"57 18 Fastwin Fast & Slow Knob Placement

[1stgenbird]

In setting the fast and slow settings, the instructions are to gently seat each knob then open a certain number of turns. Some instructions say set knobs to a specific number that is on the knobs.
Believing that the knobs have been taken off and on numerous in the last 53 years and may not be installed in the correct settings, what is the correct orientation of the knobs when the the needles are gently seated? If they are gently seated, what should be at the very top of the knob?

I am adding a reference photo of a 1957 Fastwin 18 that is not my actual motor (mine is not quite that good looking).

 

[lindy46]

Re: "57 18 Fastwin Fast & Slow Knob Placement

The numbers on the knobs are just for reference. Take the knobs off, open the top needle (slow speed) about 1.5 turns. Open the bottom needle about 3/4 turn. Then go out on the water and open her up. Adjust bottom needle to optimum performance. Then idle down and adjust the top needle. When it's running best, put the knobs back on in the middle of the range.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: "57 18 Fastwin Fast & Slow Knob Placement

Couldn't have set it better myself lindy Cool old motor you have there. I have one myself. I have it up for sale now, but if no one wants to give me what I'm askin, then I'll strip it and repaint it. It runs awful nice, for the condition it's in. It was stuck, when I brought it home. Once I got it free and spinng good, I got 100 psi in each cylinder. I also found two new coils under the flywheel, so I figured, what the heck, I'll fire it up. Darn thing runs like a clock. What's really funny, is the needles were stuck, in the last positions they were set at and I have to work patiently to free them up.
I let it sit in my shed for 6 months and drug it out last night and it started on the first pull
So, that kinda tells me it's a keeper. I might just strip and repaint it and rebuild the lower unit, call it good.

 

[cc67]

Re: "57 18 Fastwin Fast & Slow Knob Placement

The numbers on the knobs are just for reference. Take the knobs off, open the top needle (slow speed) about 1.5 turns. Open the bottom needle about 3/4 turn. Then go out on the water and open her up. Adjust bottom needle to optimum performance. Then idle down and adjust the top needle. When it's running best, put the knobs back on in the middle of the range.

That's what I do when I want to get a refreshed motor tuned up. Set the needles and go out to lake X, ( my brother -in -law has a 13 acre rectangle lake) and I just run the snot outa it until I get where I want it then I'll take it out on the river. A dose of sea-foam doesn't hurt.