British seagull queries
Discussion
Good afternoon chaps, could I ask some advice.
Me and my boy are spending a bit of time on an old seagull engine we have. No idea when it stopped working or if it ever will again.
My question (of many!).
We have removed the flywheel but the engine shaft is stuck fast. I assume this should move freely?
Me and my boy are spending a bit of time on an old seagull engine we have. No idea when it stopped working or if it ever will again.
My question (of many!).
We have removed the flywheel but the engine shaft is stuck fast. I assume this should move freely?
Everything you will ever need to know!
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/
If the shaft won't rotate the piston may be seized in the bore.
Was it free the last time it was used?
Be worth removing the spark plug & using a penetrating fluid in the bore (not WD40) to give it a good soak & seeif it frees off.
http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/
If the shaft won't rotate the piston may be seized in the bore.
Was it free the last time it was used?
Be worth removing the spark plug & using a penetrating fluid in the bore (not WD40) to give it a good soak & seeif it frees off.
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 8th April 14:52
Thanks for the replies. We found the outboard in an outbuilding of my sisters new house so don’t know anything about it really. From the look of it I would say it has not worked for a long time.
It’s a bit of fun for me and the boy in the back garden. Will try some penetrating oil and do abit of reading. Cheers
It’s a bit of fun for me and the boy in the back garden. Will try some penetrating oil and do abit of reading. Cheers
Eric Mc said:
From what I recall, it has a two stroke engine.
It is.Worth carrying a spare plug & wrench as they did occasionally whisker the plug. I always took the view the reason for the spare plug was in case you dropped one into the oggin when changing it!
Quite a few 'how to's' on youtube as well - incl the correct way of removing the flywheel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahfY2POTOfQ
Edited by paintman on Wednesday 8th April 16:35
Bear in mind a lot of these were 'pull & go' as in no gear selection for neutral so the prop will turn when you pull the starter cord AND will continue to turn when the engine fires.
If you aren't aware of this you could find yourself exiting out of the rear of the boat as it moves under you. (The Johnson I had in the early 70's was the same)
As you're working on this in the garden be sure there are no fingers etc in the prop area when turning it over
To reverse you turn the engine round.
If you aren't aware of this you could find yourself exiting out of the rear of the boat as it moves under you. (The Johnson I had in the early 70's was the same)
As you're working on this in the garden be sure there are no fingers etc in the prop area when turning it over
To reverse you turn the engine round.
Itsallicanafford said:
^ thanks for the info. We will be careful but I think in reality there is a very low chance of us getting it going again. It really is simple old thing, maybe just the thing to take apart and show the boy how an engine works...
Edd China might be looking for work... can't be that hard!Itsallicanafford said:
^ thanks for the info. We will be careful but I think in reality there is a very low chance of us getting it going again. It really is simple old thing, maybe just the thing to take apart and show the boy how an engine works...
They are. 2-stroke so no valves, don't use a rubber impeller like 'modern' outboards & the propshaft to mainshaft gears are lubricated by a mix of EP & the water that leaks into the gear housing.
Follow the warning about the starter rope thickness in the link if you do get it freed off & a spark.
Most of the small boats in the harbour where I've been going for years were Seagull powered in the early 70s & apart from the plug fouling issue were pretty much bombproof.
paintman said:
Bear in mind a lot of these were 'pull & go' as in no gear selection for neutral so the prop will turn when you pull the starter cord AND will continue to turn when the engine fires.
If you aren't aware of this you could find yourself exiting out of the rear of the boat as it moves under you. (The Johnson I had in the early 70's was the same)
As you're working on this in the garden be sure there are no fingers etc in the prop area when turning it over
To reverse you turn the engine round.
Bit too late for me that reminder....If you aren't aware of this you could find yourself exiting out of the rear of the boat as it moves under you. (The Johnson I had in the early 70's was the same)
As you're working on this in the garden be sure there are no fingers etc in the prop area when turning it over
To reverse you turn the engine round.
Years ago we found one of these motors in a mates lockup, I had a 2 man blow up dinghy so the two of us carted the lot down to the river, tied the engine to the back with the rope, in a triangle pattern to the oar attachments (rowlocks?). We used our hands to paddle to water deep enough to clear the prop, then pulled the starter. Engine was a b
h to start so we were on choke and full throttle and when it caught immediately the prop went mad, it pushed itself right under the dinghy and chewed up through the bottom. We shat ourselves & dived clear as the prop ate the floor, luckily after a few seconds it swallowed enough water to hydrolock, then it all sank and we swam back to the shore empty handed but luckily with all ten toes.
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