1954 Evinrude Lightwin 3012 Overheating

[nathanielhellewell]

I have a 1954 evinrude 3012. It is great for going slow in my dinghy but when I try to run it leaner (making the motor rev up without touching the throttle) or just set it to fast, it is great for about 45 seconds to a minute of being on plane and then it overheats and dies. It is spitting water, but after revving it up for a while the water is steaming hot and is WAAAAY too hot to touch. Also, what ore these engines worth? Mine is completely cosmetically restored with new paint and decals and runs great, except for the overheating issue. I rely heavily on this motor and I think trusting my life to an antique is kind of stupid. I am hoping to trade for a newer 5hp, preferably a honda.


Thanks, nathaniel

 

[F_R]

I have a 1954 evinrude 3012. It is great for going slow in my dinghy but when I try to run it leaner (making the motor rev up without touching the throttle) or just set it to fast, it is great for about 45 seconds to a minute of being on plane and then it overheats and dies. It is spitting water, but after revving it up for a while the water is steaming hot and is WAAAAY too hot to touch. Also, what ore these engines worth? Mine is completely cosmetically restored with new paint and decals and runs great, except for the overheating issue. I rely heavily on this motor and I think trusting my life to an antique is kind of stupid. I am hoping to trade for a newer 5hp, preferably a honda.

Thanks, nathaniel

What jumps out in this story is the false concept of controlling speed by making it rich or lean. That is totally wrong. It should be set to where it runs the best, then leave it there and control the speed by the throttle.

Other than that, you must first make sure the water pump is ok. If pump is ok but it overheats, you must find out why that is happening also.

You indicate it overheats and dies. Allowing that to happen is very destructive to the motor and you have been doing it repeatedly (??) It might be time for that new Honda.

 

[oldboat1]

^+++

 

[nathanielhellewell]

What I meant by the whole rich/lean dial thing was that I have to run the motor richer that it should be run to prevent overheating. Running it rich is cooler, and so I have to run it rich to prevent overheating. Also, the whole overheating and dying thing only happened twice. Once when I was trying to get on plane (i waited for it to cool off and it started right up) and second when i had the rich/lean to where it ran best (quite lean) and i was just motoring for a long time and it overheated and died. before it actually died you could hear it kind of struggling. From listening for that sound and continually detuning it, i found that it had to be on 5 rich rather than 1 rich to not overheat. Even when detuned it still spits water that is WAAAY to hot. What should I do? Also oldboat1, what does "^+++" mean?

 

[oldboat1]

means I agree with F_R's comments.

What fuel ratio are you using -- gas to oil?

 

[nathanielhellewell]

32-1

 

[nathanielhellewell]

same as it says in the manual.

 

[nathanielhellewell]

or at least on the aftermarket sticker I bought...

 

[oldboat1]

Use 24:1. http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/images/2/2a/Evinrudeservice001.pdf

 

[nathanielhellewell]

Ah. Thank you.
Anything else I should check?
I'm new to this.

 

[oldboat1]

Change out the impeller (water pump), as indicated. If you are a river runner, or run in salt water, you may have to clear water passages -- can involve removal of the head/head cover, and manually scraping out the passages around the cylinders. Nice motor. Good little runners.

 

[F_R]

Are you telling us that the water discharge is too hot, or are you telling us that the motor is too hot? There are areas on the powerhead that normally get blistering hot. The flat exhaust plate on the side of the powerhead, and the area immediately around the spark plugs. Those two areas are not water cooled.

 

[nathanielhellewell]

The water is blistering hot and it puts a lot of water out.

 

[oldboat1]

FYI: https://outboard-boat-motor-repair.c...s%20Manual.htm

 

[iggyw1]

To answer your question on what ^+++ Means: " I agree with the post above, and strongly" (+++ = like 300%)

 

[racerone]

There is a problem with the cooling system !!----Should be easy to find the issue in my opinion.

 

[nathanielhellewell]

Yeah, but a lot of water is coming through and the water is very hot which makes me think that the cooling system is working fine and that something about the engine is getting hotter than it should and overloading the cooling system.

 

[racerone]

Nope.----You need to check out your cooling system.