By the time visiting family had left today it was too late to jump on the boat, so I dug the genny out of the shed and had another go with it. Last week I put fresh petrol in it, but that doesn't mean the stuff in the carb float bowl is any good, so I bled the float bowl to get rid of the crappy fuel.
Then I gave a few tugs on the starter cord and it started second pull! It wheezed into life for a few seconds and then died. A couple more tugs on the starter and it started and stayed running, first with a huge cloud of blue smoke from the exhaust, which quickly cleared as it warmed up. After 10 mins on half choke I knocked the choke off and it still ran.
So a result there.
I dragged the sorry Seagull out and my concerns about the timing being out seemed to be confirmed. The locking screw on the stator plate is supposed to lock into a dimple on the crankshaft housing. But on unscrewing the non-standard screw fitted it doesn't seem to be long enough to lock the stator plate. As I turned the stator plate with a screwdriver down the screw hole trying to find the dimple, a quantity of old araldite came out from between the plate and the crank housing. It seems that's what was holding the plate in place.
So it's been bodged by previous owners then. I guess the fact I couldn't find the dimple is because its filled with araldite. So it may need the flywheel taking off and a clean and reassemble. Some Googling to do over the next few weeks then....
And buy a new locking screw.
No rhyme or reason to mechanicals... :o)
ReplyDeleteI've learned over the years from riding motorbikes to cosset anything mechanical and petrol-powered that gets left for any amount of time. So the genny and the outboard didn't need too much to get them started, but the Seagull is another thing entirely. Totally bodged, non-standard screws all over. But I'm determined to get it running as a spare outboard.
ReplyDeleteGood result! I had one seagull which hadn't run for 6 years cleaned the plugs, set the gaps and it went Ok. I've got another old seagull here also which belonged to my dad which is missing the holding brackets to attach it to a transom. Once I get some of these I will try and get it running too. To think years ago that people thought that 4hp was fine for moving a 26ft boat.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Good on you for keeping the Seagulls alive. Yep, engines didn't have the power output years ago, so 4hp was pretty common even for big boats. I think they just used the tides more then, plus the engines were linked to larger, slower revving propellers.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with getting the head off the shaft as it looks like an interference fit. It will be interesting to see how you solve this problem, as its diameter is quite large so you would need a crank puller with fairly large jaws.
ReplyDeleteMichael
Hey friends! I need some information regarding Honda eu3000is inverter generator. Actually I need a new generator for my home. One of my friends suggested Honda eu3000is. So I am very keen to know about its features. Can anyone provide?
ReplyDeleteSorry I don't know anything about the Honda generators other than they are usually very good quality and quiet. Unfortunately they're beyond the price range of a Skint Sailor like me and I doubt anyone that reads this blog has the finances to buy one either. Maybe one of the yachting forums like YBW will have someone with experience of that generator.
ReplyDelete