1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

[HighTrim]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Even brand new points need to be cleaned. The oils from your hands disrupt spark from when you installed them. Run paper stock through them. Or, dip paper/business card material in acetone and run that through a few times. Ill bet youll see some black oil on the card when done.

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Re-gapped #1 points they were gapped too wide, now have spark to both cylinders but couldn't get her to fire up, odd. Will try that tomorrow and hopefully get her started. Didn't have the high and low adjustments right and probably flooded her out. Seems like quite a bit of gas coming out front of carb when I choke it.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

point gap shouldnt effect spark....just spark timing. still sounds like you have a minor glitch going on under the flywheel. jmo

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Can automotive spark plug leads be used instead of marine grade? Not sure if that would make a difference or not but that's what I used.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

no....car plug wires are a no no.... they are suppressed wires and will cause weak spark. you need proper metallic core wires. cheap and easy to find by the foot!!! ( and the wires need to be screwed into the coils, not pushed in.)

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

I will try to find some on ebay but these coils are the push in type not screw in. Tried to order these but could only find them 12" long that's the reason I went with automotive which were longer. Are there some screw in type coils that would fit this engine? I agree with you totally on that one, not much for these push in types.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

You can still twist the wire into the recess so that it wraps itself around the pin that you see. A little dab of dielectric grease helps before hand.

As stated, you must use metallic core wire. Go to your local dealer and get it by the foot. Local tractor supply should have it as well. NAPA has it, but you have to buy a whole roll.

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Ok I've ordered the proper wire. Are you saying I should leave more wire exposed so that it can try to wind itself around the pin inside the coil? When I initially removed the old coils, there was barely any wire exposed at all, maybe 1/8th inch and I know for a fact that wasn't making contact with the coil pin. Couldn't I put a spark plug boot connector on the end of the lead and then slide that into the coil so the pin is making contact with that. Almost sounds like it's hit or miss trying to get the wire to wind itself around the pin, just curious. I realize there isn't much room there but maybe the wire would go into the coil with a connector on the end.

 

[kfa4303]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Hi tmise. When you get the new 7mm copper core s'plug wire, you'll want to cut it to length, trim both ends flush (you should be able to see the metal cor wrapped in insulation). You then twist one end on to the recessed pin on the coil, be sure that the metal pin in the coil piereces the metal core of the wire. You then attach the s'plug boot the opposite trimmed end. There are several types of boots you can use, but I like the simple crimp on variety, you can get them at any auto parts store for a few bucks. Here are some great links that can walk you through the job. They're for slightly different model motor, but they all use the good ol' OMC "universal magneto".

3 HP Evinrude Lightwin Ignition System Tune-Up 1952-1967

18 - YouTube

Maintaining Johnson E & FD Serie

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

That pin is centered in the recess. When you twist the wire into the hole, the strands of copper will wrap themselves around the pin. Now for ease of mind, when you are done, take you meter and check the resistance from the ground lead of the coil to the spark plug connector. This will ensure you have continuity across all connections, both the wire to coil connection and the wire to spark plug clip connection. It will also test the secondary winding of the coil at the same time. You should get 3000 to 8000 ohms resistance.

When you prepare the spark plug end of the connection, you dont simply cut it flush like the coil end. Trim back about 1/4" or so of the insulation, leaving the wires sticking out. Now fan the wires out and fold them back over the wire. Stick the spring clip into the dead center of the wire. You may need pliers to get it to puncture through the group of copper wires. Ensure you puncture it in a spot so that when the coiled section of the spring is flush against the end of the wire nice and tight to allow for good continuity. If you do not fan out the wires, you are guessing that you have good connection where the spring punctures alone. Fanning out the wires allows for better connection. Spray a little WD40 onto the spring, and inside the boot, and then slide it into the boot. Now you are all done.

Like I said, I like a dab of dielectric grease both inside the coil recess before inserting the wire, and inside the plug boot, to prevent corrosion.

