The pleasures of tinkering...

[Chinewalker]

Last weekend after finally getting all the boats put away, floating docks pulled in and otherwise calling it a season, I decided to clean up the shop a bit and get ready for winter projects.

Among them was a 1958 Evinrude 10hp I picked up off Craigslist last Spring for $20.00. It had been sunk and then not dealt with afterwards. I'd torn it down back in April and found a crusty crankshaft and rotted rods (sounds like a rock band, eh?). Also broke a bunch of bolts getting it apart, so I set it aside.

In the meantime I picked up a couple other 10s in various states of disrepair. Sorting through everything I found I had a serviceable block, good crank, rods & pistons. I assembled the powerhead on Sunday and popped it off long enough to know it'll run. Still have to get a waterpump in it and tank test it, but it just felt good to have a project to putter away a rainy Sunday afternoon.

If I hadn't dropped my camera in the water while I was winterizing my 18-footer I'd have some pics of the motor. Fortunately, the camera dried out by Tuesday and seems to be working so I'll get some this coming weekend...

Next up - another one I picked up this summer, a '60 10hp Evinrude that is in similar box-of-parts condition...

 

[ThumbPkr]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

I am retired but I have so many chores to do that I will never get them all done.I have so much test equipment that I picked up over the years that now works,I am like a proud poppa.More like Pauper really but you get the point.I love to fix things and I will always have plenty to do.It is a good feeling to get something working that others have given up on.I share your joy,keep the faith.Ron G

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

We're just now seeing some winter temps in W. Tejas, but I've got a motor to fret with in the shop...64 E-rude V4 60 hp. Needs new plug wires and a general tuneup. Tinkering is what makes the world go round...got an itch a few weeks ago and sold my little rice-wagon SUV and got into a 93 Dodge half-ton with a small V8 for more boat pulling power. Been turning wrenches on it and generally making it the way I want it...new stereo went in today...got it tuned so the 318 V8 sits and purrs at idle. Doesn't have the power curve of a two-stroke, but I'll have to be content with it and the V4 until Feb. comes and I can start boating again...moved my gas tank to the front of the Texas Maid so I'm curious about the hole-shot with two 57 Big Twins on the transom...one E-rude and one J-son. The double Shipmaster control works like a charm. Too bad the wife won't me bring my toys in the house!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

Glad the dual Shipmaster is getting good use!

Here's some pics of the motors. I got the '58 finished on Saturday and tank tested it. Chased down a dirty set of points before I got it to fire on both consistently, but it runs sweet now! I assembled the powerhead for the '60 on Sunday and fired it off, minus the gearfoot by the afternoon. The impeller was shredded, so I'm off to NAPA today to get a new one for it (Sierra #18-3003, if anyone wants to know). Both motors came with updated mag parts and I had a box of 10hp bits and pieces onhand for the extra crank, rods & bearings I needed, so the impellers for both are the only investment I've made in either beyond the $20 and $30 purchase price for both. Both were Craigslist finds...

 

[jbjennings]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

Tim,
I haven't seen any good pics of your maid with the new twinkies on the back....
Can you post a couple?

I enjoyed those 10hp pics.... I love to run a 50's 10hp motor. The 10's, 15's, and 18's from the 50's can't be beat.
CHinewalker,
If you don't mind, did you have to hone the cylinders and do anything special to match the rods and such on your 10?
Later,
JBJ

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

I like ta tinker a wee bit me own darn self.

Don't like ta totally rebuild, (as I can find treasures that run real good without a rebuild), which is part of the fun. Maybe wirin', maybe carbs, maybe jus' plugs: who knows????

Last year I found a 1967 fresh water virgin 950 with even cornpression that would not stay runnin' after I let the key off, (after starting n' runnin' fine on the initial test on the muffs).

Someone helped me with a good trigger from another 950, (thanks), n' I hung the engine on a 15' sleek low profile good lookin' Bayhole, (Bayliner), that I picked up with a 1968 1250 that had a missing plastic part from the dissy, (boat engine trailer fer $100.00 on cl). Ponderin' fixin' the 1250 when I get 'round toit.

Paid $400.00 on cl fer the 950 with a marginal boat n' good trailer, (had ta give the boat away as I went ta Alaska this summer n' ran outa time). Sold the trailer fer $350.00 so the real sweet 950 was fer fitty dollars.

Two weeks ago I snagged a real sweet 1972 fresh water virgin Silverblock 1150 on cl fer $200.00 that runs great, with even cornpression, 'cept the feller put the LU in wrong and it is stuck in forward.

Taday I found a 14' very sleek low profile solid good lookin' 1978 "Cobra" with the trailer fer a whopin' $60.00!!!!

Washed it off at the car wash, what a looker!!!!! No USCG tag. HOW MUCH HORSE POWER WOULD YA GUESS THIS GIRL COULD TAKE???? Methinks 80 to 100 HP, and it is light (guess: 500 lbs or less), butt very solid 20" transom n' such, n' it is set up ta be a fast boat from the aggressive cornfiguration.

