Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1946 Evinrude Zephyrs
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January 25, 2025 at 10:34 am #293651
I was doing some research on Evinrude Zephyrs, as I about to receive one. From what I have seen, the weedless/angled drive zephyrs do not have a separate pipe for the exhaust, letting them be rotated 180 degrees to enter reverse like many direct drive outboards. I am getting one with a standard 90 degree gearbox and a separate pipe for the exhaust. Am I correct that the additional pipe will prohibit the motor from rotating 180 degrees, therefore prohibiting going in reverse? Are there any important thing I should know about a 1946 Zephyr?
January 25, 2025 at 5:42 pm #293656Ed I will try to tell you what I know about these 4 banger rudes. Post war models are usually 4404 model number. I have two of them. By serial number one is a 1946 the other is a 1948. At first glance they look the same but on close inspection the transom clamps are different the fuel tanks are different the water tubes are different the tilt pin is different. One has a twist grip the other does not. I think OMC was getting rid of old parts. The weedless lower unit and it’s ability to spin 180 degrees is only on the 1949 model. They can be good runners but they can be temperamental too! I will try to post a picture in another post.
dale
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January 25, 2025 at 5:58 pm #293657Thanks for the info so far! I have heard that the 1949 is the only model year to have a rubber impeller. Is this correct, and what do the other years have for a water pump?
January 25, 2025 at 6:44 pm #293659Ed I don’t know about the ’49s but the earlier two I have, have a two impeller aluminum deal. My motors could be a mix and match. Meaning they were the same for so many years that parts might have gotten mixed up. When they run they are quiet and smooth. Very important to keep the fuel clean! This picture shows the difference in the transom clamps and the twist grip. One gas tank is tin the other is cast aluminum.
good luck with yours
dale
January 25, 2025 at 7:45 pm #293663Thanks, I’m definitely going to need that luck. It’s 2 1946 zephyrs, one has a good gear case and carb but a locked up piston or 4. The other one has a good powerhead, but bad carb and has something wrong with the drive shaft. There’s also a box of parts that don’t go to these 2, but they are zephyr parts. Between the 2 I can hopefully get something good.
Edwin
January 25, 2025 at 10:41 pm #293665Just a wood of caution relative to fuel system and ignition. These motors have a unique and rather complicated fuel/ carburetor system. The four cylinder ignition and associated spark plug wires and spark plug terminals are all neatly packed within the front shroud ALONG with that fuel system. Ensure that both fuel and high voltage systems are intact. NO leaks of either fuel or spark allowed under that shroud. Combustion outside of the cylinders is not a good thing.
These are fun motors. If this is your first venture in the old outboard world just proceed slowly, seek advice when needed.
Keep us informed of your progress.
Joe B
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January 27, 2025 at 7:14 am #293699Everyone,
Edwin is my grandson, and age 14 I bought him a Jr. Membership. He’s really gotten the bug and has done a Mighty Mite that had a broken carb flange….It now runs great.. The 2 Zephyrs will certainly be a challenge for him, so any advice is well appreciated as those motors are way newer than what I tinker with. He has a Johnson 3 I picked up that we went through and he ran it for 8 miles!
This is what the club is about, —members helping member!
George Emmanuel
Treasurer
January 27, 2025 at 8:53 am #293701Everyone,
Edwin is my grandson, and age 14 I bought him a Jr. Membership. He’s really gotten the bug and has done a Mighty Mite that had a broken carb flange….It now runs great.. The 2 Zephyrs will certainly be a challenge for him, so any advice is well appreciated as those motors are way newer than what I tinker with. He has a Johnson 3 I picked up that we went through and he ran it for 8 miles!
This is what the club is about, —members helping member!
George Emmanuel
Treasurer
George that is really good to know! Your grand son there has a challenge for sure! Those carburetors on those Zephyrs are something crazy. Be sure to heed JB warning about fires. I will suggest to find some shorty spark plugs maybe J17LM champions or an equivalent. Also some spark plug hoods for the plug wire ends. The plugs and wires are to close to the front cover. Don’t want no sparks in that area!
thanks for doing what you do!
dale
January 27, 2025 at 9:50 am #293702When it comes time for carburetor disassembly, there is a separate manual just for the carburetor. From what I have seen it’s much more complicated than your average carb. Hopefully, someone can post that service manual here.
January 27, 2025 at 10:39 am #293703 -
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