1968 Larson All American

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

I just ran across this thread and read it cover to cover. That is the exact boat I grew up with and loved it. Great handling boat, I must have put several thousand miles on it before my dad decided he wanted a bow rider. I never forgave him for selling it. Thanks for the memory flashback! I'm sure you will have many enjoyable days on the water with that old girl.

Thanks, i'm glad i found this one, it really does handle well and ride is very smooth, it suits my needs, think i will keep her

 

[Wakko]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Just read this thread cover to cover...good stuff with lots of good pics. Anything new over the summer?

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

finally got to go boating with my dad, he had a stroke a couple years back, and had some trouble getting in and out, but it was nice, last time we boated together was on his boat over 20 years ago

 

[Wakko]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

And that's what it's all about, my friend.

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

What size prop are you running and is that boat that heavy? My motor runs 40mph GPS on my heavy little boat. I have a 17-p 3-blade Turbo prop turning 5,000rpm. These little Evinrudes are very stout little motors. I figure you should be running 35-40 pretty easy. Just thought I'd share. Glad to see your restoration work is paying off!

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

What size prop are you running and is that boat that heavy? My motor runs 40mph GPS on my heavy little boat. I have a 17-p 3-blade Turbo prop turning 5,000rpm. These little Evinrudes are very stout little motors. I figure you should be running 35-40 pretty easy. Just thought I'd share. Glad to see your restoration work is paying off!

I have a 19, I want a 17 but the wife wont let me spend as she is happy with our performance, I only get 4500 at wot, but normally cruze at 3000, I think the deep v and laplines slow me down, also is an 18' boat, and heavy for its size

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Oh it's 18ft! That has a lot to do with it as it is the weight.

Here's a reason you should turn at least 5,000 rpm. It says so in the manual. Anything below 5,000 is lugging the motor and causing it to build up carbon and not burn it off which causes sticky piston rings. NOT GOOD. I'd get a 15 or 17 just to get RPM up. I won't help you go faster but your hole-shot/torque would be better (not that you need or care if it is) but the best part is, it gets the RPM range where it should be. The manual recommends no more than 5,500rpm but 5,000 min. to get 85hp and to get enough burn from the engine to burn off the carbon.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

I have been out pacing around the boat, hav'nt been on the water since Octoberout: early January I pulled the lower unit off the 15 hp and ordered the impeller, last weekend I installed the new impeller, then pulled the lower unit 85 hp, changed that impeller too, then reinstalled both lower units, and changed the oil in both. the oil in the 85 looked like honey, the oil in the 15 looked like coal:facepalm:. also topped off both batteries. been snowing a bunch, keep sweeping off my tarp so it don't cave in. ran both motors back in December in a tub, that's when I discovered the 15 was not peeing. its been too cold since to test them:grumpy: I'm so sick of it, I want to move south, but the house isn't worth whats owed so cant sell it. need to talk the admiral into renting it out to make the payments and get another where its warm

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

I live in NW Arkansas. It's not much warmer or less snow here. I so know the feeling about cabin fever. I almost ventured out yesterday but with 20-30% of a 34,000 acre lake, it was too dangerous to try it.


Was the lower unit difficult to remove/reinstall? I was told the lower unit could be a bit tricky to re-align and reinstall on the Evinrude V4.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Was the lower unit difficult to remove/reinstall? I was told the lower unit could be a bit tricky to re-align and reinstall on the Evinrude V4.

removal was pretty easy, install was hard to get the shift linkage to line up right and the inner exhaust housing and rubber seals keep wanting to mess up, but persistence will get it in, I had to put it in gear so turning the prop would get the splines to align, so it would slide together the last bit

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

I guess you didn't take photos or write up a how to did you? Hahaha

I don't know how brave I am to try and do it myself. I've already done so much on my own. I was going to take it to my mechanic and have him show me how to change it, then we would go fishing and have some fun.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

I guess you didn't take photos or write up a how to did you? Hahaha

I don't know how brave I am to try and do it myself. I've already done so much on my own. I was going to take it to my mechanic and have him show me how to change it, then we would go fishing and have some fun.

I didn't take any pics but watched some videos on youtube, but most of those skip the part where they jiggle this and that to get it together, they just cut to the end

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Yep, seen a few of those vids myself. That's why I figured I would have my mechanic show me! LOL

How often do you need a tune-up again? Once a year or once every other year? I might have 50-60hrs on my current impeller and I'm as far away from an overheat as you can get. Opposite really. My motor is running borderline too cold. Never gets above 135-138. EVER! I'm suspecting it's because I'm using Royal Purple synthetic 2-stroke outboard oil. I've been told it runs really cold (used in race cars often).

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

the impeller some say every 3 years, some say every year, so I will every other year, I don't know if it matters how many hours as most rubber parts fail from dryrot:noidea: I still have thermostats to do, but that can wait till its warmer, when I change the spark plugs

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Good luck with the stats. Hard to get too. I've done it twice now. Once to replace, once to re inspect and backcheck to make sure new plugs passed test. You can put them in boiling water and test them. They should open at 140 degrees. I used a laser temp to check temp while boiling.

You will need a little OMC gasket sealant also. I hope you have a variety of tools. Getting the cover bolts on and off is a slow go. I tried to remove lower cowelling but I don't think you can on that model.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

I been spraying the bolts with pb blaster in anticipationositive:, hopefully they will come right outray2:

 

[CaneCutter79]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Should. My problem wasn't that. It was getting a wrench or socket on the bolts. Tight fit.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: 1968 Larson All American

Should. My problem wasn't that. It was getting a wrench or socket on the bolts. Tight fit.

I was thinking a rocker socket or ratchet wrench

 

[coolbri70]

:noidea:can't go to other pages and my pics are all gone

 

[coolbri70]

:blue: my transom has failed, somehow water got to it, the motor is pushing in and I noticed small cracks started at the bottom corners of the lower mount:mad-new:. I will have to dig it out, think I will go with seacast this time. just need to save up some money:facepalm: