If I have the head off, I ALWAYS dress it. I dont think I have ever actually found one true??

Get something perfectly flat, a pane of glass works well.

Tape some emory cloth to the glass, then do figure 8s with the head until it is true. You will be able to tell by the wear marks from sanding. Usually between the cylinders is the high spot and gets sanded last.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

quote " Great minds 'thick' alike." lol..was that a typo? i have been referred to a thick minded!!!

 

[64osby]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

quote " Great minds 'thick' alike." lol..was that a typo? i have been referred to a thick minded!!!

Very funny, I've heard that comment too. Yes a typo, but maybe not?

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

View attachment 170862

I got home last night and decided to go ahead and pull the head. This is what I found, a couple of big gaping holes in the gasket right next to the middle bolt hole on the bottom cylinder. Piston and bore look good. I called the dealer back with my specific model number and it'll be $12 for the gasket, $16 for the impeller. Don't know why he got them so wrong the first time. I'm heading over now to pick them up.

And yes, the pressure tank came with the motor. Fittings look good and both ends and it seems to hold pressure just fine. Hopefully I'll be out by tomorrow testing it out on the lake!

FYI... You will need a power head gasket to do your impeller (power head needs to be pulled).

Part number for the power head gasket is OMC/BRP 304314, or Sierra 18-2894-9.

For nice pic's on how to dress your head, check out post #'s 19-20 on my "Freshen-up thread";
http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=552803&highlight=1956+fleetwin

 

[64osby]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

You may not have to pull the head if you have a side plate on the leg where the upper and lower shift rod connects.

I don't think you ever stated what HP this motor is. 7.5 head comes off, i think all others have the access plate, but I could be wrong.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

It says in his title, Fleetwin, which is a 7.5hp

Powerhead has to come off, but can be done almost as quickly as the shift rod coupler. Be sure to check the condition of the carbon seal assembly, it is critical.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

HT - Still learning here, but I did have it right on the 7.5, just didn't know that Fleetwin designated 7.5 only.

 

[tylermac]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

Ok I changed the impeller and head gasket, ran the head on some emery cloth and now it has 75 psi in both cylinders! I didn't see some of the later posts before I pulled the power head, so I'll have to make a trip back to the dealer and pick up that gasket. I changed the O-ring and gasket between the drive shaft (name?) and power head. Anything other seals I should grab while I'm at it?

I took it out on the lake Friday. I don't have access to a trash can or hose, so this is the best way I can test it. I thought long and hard about running it in the bath tub... that may become an option in the future. But the head gasket did the trick for the compression! Have to say I'm quite happy about that.

Anyway, it was a little sluggish to start up, but it finally fired up and I puttered around for a short while. One of the cylinders was firing very intermittently, so I'll have to go through the ignition and try to figure that out.

Why is this the movie scene that always pops into my mind when I get a motor working?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bPmVhyHBRAM

 

[bbstacker1]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

Congrats on getting her running. If you haven't already, I would check and most likely change the foot oil. When you check it pay attention to what runs out, water?, if it looks to be good clean oil you should be OK to use it, but without knowing when it was last changed it is cheap insurance to just go ahead and change it, then you need to keep an eye on it for a while to see if you are taking in any water. If you do find you are taking in water then you may end up back in the LU again, and use new gaskets on the check screws to make sure they are not the leak.

 

[64osby]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

I thought long and hard about running it in the bath tub

That would make a real mess of the bath tub.

Look for and old plastic barrel or trash can, even a herby curby works good.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

That would make a real mess of the bath tub.

Look for and old plastic barrel or trash can, even a herby curby works good.

naaa!! how do you think the jacuzzi was invented???....yup, a fleetwin in a bathtub!! ( i read it on the internet, so it must be right!!)

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

Yea, but run a motor in a barrel for a few minutes and see how messy the water and barrel get. I wouldn't want to put my body in that oily mess, in my bathtub
Yea, running it out on the lake, is actually the best, because you can get things dialed in a lot better.

 

[tylermac]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

I'm mostly joking about the bathtub. But you know, my roommate is a mechanic, I think he can handle a little oil in the tub

I checked and adjusted the points yesterday and took it back to the lake. Once it warmed up both cylinders started firing. I ran it for about 30 minutes and it did well. It got me and my girlfriend up on a plane and purred along when I slowed it to a crawl. The only strange thing is that it fluctuated in power at full throttle. It would speed up and slow down a little. This winter I think I'll take the carburetor apart and clean it out really well. Maybe the points need a little work as well. I'm trying to avoid pulling the flywheel off, but I'll probably do that as well and update all the ignition components.

Thank you everyone for your help on this project! This site rocks!

 

[RogersJetboat454]

Re: 1958 Fleetwin, dead cylinder--Keep it or send it back?

I'm mostly joking about the bathtub. But you know, my roommate is a mechanic, I think he can handle a little oil in the tub

I checked and adjusted the points yesterday and took it back to the lake. Once it warmed up both cylinders started firing. I ran it for about 30 minutes and it did well. It got me and my girlfriend up on a plane and purred along when I slowed it to a crawl. The only strange thing is that it fluctuated in power at full throttle. It would speed up and slow down a little. This winter I think I'll take the carburetor apart and clean it out really well. Maybe the points need a little work as well. I'm trying to avoid pulling the flywheel off, but I'll probably do that as well and update all the ignition components.

Thank you everyone for your help on this project! This site rocks!

Don't sweat pulling the flywheel off. All you need is a simple puller to do it right.
It's pretty much routine service on these engines. Check your coils over good when you pull the flywheel. If they are cracked (which is an extremely common occurrence) they could be leaking spark on your secondary side, and may explain why you are loosing power. Everything ignition wise is available for you engine, and you don't need to go to the dealer to get it either. A NAPA parts store with a Sierra marine catalog, or even Iboats can hook you up with your ignition parts.
Good idea to service the carb too.

If you keep up on maintence, and keep your oil mixed at 20:1, she will run for ever....

 

[tylermac]

Hey just wanted to pop in and say thanks again. I used this motor ALL THE TIME for about 3 years before moving to the South. Now I'm in Utah and just bought a small ski boat. I plan to add a mount and use it as a trolling motor on the local lakes. Glad I didn't take it back, it feels like part of the family now.

 

[oldboat1]

Welcome back! Must be some kind of record for a return post.

Glad to hear it's up and running. You really need to look and the coils and probably replace them, though. If mine, I would just replace coils, points and condensers. Use a steering wheel/harmonic balancer puller for the flywheel.

Here's a source that should be helpful: http://www.fiberglassics.com/library...service001.pdf Note that the fuel ratio for the 7 1/2 is 16:1. I would use that -- works well with mine.

Ever used a trolling motor on the great lakes? You will want to make sure the ignition is in good shape, as they tend to cut out at just the wrong time. Hey -- thanks for posting back. :thumb:

 

[tylermac]

I bought an old boat and was posting a question about a repair I'm working on. Had forgotten entirely about this post until looking through my history. :lol:

There's a so much good information on the forums. It's a gold mine.

 

[GA_Boater]

Tyler, thanks for coming back and updating your thread so fast. It's only been.....................OMG, you forgot!

It's good to hear the old motor is still truckin'! What finally got it running like a dream?

 

[tylermac]

It's only been.....................OMG, you forgot!

It's good to hear the old motor is still truckin'! What finally got it running like a dream?

Haha I deserve that.

I.... honestly didn't do anything else. I got lazy and it was running well enough for me to be happy. And there were fish to be caught!

Now that I'm older and (presumably) more responsible, I think I'll get around to those ignition components. And anything else that's deteriorated.

Did I mention how much I love this motor?