35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

[paraord]

Hello all,
I have a 15 ft duratech aluminum with a 1960 Gale 35 HP. The motor will run great, shifts fine, no hiccups or anything. Well at any rate, here is the deal. I took it out today to get it all tuned in and what have you, but at WOT i was only doing 6.8 MPH.

Im 99% sure its not trim. It seems almost like it is running way too rich of a mixture, but right on the cowel it says 24 or 25 to 1. It is getting plenty of fuel. Also when in neutral it seems to rev up ok.

I pulled the plugs and put it in gear to turn the prop to feel for any lower unit binding and there was none.

I have no idea where to go from here. maybe a spun hub? but how would i tell it looks like the entire prop is metal no rubber or anything.


Thanks in advance

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

what rpm are you turning at wot?

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

I dont have a tach but maybe 1500....if that? Nowhere near where it should be at any rate. It would rev up in neutral but not so much when trying to achieve forward motion.

 

[freddyray21]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

if you are only running 1500 it's not a spun hub. The motor will scream with a spun hub. Have you been through the carb? High speed needle may be dirty. Also did you try and adjust the high speed needle when it was running wide open?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

It's probably running on one cylinder. No spark in the other. First step is to check spark on both cylinders. Pull a plug wire and try to start it. If it starts, that plug has spark. Pull the other one. I'm betting it doesn't start.

Next, check compression. If both cylinders are over 80 psi and close to the same number, then it's time to pull the flywheel and check the magneto components. Odds are that one or both coils are cracked. Replace them, and maybe the points, too, if the coils are cracked. If the coils look new, check the point gap and clean the points.

Be sure to torque the flywheel to 80-85 ft-lb and make sure the flywheel key is installed properly.

Good luck.

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

It is running on both cylinders. It just doesnt idle up when under load. like i said in neutral it can rev up but when under load it does not. If it were bad coils and what have you wouldnt that be indicated by rough running or one cylinder? It does not run rough at all it runs very smooth. I will check compression when i get home tonight and let you know what i find.

 

[F_R]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Listen to what CAT said. 99% chance it is running on one. They will run just fine on one. You aren't the first to insist that isn't what is happening.

Your next step is to find out why it is running on one. Coils are a likely suspect. So are a bunch of other things.

BTW, flywheel torque is 60-65 ft/lbs.

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

well ill be damned. It was running on 1. I coudl not believe how smooth it seemed to run on just 1. Thanks guys, now i just have to try and learn how to tackle gettin in there and replacing the coils. I think there might be a step by step on ho to somewhere in the iboats forum.
Thanks guys I really wouldnt have thought that was it.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Just sent you a Private Message.

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Well first off thank you to everyone who helped. I removed the flywheel and everything was replaced EXCEPT, you guessed it, one coil. And this coil looked like someone smacked it with a hammer, there were chunks of varnish everywhere.
I went down to a marina (that specialized in pre 1980 OMC products) and got a new coil. installed it and put it all back together and the flywheel to 65ft lbs, (also verified from the tech down at the marina) and checked the spark. And now we have great spark on both cylinders. I will be starting it up probably tonight and getting it out on the water probably tomorrow to tune it in some more.
Also i think this is why my generator was not working, because i remember seeing somewhere it needs 2000 rpm to generate? Did i dream this or does that sound accurate.

Thanks again everyone

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

You should be good to go now!

 

[F_R]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Does it even have a generator? They don't unless somebody has installed the optional generator accessory kit. If it does have one, it is a belt driven unit on the opposite side of the carburetor from the starter.

Yes, it is true that it has to be runnng more than about 2000 rpm before it starts doing anything. People just love to criticize it for that reason. But the truth is, a bit more RPMs and it will put out a maximum of 10 amps. That's over 65% more than the typical 6 amp alternator found on newer motors. And anyhoo, alternators don't put out much at idle either.

BTW, the coils don't have anything to do with generator operation.

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Yes it is opposite the starter and belt driven off the flywheel. i know the coils would not affect it (aside from preventing me from running at over 2000 rpm due to only running on 1 cylinder). Time to test that with the engine running a little faster.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Sounds great! Be sure to come back and post the "after action report" of the in-water test under a load. Good luck!

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

so remember when i said i had spark and all was well. Its not. i have spark but it must not be enough. So i just cleaned the points with some 600 grit because there was some dull corrosion on the guy. If this doesnt work maybe a condenser? Taking the flywheel on and off is no big deal at this point, I am a regular pro at it haha. But anyways would the condenser be bad and still putting out a little spark or if it were bad would it not produce anything at all?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Make sure you got the plug wire fully inserted into the coil. Also, check the point gap again to make sure it's exactly .020 and open to its widest at the proper position, with the cam on the crankshaft at it's high point.

A bad condenser can certainly cause a poor spark. They're cheap and you can get replacements here on iboats or at any Evinrude dealer. Points are cheap, too.

While the flywheel's off check your wiring very carefully, too. There should be a pair of black wires coming from the points that pass through the plate that holds the coils and come out somewhere. Check to make sure that those aren't rubbed through the insulation at any point. Those are the kill wires, and if they ground out, there will be no spark.

Check all the wires, in fact, for rubbed insulation. It's a very simple magneto system, and if everything's in place, and the coils are good along with the other parts, and no wires are shorting to ground, you should have a good spark at both plugs.

Take your time and examine everything closely. That plug wire is often not installed properly, so be sure to check both.

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Great news, it was either the little bit of corrosion on the points, or me switching to the new plug wire and making sure it was really in the coil, or both. But now I have spark on both plugs that is equivalent. And It started on the top cylinder, so that means spark is good. I Think its all carb adjustment from here hopefully. Of course I wont be able to bring it out, apparently its mothers day haha. Well that and in Rochester it decides to snow on May 9th as well as 50 MPH winds.

 

[Willyclay]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Hang in there, you'll get it right. As you are learning, it's the simple little stuff that needs attention. You just have to go through the trouble-shooting steps methodically. The good news is these great old motors will not die easily, they have to be murdered. Good luck!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

Great news, it was either the little bit of corrosion on the points, or me switching to the new plug wire and making sure it was really in the coil, or both. But now I have spark on both plugs that is equivalent. And It started on the top cylinder, so that means spark is good. I Think its all carb adjustment from here hopefully. Of course I wont be able to bring it out, apparently its mothers day haha. Well that and in Rochester it decides to snow on May 9th as well as 50 MPH winds.

Good job! I hope it runs great when you can take it out. It's always the little things that cause so much problem, isn't it.

 

[paraord]

Re: 35 HP Gale WOT 7MPH???

yes i can deffinatly say i am learning. And it always it some little thing that can do so much. So are you ready for this? It runs so good...it doesnt stop? I turn the key off and it slows but not stops, I had to choke it out. But it does run on both cylinders i pulled the plug on one, started the other, and vice versa. Any idea why when the key is off it keeps running? Im guessing a loose ground maybe? But when it runs on 1 it will turn off fine. maybe it will correct itself when i tune the carb. any suggestions?