Ted Willms Sears 7 hp NOT Eska HELP!

[knucklehead77]

I've just purchased my FIRST boat motor, an old ted williams 7hp (not 7.5). From a link I found in this forum, I typed in the model no. (217-59440) on the Sears web site and found out it was made by Craftsman.

Here's what I could really use some help with, as I know next to nothing about small engines, boat motors, etc. :

1.) My gas tank that's built into the motor is corroded on the inside, so I'd like to bypass it entirely and just run a fuel line to an external tank instead. Unfortunately, I don't have the hose/tube, nor the connection piece that goes on the end of the tube and attaches to the motor.
I do have a gas tank my neighbor gave me, but no way to connect it with the motor.
What do I need to buy to connect the external tank with the motor? And is it something I can buy from Wal-Mart or local marine shop?

2.) Of the nine billion posts on here about ted williams, most are about Eska's. According to Sears, mine's a Craftsman. Plus, I can't find hardly any plain 7 hp Sears motors; they all seem to be for 7.5 hp... Is there any major difference I should know about, or generally can advice about oil mixes, and strokes and cooling and whatnot, apply to both the Eska version and the Craftsman?
THanks a bunch.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Ted Willms Sears 7 hp NOT Eska HELP!

Well, your outboard from Sears is made by Eska. Craftsman is a trade name used by Sears. Craftsman doesn't actually make anything.

Your outboard is a 1971 model has an engine made by Tecumseh, as do almost all Eska-based engines.

As for your question, if this outboard does not have a connector for an external tank, then it probably doesn't have the fuel pump bladder in the carburetor, which will make it a bit tricky to install an external tank.

If it does have a connector for an external tank, then all you need to do is get a tank, bulb, and hose with the correct fitting.

Look on the front of the outboard for a fuel connector.

Most of the info for the 7.5 Sears outboard applies to yours, as well. Fuel mix is a good question. I'd use 24:1, for safety's sake, using chainsaw type oil with the gasoline.

Parts are available at certifiedpartscorp.com, at least some of them. The website doesn't list individual parts, so you have to call them and ask about what you need. Have your Sears model number available, along with the number from the rectangular tag on your engine, if it's still there.

 

[steelespike]

Re: Ted Willms Sears 7 hp NOT Eska HELP!

Fuel mix is 24:1 ,as suspected.You should work with a ser.manual.you may find one at the library.I believe the fuel pump bladder is in a hole in the carb mounting flange.These are weak and prone to fail.Most likely if you intend to do a remote tank you will need to change the bladder(diaphram).

 

[knucklehead77]

Re: Ted Willms Sears 7 hp NOT Eska HELP!

I sure do appreciate the help. I found out more about my motor from your answers than I did by googling hours on end...
To follow up: My motor DOES have a connector for an external tank. I also have an external tank that my neighbor donated (he thinks its a mercury tank.)
What I'm MISSING is the hose which connects my motor to the gas tank (and whatever the name is of the piece that normally comes with the hose and attaches to the motor; from your post i'm guessing it's called the "fitting".)

Anyway, I went by the marina today and saw exactly what I'm missing; they come in bags with the hose and clamps all together (altho obviously not for my motor). I asked a salesman if there was any way to possibly ghetto rig one meant for another motor (but with a matching fitting for the gas tank side).

He said I could probably forego the "fitting" that attaches the hose to the motor, and instead just clamp the hose straight to the motor. When I got home, I checked my motor, and where it indicates you would attach the external fuel line, theres what looks kinda like a valve like you have on a bike tire, only with a little tiny ball inside. When i pushed on the ball with my finger, a little fuel trickled out.
So if u can somehow comprehend my post: do you think it's possible that I could get a hose that has the right fitting for my gas tank, and on the other end of the hose I could just remove the fitting and clamp the hose directly to the motor?
I'm just wondering, b/c by the time I start special ordering parts, I'll end up spending more than I did to buy the dumb thing in the first place!
THanks again for the help.

 

[F_R]

Re: Ted Willms Sears 7 hp NOT Eska HELP!

Sounds like a good plan to me.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Ted Willms Sears 7 hp NOT Eska HELP!

Does the fitting on your engine look like this one?

If so, that's a standard Chrysler fuel line fitting, as used on most Sears motors. You need a female Chrysler fitting on the end of your fuel line to mate with this.

If it doesn't look like that one, then you have the older Eska fuel pump fitting, and no connectors are available, as far as I know.