Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

[ohm116]

A guy has been posting an ad on Craigslist locally for a 15hp Sea King for $50, about 3 times and now he is just looking for offers so I emailed him and asked if he would take $35 for it. Its a Gale by the looks of it so it probably needs new ignition, he says it doesn't run. I well keep you posted, should get my 12ft Sea King going pretty quick

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

I forgot to post a link to the Ad http://salem.craigslist.org/boa/1175788983.html

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Go look at it. If it has compression and isn't froze up it's worth more than $30. Looks like a mid- to late-50's Gale...realiable and easy to work on if it's still in running trim. Check it closely.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

He said he would take $35 for it, I figured it was a mid 50's Gale just due to the style, I well definitely look it over before handing over the money, I might give him $40 as the tank is worth about that much. The good thing is that I was going to pick up some 2x6's anyway today so I well pick up an extra to make a stand for this one as well. I guess if I want to use it on my boat I well have to get a boater education card now too

Here is an interesting question, the boat is OAC rated for a 9.5 hp motor, well I get into trouble if I get inspected with this thing on back, I have my Gale 5D10 but I figure this well do better in the strong river currents on the Willamette river here in Salem.

 

[JB]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

That's a 50% overpower you are talking about. The kind of trouble you need to worry about is not going to come with some inspection, but when your boat starts to come apart in the Willamette.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Its actually a 12 H.P. I figured it probably was. It has great compression and the gear shift works. It only has one small dent in the fuel tank and the inside of the fuel tank is clean. I actually know the guy as an acquaintance from where I work so I gave him $40. It appears to be a 1955 by the information tag. One thing that seems to be wrong with it is the throttle is all mucked up at the right angle gear setup on the side of the engine. The prop also is in fairly descent shape as well. I am probably going to start by popping the flywheel off and checking out the ignition. Here are some photos.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

And some more photos:

One interesting thing is on the fuel line from the remote tank to the fuel pump it has a fitting for a two line fuel system and the single line from the remote tank that came with it was just hose clamped to the that. I am pretty sure it is only supposed to have a single line fuel system so can I just remove the connector and install a single line quick release? Also is there anything I should check with the fuel pump to make sure it is working?

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Well I went and ordered some parts, I am giving Boating solutions a try as they have the coils for $16 instead of $22 and they are more local. I ordered the two coils(18-5181) a tune up kit(18-5006) and an impeller kit(18-3203). The total came to about $70 with shipping so I am into this motor $110 already I think I well try and offset the cost by parting out my 1947 Scott-Atwater 7.5 hp as I can't seem to find parts for it and I don't really have a use for it.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

I went and dug into the motor today, I popped off the flywheel and found the cracked coils, the condensers and points look very new. I also drained the lower unit and all I got out of it was some nice black 90w gear oil so I am happy with that. I also pulled the LU and popped the impeller out and it looks to have been recently changed as well, there was even some water still in there. Probably just needs the new coils. This thing is in great shape. I do think the throttle linkage is broken though, or at least one of the gears for it. Here are some more photos:

Coils

Impeller

End view of impeller showing the lack of wear.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Here is the linkage, you can see that the vertical rod going up to the ignition advance is not being held in place in the gear because it looks like half of the cup that the shaft sockets into is broken off. I well have to try and find another one, can I use one off of an Evenrude?

Here is the fuel connector that I am not sure is correct.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

I found another throttle gear on Ebay.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&item=320328904409

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Yep that thottle cup/base is broke half off. Hope you got that one on Schmebay. You need to size your photos down or the mods will remind you to do it. Nice motor. The fuel connector looks correct for a single line system, requiring a fuel pump on the motor. I think your 55 was a double-line pressure fuel system, using the old pressurized tank, but I'm not sure...I know fuel pumps were offered on Gales before E-rudes/Johnsons offered them but can't remember the year they were offered. If there's no fuel pump on the motor, the previous owner probably tried to run it on a single-line system and failed and then stuck it away out of sight. F_R can tell you whether that model can take a fuel pump if it doesn't have one. I love the fuel cut-off valve jerry-rigged behind the fuel connector...never seen that one before. Wonder if it was put there to hold fuel in the system...pump gas to the motor, shut off the valve, run it until it coughs, open the valve, pump up the bulb...go a little farther.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

I think it was just a shut off , the motor has a fuel pump. I did order the gear off Fleabay. One thing I did notice is that the original paint that is not faded under where the recoil goes is about the same color as my truck, which I have a quart of paint mixed up for When I get it running I might actually paint this one and get a new set of decals for it too. I think I also found a better tank for the 5 hp too.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Good looking motor ohm116!!

I wish I could offer some help in the repair, but it looks like your moving right along. As you know I'm not what you'd call an expert anyway.

Keep those pictures coming!!

BOB

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

That's fine, I have only been doing this for about 7 months now, these other guys are the experts I think the only real problem with this motor well be getting off my butt and getting the Oregon boater education card as it is over the 10 hp limit It's probably better that way as I really don't have a lot of experience with boats aside from going fishing with my Dad when I was younger. That and once I am done its for life Anyway I just need to wait for parts now and I think it should go back together quickly and I can start working on the boat again to put it on

Nathan

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

It's got a fuel pump...good deal. Now you just need to replace the broken gear/cup, replace the coils, clean and regap the points, clean the fuel system and you're good to go. Those 15/18 hp OMC's are sweet little workhorses.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

I am just going to replace the points and condensers as I have new ones coming and these well go into a well marked bag as spares, I'm sure they are good but as I already have the flywheel off anyway I am just going to go ahead and do it.

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Incidentally, how sturdy is that motor stand you built out of 2X6? I want to build a couple (or one longer one) to work on my smaller outboards. I was going to use the plans from the completed projects section, but it seems like overkill for motors from 3.3hp-10hp. If yours is holding your 12hp steady I think it would work for my purposes as well.

BOB

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

Yeah it works pretty good, I have another built out of 2x4's but it is a bit wobbly, it has the 5 hp and the 7.5 hp on it though. This one made of 2x6's is much sturdier. The legs are 36" long and the rest of the bits are 24" long if I remember correctly, the cross pieces between the legs I think are shorter on this one though at about 20". Simple, cheap and effective, only took about 15 minutes to throw this one together.

 

[ohm116]

Re: Looking at a 15 hp Sea King

I got the lower unit back installed yesterday as well as a new set of plugs and I also flipped the trim adjustment block? flipped around the right way, it was in backwards for some reason. I also checked the shear pin after installing the lower unit and I am glad I did, someone at some point thought it was a good idea to replace it with a piece of steel rod I well have to pick up a length of 3/16" brass rod and cut a bunch for it. The new ignition parts as well as spare impeller well be here today and the new throttle gear should be here either today or tomorrow so hopefully by early next week I well have it all back together and running.