Ya think she will fly with the 1150? Maybe I should swap the 1150 to the Bayhole n' put the 950 on this girl. 'Course I have a 1977 1500 that I'm gettin' ready ta hang on me 19 foot Glasply Cuddy Cabin, (pssssst: maybe the 14 footer would like a 1500)????? wink wink

Temptin' I tell ya.

Me overpriced $.02. JR

EDIT: The Scream n' Fly fellers helped me find out this hull is a Sidewinder (Cornadian version).

It will take up to 85 HP accordin' to the brochure, so the ol' 950 will be the engine, (with an 850 cowelin', [if I can find one] ).

Prolly will hang the ol' 1150 on it fer a spin ta see if it scares the pee outa me, n' if she flips when I got her to the wall, ya won't have ol' Murky ta kick around any more!!!

Yip Yip Yahoooooo: I say!!!!!

Always wanted a Sidewinder n' now I have one!!!!

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

The only problem with collecting old motors and parts, is that you never want to get rid of any of it. My home workshop is beginning to resemble an OMC repair shop from the fifties, sixties and seventies. All I need is an old Johnson/Evinrude sign hanging on the front of it.

I'm currently working on the sprucing up of an old Thunderbird cathedral hull (think "Flipper") with a cuddy cabin, but have half a mind to find an old Thompson lapstrake that I can hang my two, unused '58 Bigtwins on - that would be a sweet rig!



???

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

JBJ,
Yes, I did a light honing on the blocks for both. Neither engine ended up with its original block. The '58 because several head bolts snapped in the block and the '60 because the bronze babbit at the center main was a bit marfed up due to (I'm guessing) the mistaken belief that these old motors can handle 50:1. I had better blocks onhand for both so I used them instead.
As for the rods I, I had a matched set from a '55 that had good crank-end bearing races but the wrist pin ends were hogged out (also common when people lean out the oil). I used a jig to press the bronze babbit bearings out of the rusty '58 rods and into the '55 rods. Worked like a charm!

 

[jasper60103]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

It feels good to go out in garage and tinker a bit. I pulled the lower unit off my motor last night and discovered the impeller was shot. All the fins had cracks. The pee stream appeared to be good and strong, but a disaster was waiting to happen. I'm glad I listened to the folks on this forum. I ordered a new water pump kit and she will be good to go in the Spring.

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

JBJ, I'll get some updated pix of the Texas Maid up later this week...raining now with a chance of snow/ice today so I need some sunshine to roll it out of the garage and get a decent snap or two. Looks good though, I managed to move the gas tank forward with longer fuel lines and do a driveway test (passed) before I had to stow it away for fall/winter.
I need a bigger shop or more crossboards put up between the studs to hang motors on, floor space is getting crowded and my shop supervisor, a 14+ year-old choc lab, insists on room for his bed. I almost hauled the upper half of a 59 Johnson Big Twin 35 hp to the recycler last weekend...hauled it out by the gate and left it there...then the packrat in me regained control and I brought it back in the shop later on...guess I'm not done with it yet. Those Sportwins look sweet, they'll probably both run as good as they look...would make a nice pair on the right transom.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

gotta love fooling around in the garage with old motors!had to clean up some in the shop and sent a bunch of old merc parts to the garbage dump,even though they were totally usless to me or anybody else i still had a hard time doing it.i got one of those little white 1959 johnny 2 cylinders to fool around with this winter(4hp or so),everybody else runs or will never run(parts).

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

I almost hauled the upper half of a 59 Johnson Big Twin 35 hp to the recycler last weekend...hauled it out by the gate and left it there...then the packrat in me regained control and I brought it back in the shop later on...guess I'm not done with it yet.

LOL! Definately a sign of a true, old outboard motor junkie!

"My name is tmcalavy and I'm an addict ..... "



???

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

Yep, that's me...the shop supervisor was not pleased. It had been encroaching on his bed space but moving some stuff around solved that. If another one follows me home though, I'll be outta floor space.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

I know the feeling. The Sportwins were the latest in this year's acquisitions. I picked up a CHERRY '56 Johnson 5.5 this Spring and a serviceable '57 Evinrude Fleetwin 7.5 late last winter. The Johnson had a rod tossed but fortunately it didn't ventilate the crankcase, so it got rebuilt and spent a good portion of the summer on the 12-foot Duranautic. The Fleetwin had a busted up gearcase - ran extensively with water as the sole lubricant. I put another lower unit (actually came as a spare with the Johnson 5.5) on it and replaced the cylinder head (one cowling support ear was busted off) and it spent the latter part of the summer as the primary motor on the 12-footer...

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

Whatever happened to this place it is now sure full of addicts and junkies, that Chinewalker has always been a bad influence, now i see that Murky has now joined the fold.... Darnit!

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

I make no bones about my being a bad influence. ;-)

There is no known cure for this disease. Fortunately there is a good support group called the Antique Outboard Motor Club (aomci.org) and there are usually 12-step group meetings within easy driving distance once a month (or more). Step one, mix up a fresh batch of gasoline with plenty of oil... etc.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: The pleasures of tinkering...

I make no bones about my being a bad influence. ;-)

There is no known cure for this disease..

I still remember the pic that you posted some years ago, there were all sorts of old outboards, even up on on the walls. That is some serious addiction, and i know you ain't kiddin'.