Antique/Classic Motor Mechanic Needed West Bend, Wisconsin

[CokeFloat]

Hi everyone! About to pull the trigger on buying a 1958 Johnson SeaHorse 35hp outboard that is coming with a classic duracraft I am buying.

The motor has been rebuilt, but has been sitting for 3 years in a garage. I was informed by the seller that the carburetor would need to be rebuilt due to sitting (plus the tank flushed and fuel line replaced of course).

I am no mechanic, and was searching for antique/classic outboard motor mechanics who could do the work and repairs as needed near Big Cedar Lake and West Bend, Wisconsin. I have spoken to the local marinas including where I plan to store the boat, and they will winterize it and prep for use in spring, but will not do repairs or major work on antique motors.

This seems to be the place where people are in the know, and hoping to find someone local to work with.

Any leads will be greatly appreciated. If we do purchase, I am going to join the club as well. This is a GREAT forum.
Tom

• This topic was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by CokeFloat. Reason: add image of model motor to post
• This topic was modified 3 years, 4 months ago by CokeFloat.

[opposedtwin]

Those carbs are super easy. Few of us are mechanics on this site. We’re just hobbyists who like wrenching on and learning from these wonderful old mechanical beauties. With a little sweat equity and guidance from members here, you can do it. Don’t be scared, jump in!!

Parts for a carb overhaul are available and not expensive. Try dan gano in our links. He also gives good, free tech advice.

Scott

[Fred Hickman]

Well now, the carb may, or may not need a cleaning, or rebuild. That remains to be seen. Try fresh gasoline/oil and pump it thru’ the hose by squeezing the primer bulb and depressing the fuel side pin on the connector. Eight or ten pumps will shoot the old fuel OUT and refill the hose with the NEW. Catch the old fuel in a pan, or bucket, or something. Drop the motor into a barrel filled with water, connect the fuel line, tighten the fuel cap and pump up the primer bulb till it feels hard to squeeze. Now pull the choke, grab the starter handle and give her the devil. ( Put her into neutral and twist the handgrip a tad to the left. If she fires up, let her run in the barrel for a while. (In the picture, that 35 looks very, very nice). Let’s pretend that things go well with the motor and you end up buying it. For gasoline, find an airport, or race track. If an airport, fill your fuel can with 100 LL aircraft fuel. (100 LL is 100 Octane gasoline that has had a low amount of lead added). It is opaque blue in color and smells different than the ethynol gasoline trash that we buy at the pump. OR, you can go to your area race track and buy 93 Octane gasoline with NO ETHYNOL !! Of course, you mix both types of gasoline with quality two-stroke marine oil. 50:1 ratio. ETHYNOL is the bane of ALL carburetors. It is cancer to carbureted gasoline engines both two and four-stroke. When ETHYNOL sits dormant in a carb, fuel system, fuel tank, over a period of time, it clogs, gags, starves, and generally wreaks havoc inside of gasoline engines.

Now about the AOMC, Inc ……….. This Club offers just about everything an antique outboard motor enthusiast would be interested in. Becoming a member most definitely has its advantages. The AOMC holds a gaggle of experienced people that know these old motors from top to bottom, inside-out, sideways, and upside down. NOT KIDDING! There are a number of VERY WISE OWLS scattered amongst the membership of the AOM. And then, there are cool things like swap meets, meet & greet meets, Chapter activities, and a whole bunch of what-not. For what it is worth ti you, I highly encourage you to join the organization, …….. immediately, if not sooner. You will NOT regret it. Fred Hickman, Millville, NJ 08332

[fastjohn]

You have a PM.

[CokeFloat]

Hey Fastjohn, was unable to see the PM. Could you email me direct? tom@marquardtplus.com

[CokeFloat]

Thanks Fred. If I pull the trigger on this motor and boat, I will definitely join. I appreciate all the encouragement on here, and the interest and advice. I hope that over time, everyone is also cool with the stupid questions, as I honestly haven’t touched an engine in any way since doing my own tuneups on my 1968 Cutlass S in the early 70s!

[outboardnut]

The guys in here have taught me allot.
I do not think you could beat me in the about of questions I have asked and still ask.

[CokeFloat]

Well guys, I just spoke with a guy who works on classic and newer outboards in Horicon Wisconsin. His name is Russ Teletzke. He said he has a ton of old motors in a pile on his property, and if anyone is interested in old parts, they can contact him. Let me know and I’ll give you his phone number.

He also spoke to me at length about what I wanted out of owning a boat, and they type of motor this one comes with. Knowing I want basically plug n play, he advised I look for a boat with a longer transom that could take a newer, more dependable rebuilt.

So I’m on the hunt again, and will be looking around for a small speedboat to tool around on the lake. For those who are interested, here is the listing of the one I am passing up: http://www.antiqueboatamerica.com/Boat/15_Feet_1961_Duracraft_Aluminum_42063

I am more interested in tooling around the lake than tooling around a motor at this juncture so that’s what I am going to prioritize.

[Author]

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