Thor Built Sea Kings

[Buccaneer]

I thought my 2.4 hp Thor built Sea King was a 1937, but after
discovering my uncle had a 2.4 hp Thor built Sea King as well,
and in looking up his serial number, came to the conclusion
that ours our both 1939 models.
Both our serial numbers start with WK, uncles being
WK 9XXX, mine
WK 10XXX.

They both have the Thor "poppet valve" mixers / carbs. on them.

The story goes that Kiekahfer bought out the Cedarburg
Thor building and ending up "re-working" 500 Thor Sea Kings
that Wards sent back to the factory. I believe I read the
re-working consisted of replacing the poppet valve carb
with a conventional "float type" carb.
Does anyone have a photo of one of these 500 reworked Sea Kings?

I seen a YouTube video of a purported to be, 1940, 2.8 hp Kiekahfer built Sea King,
with perhaps a more conventional carb, but it was centered
in the front of the power head, not off to the side as my 1939,
therefore, not one of the re-worked Thors, unless the crankcase
was drastically changed.

Not able to find out much about Thorwald Hansen and son Royal.
What did they end up doing after going bankrupt?

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[fifty20ne]

Hi Buccaneer,

I believe the number of returned (rejected) Sea King outboards left in the factory was 384
Per "Legends Of Mercury" and "Iron Fist"
I believe this attached picture is of 32 year old Elmer "Carl" Kiekhaefer in the factory getting the reworked Sea Kings ready for shipment back
to Montgomery Wards in Chicago.

Walter R Chute (New York Chapter) has written many excellent articles on early Thors for AO magazine!!

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[jeff-register]

Carl,
Was into magnetics, pigs & livestock, back then, E-clutches related. DO NOT forget how he made better mags 2 😀

[Buccaneer]

Thanks for the photo, information and comments.
In looking at the carb in the fuzzy photo, I can’t
tell that it’s any different than the original Thor poppet valve version.
Will see if I can locate any of Walter R. Chute’s writings.
Thanks!

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[dockbuster1]

I do believe the K Sea Kings had a one piece crankshaft unlike the five piece crank and a dashpot carb like the older ones but with a tickler to unseat the valve which the older ones did not have My 1935 Thor barley runs and starts and the 1939 Sea King is a delite to start and run by comparison
https://youtu.be/Fiqku68yX3U This is a video of the 1935 thor

[Buccaneer]

Thanks for the video. Thorwald Hansen would be proud to see it still running!
I looked in the Antique Outboarder archives, and did not see any
articles on Thor written by Walter R. Chute. Was a good article
on a twin Thor though.

quote Callie30R:

I do believe the K Sea Kings had a one piece crankshaft unlike the five piece crank and a dashpot carb like the older ones but with a tickler to unseat the valve which the older ones did not have My 1935 Thor barley runs and starts and the 1939 Sea King is a delite to start and run by comparison
https://youtu.be/Fiqku68yX3U This is a video of the 1935 thor

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[joesnuffy]

Neat info and history.

Joe

[fifty20ne]

Attached is a great video showing the Thor VRs Sea King Motor

About 16:30 into video watch!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEyE9iD … welXxt_4KT

[Buccaneer]

Fifty20One, Thanks for the video link.
Looks like my 39 Sea King 2.4 hp was
one "tweaked" by Carl as mine has the
so named "tickler" on the carb to lift the
poppet valve off the seat.
The Thor compared in the video must be ealier
than the 39 Sea King shown, as there lots of
differences in the exhaust to cylinder mounting,
water pump, etc.
Regarding the Thor, is a "five piece" crankshaft
welded together? Are normal crankshafts
really a one piece forging? Guess I need to pay
more attention!

I got the cylinder back on mine today, and now
that it actually has piston rings, it has compression!
Not sure how much yet as I thought I better let
my gasket cement cure a day.

Anyone know what the correct 18 mm spark plug for these models?
Thanks!

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