During which year/years was the Lark III made?

[lightwin]

Hi
I recently acquired an Evinrude model number 35933. The cowl says it is a Lark III and the model number seems to confirm that it is a 40hp from 1962. I have been finding conflicting information as to whether the Lark IV or Lark III was made in 1962. It is entirely possible that the cowl got swapped along the way or even the transom mount which has the model number on it.
Can anybody clarify what year the Lark III and Lark IV was made?
Thanks

 

[HighTrim]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

The model number is in fact a '62

You have the title correct, the model is the Lark, not the Mark.

Off hand I thought the Lark IV was the '62 though. Ill look it up to confirm.

 

[lightwin]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

Made the correction. Thanks. I don't know why I was typing it Mark instead of Lark.
Is there a difference, other than the cowl, between the Lark III and Lark IV?

 

[lindy46]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

Lark III was a 1961, Lark IV a 1962, Lark V a 1963, etc.

 

[TN-25]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

Differences between a Lark III & a Lark IV go beyond the cowling. The crank & powerhead were improved on the 1962 Lark IV, addressing some shortcomings that occured when the 40.5 cubic inch 35 was enlarged to a 43.9 cubic inch 40 for 1960. The Lark IV of 1962 and its 1963 successor were available with standard mechanical shift or pushbutton Selectric shift. For 1963 the carb, pistons and bearings were improved. For 1964 they switched from a water-actuated to a hot air actuated automatic choke. All Larks from that point on were Selectric shift only through 1970; the Big Twin styled models were the mechanical shift versions.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

Excellent description, TN-25 and very accurate. I actually had one of each of these motors up until recently. The lark III had ribs on the sides of the cowling and cursive on the name. The Lark IV dropped the ribs from the cowling and used block letters on the name. However, the cowlings will swap back and forth between the two. The mechanical shift models are the best models to have. Selectric models are quite spendy to do repairs on, should they ever break.

 

[lightwin]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

Great answers, as always. I ended up with this engine because it was on the back of the boat I had been looking for. All of my experience with older outboards is on 10hp and under. I believe, and have now had it confirmed by this forum, that the engine is a bit of a composite made over the years. The plate on the transom mount lists it as 1962 but the cowl is a Lark III. I am guessing that the cowl probably just got swapped but it is also possible that the transom bracket was the piece changed.
The engine has the electric switch, which I don't know anything about other than there is a duplex wire running down the housing towards the lower unit, but that is probably a topic for an entirely different thread. I guess my real question now is whether or not I can confirm that the engine is a 62 like the transom bracket suggests or whether it is a 61 like the cowl? Are any of these improvements from the 61 to 62 visible? I also am guessing that there have been some other modifications made to the engine. The generator appears to be new and there is a new voltage regulator mounted on the lower cowl under the generator.
Thanks again.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

You have a '62 with a '61 cowl. Sounds like you have Selectric Shift, which was '62. Good luck troubleshooting that for the first time

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

The 61 will be the last year, with the high compression head. If you see the compression releases on the head, then you have the '61. The head on the '62 will be pretty flat on the surface and no compression release hardware. Like HighTrim stated, the third number in the model number will tell you if it's a manual (5) or if it's a Selectric (9) and Selectric models are '62 or later. First couple years of the Selectric models, the Larks came with either or. I believe around '64 or '65, the Lark was Selectric only.

 

[TN-25]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

A Selectric will not have any sort of shift lever on the starboard side, nor will it have the provision for a tiller on the port side. Easy to spot.

If it is in fact a Selectric shift, I hope you have the pushbutton shift box and all related harnesses. They came with the motor when new and you need them.

 

[lightwin]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

Lark IV from 62 it is then. Thank you all for your help. Once I find the book for the thing I am sure I will be posting more questions about in a new thread. No wires, no harness, no nothing to go with it. This sounds like it'll be a headache. Perfect winter project

 

[HighTrim]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

This sounds like it'll be a headache. Perfect winter project

Wait till you try to troubleshoot/service the gearcase on a selectric when you have never done it before, lol. Hopefully you dont need any parts for the selectric system.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: During which year/years was the Lark III made?

What I would do, if it was me. If the powerhead is in good running order, then I would find a same model year parts motor with a manual shift lower. These motors are cheap and plentiful right now. A parts motor with a bad powerhead, should be obtainable for about $50. I bought three of these motors for a $50 bill a year ago and got them all running. I've since sold two of them (the '61 and '62) and kept the '58 model. Not many would be likely to get this good of deal, but there are lots of these out there. Shop your local Craigslist.