Old Evinrude Lark IV Restoration

[Nucco]

Hey everyone,

I'm new around here and this site seems to have a lot of good people. I have a question about the restoration of an old Evinrude outboard motor.

My buddy recently gave me an old boat of his that he had sitting at his cabin. It came equipped with an Evinrude Lark IV outboard motor. That's all I know about the motor but from what I have read, I suspect it is a 1962 40hp motor.

Now, the thing is that this motor has been sitting in my friends yard for about 13 years. I was told it ran perfectly fine before it was put into extended hibernation. I would really like to get this motor running again as I have heard good things about them.

This is my first boat motor and I am unsure of what maintenance needs to be done especially since its been sitting for so long. What "needs" to be done before I fire this engine up? What advice do you guys have?

I appreciate any answers!

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Old Evinrude Lark IV Restoration

Well, I happen to know that particular motor quite well. I sold my 1962 Lark IV ealier this year, as well as a Lark III. Great motors and very reliable. Tune it up right, and it'll run for years. Before you spend anything on it, it would be good to take a compression test on it, to find out the health of this motor. These old 40's are very forgiving motors and hold up to a lot of abuse, but you want the compression to be as eaven as possible, between the two cylinders. Compression over 100 psi per hole, is favorable.

Okay, now the list of tune up concerns:

1.) Recondition the entire igntion system. If the coils are old and cracked, then they need replaced as well. Remove the mag plate and remove all the parts from it. Clean the mag plate thoroughly and replace ignition components as needed. Coils, wires, spark plugs, points and condensors.

2.) rebuild the carb and fuel pump.

3.) Replace the water pump impeller.

4.) Replace the lower seals, if you find water has got into the lower unit oil.

These four points will give you good piece of mind for years and won't likely have to tackle them again, while you own the motor. Points and condensors, maybe, but the rest should hold up for many years.

 

[Nucco]

Re: Old Evinrude Lark IV Restoration

Thanks so much for the reply!

I have a question about the compression test. Will I have to have the motor in a barrel of water while I perform the test or would that even matter for a few spins of the motor?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: Old Evinrude Lark IV Restoration

Since you're replacing the impeller anyway, it won't hurt a thing. Remove the plugs and ground the wires. Then crank it over about 3 or 4 seconds on each cylinder. Those are good motors, you'll enjoy it when you get it right. If I could add anything to Zephyr's good post, it would be to change the fuel lines as well. There's lots of threads that will show you how to rebuild the ignition, adjust the carb after cleaning, etc. in the "top secret files" thread at the top of this forum. You'd do yourself a favor to read some of them.
JBJ

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: Old Evinrude Lark IV Restoration

Oops. My bad. Yea, I forgot to mention the fuel lines. Thanks JBJ.

You can crank that motor in or out of the water to do a compression test. It's running it out of the water, that scorches the impellers. Like JBJ said, since you're replacing the impeller, it won't matter anyhow.