New to iboats hello..

[powers55]

Hello to all, just trying to find a good site to share knowledge and maybe (just maybe) learn a thing or two.
I recently purchased a vintage 1968 Evinrude Big twin 40 hp outboard for my 15 foot StarCraft Nova. It was stored inside for over 20 plus years, and is in excellent shape. The previous owner did the points and condenser, it has close to 127 lbs. of compression, and very strong spark, and starts right up.

I've heard many great things about these engines, are they truly bullet proof ( if taken care of?)
thanks Chris

 

[dwco5051]

I've heard many great things about these engines, are they truly bullet proof ( if taken care of?)
thanks Chris

Pretty much so. Find an old factory service manual on the internet. Easy to work on and parts are available and not that expensive. A little thirsty on gas but if you life cycle the cost of a new one against it you will still be way ahead. Anyone with average mechanical skills can fix them which is good because most shops don't work on old motors so it is mostly a DIY project. Thirty bucks will buy a new set of ignition coils. Shop repair of ignition problems on today's motors can easily run up to a grand. That will buy a lot of fuel.

 

[jimmbo]

First thing you Must do before running it, is to drop the Lower Unit and replace the Water Pump Impeller

 

[powers55]

Pretty much so. Find an old factory service manual on the internet. Easy to work on and parts are available and not that expensive. A little thirsty on gas but if you life cycle the cost of a new one against it you will still be way ahead. Anyone with average mechanical skills can fix them which is good because most shops don't work on old motors so it is mostly a DIY project. Thirty bucks will buy a new set of ignition coils. Shop repair of ignition problems on today's motors can easily run up to a grand.

Pretty much so. Find an old factory service manual on the internet. Easy to work on and parts are available and not that expensive. A little thirsty on gas but if you life cycle the cost of a new one against it you will still be way ahead. Anyone with average mechanical skills can fix them which is good because most shops don't work on old motors so it is mostly a DIY project. Thirty bucks will buy a new set of ignition coils. Shop repair of ignition problems on today's motors can easily run up to a grand. That will buy a lot of fuel.

They built real engines back in the day, this engine was built when i was three years old, and is still around 54 years later, and that to me means a lot! it also brings back fond memories of when my father took us out on the water, and how much fun we all had. There's just to much emissions junk and technology on these engines of today, be lucky if they even last 5 to 7 years i tell ya

 

[powers55]

First thing you Must do before running it, is to drop the Lower Unit and replace the Water Pump Impeller

View attachment 367374

Great advise, thank you! I'm pretty mechanically inclined I've been a GM guy since i started driving back in 79 and I'm 57 now, is this task that difficult? I only ask because i haven't worked on hardly any marine engines at all. i was also thinking of rebuilding the carburetor as well, i spoke to a gentlemen from MarineEngines.com here in Vermont there based out of Brandon VT i think, and he told me just to stay away from the China rebuild kits and other parts from them for that matter, and go with TRUE OEM parts when servicing this unit. also i did order a service manual for this engine i have as well as a parts manual to.

 

[jimmbo]

Once you rebuild and reinstall the Carb, you have to make sure the Synchronization between the Timing Advance and Carb are correct. These are from a 50 yr old 3rd party Service Manual, one of the better 3rd party manuals

 

[ski2rule]

Great advise, thank you! I'm pretty mechanically inclined I've been a GM guy since i started driving back in 79 and I'm 57 now, is this task that difficult? I only ask because i haven't worked on hardly any marine engines at all. i was also thinking of rebuilding the carburetor as well, i spoke to a gentlemen from MarineEngines.com here in Vermont there based out of Brandon VT i think, and he told me just to stay away from the China rebuild kits and other parts from them for that matter, and go with TRUE OEM parts when servicing this unit. also i did order a service manual for this engine i have as well as a parts manual to.

Not hard to do the impeller, make sure you have the shift linkage in the same position when reconnecting, water tubes line up, and don't lose the key on the shaft.

 

[airshot]

Those were good motors, as a kid I remember skiing behind one on my Das old 16' Lyman, in fact it pulled two of us without a problem. Today they claim you need at least a 75 hp to get a skier up....not built like they used to be....

 

[powers55]

Not hard to do the impeller, make sure you have the shift linkage in the same position when reconnecting, water tubes line up, and don't lose the key on the shaft.

I did just receive the correct shop manual, so i will be doing the impeller as well, i was lucky to find such an engine like this in the condition for short money. I beet 4 other folks to the sale, almost a 400 mile round trip but worth it.

 

[powers55]

Those were good motors, as a kid I remember skiing behind one on my Das old 16' Lyman, in fact it pulled two of us without a problem. Today they claim you need at least a 75 hp to get a skier up....not built like they used to be....

Agreed!! I'm 57 years old, and that engine was built when i was 3 years old, in my opinion, any engine that that runs 53 years later (if taken care of) certainly was not built from cheap engineering or cheap parts such as the junk being made today!!

 

[JimS123]

Agreed!! I'm 57 years old, and that engine was built when i was 3 years old, in my opinion, any engine that that runs 53 years later (if taken care of) certainly was not built from cheap engineering or cheap parts such as the junk being made today!!

I'm 72 and the Evinrude Big Twin on my Lyman was built when I was only 3 years old as well.

My first OB was a '68 40 hp Lark. Similar to yours but with electric shifting.

 

[powers55]

I'm 72 and the Evinrude Big Twin on my Lyman was built when I was only 3 years old as well.

My first OB was a '68 40 hp Lark. Similar to yours but with electric shifting.

basically the same engine? right.. just electric shift? I'm going to post some pictures of mine, and you'd think it came right off the showroom floor.. and the guy who sold it to me, has almost 50 years in the marine engine business, and he seems to think that it has no more then 100 hours on it. How he would know this i don't know this? anyway to tell?