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Great advice there, really appreciate it! Didn't realize you had to push it in then twist and all that, very anxious to get it done the right way as is the reason I'm here for the knowledgeable advice from you guys. Have a feeling this great old engine is going to run like a champ before long.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Pushing it in straight would likely work, but twisting it in is better, and stronger.

Would love to see a pic or video when you get her going! The warm weather is almost here

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Thanks again Chris and sure will post pics or video when done. Once it's started and running good, what are your thoughts on installing a fuel pump and doing away with the pressurized fuel tank. Been reading articles on that as far as a safety issue, etc...is there a good video or article on doing that procedure on this engine? Just curious what your thoughts are on that.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Well, here are my thoughts. They are free so take them for what they are worth, lol.

The idea that pressure tanks are dangerous is baloney in my opinion. I have never heard of one blowing up, ever. I have about 10 I use regularly, and know many, many members of aomci that use them, and have never heard of one casuing catastrophic damage.

However, I have done the fuel pump conversion on many of my motors, as well as many for others. Where it comes in handy is that good pressure tanks are getting harder to find in good condition, plastic tanks dont rust, and if you are running other motors with fuel pumps, it makes it easier to have 1 style tank. For those reasons I can see doing the conversion.

As far as doing your engine, it can be done in literally an hour. You will need a new connector which bolts to your motor which will accept the single line fitting. They are easily found. Then take the line that used to supply the pressure to your pressure tank, which connected to your old connector, and plug it with a bolt. It is no longer needed. Then remove a bypass cover, does not matter which one, upper or lower, and drill/tap it for a fuel barb. Mount a pump, then reroute the fuel lines. The line coming from that barb you just mounted supplies the pulses to run the pump. All done.

Now you could also do a more stock look by using a factory pump which mounts to the bypass cover. If you bypass cover already has the bosses for mounting the pump, you are set. If it doesnt, you can make an adaptor plate, buy a plate from F_R on this forum, or buy a bypass cover which will accept a pump. Drill/tap the outer holes to mount the pump to, then just drill out the middle hole for the pulse and mount the pump.

Just depends on which way you want to go. Ill post some various pics of conversions I have done.

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Appreciate that info, something I will think about later. I do have two of the pressurized tanks and both very clean inside as the owner always stored them with oil in them. One I'm currently using while working on the motor provides plenty of pressure and holds it well. Not sure on the other tank yet haven't tried it. Actually the thought of keeping things original is nice too. Could possibly later on rebuild the tanks themselves, I have seen rebuild kits for them out there.

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

New spark plug 7mm leads, boots, and springs came yesterday. Trimmed both ends flush, applied a little dielectric grease to one end and pushed into the coil then twisted until it wouldn't go any further. Then I cut to length at other end leaving about a 1/4" of the wire exposed which I fanned out over the insulation. Then I installed the spring by puncturing the side of the insulation with the spring point and making sure the spring is snug up against the fanned wires, slid into boot. Next step I'm going to do is fine tune it using multi-meter, then will be ready to fire it up. Also new solenoid came so I'm going to take measurements on boat where it will be located then will run all the wire to it from start/stop panel, etc...will keep you guys posted how it turns out with all new ignition system.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Almost done now! You will be fishing before you know it. I cannot wait to get back on the water, once it thaws.

Now when you remount your coils, ensure the laminations are flush with the edge of the mounting boss. Run your fingernail up the smooth edge where itmeets the coils laminations. If your nail catches, push the coil in slightly until it doesnt. There is a ring you can buy for this adjustment, but if you are only doing the 1 this technique is fine. If the coil is too far in, spark will be limited, too far out and the magnets in the flywheel will hit the coil. There is a predifined gap you want here.

Any more questions let us know. Let us know how it goes,.

 

[tmise]

Re: 1957 Evinrude 18 hp Fastwin Electric 18 carburetor rebuild

Yeah I remember you telling me that before Chris and made sure they are flush. Also decided at least for now anyway to keep it original the way it came off the assembly line as far as the pressurized tanks go. May even keep the paint the way it is but they sure do look nice with a fresh paint job!!