1959 35hp Evinrude Lark

[Jay410]

O.K. 2 more questions since this is the first boat I've owned. 1) I checked the water pump and the fins on it are very flexible and water seems to shoot out at high speed even though this is the 1st time in 3 yaers it has been run, how do I know when to change it? 2) I have had other people who have been long time boaters ask me if I want to sell this motor, obviously I need it as bad as they do, but out of curiostity and not knowing what I have, how much is one of these worth?

 

[JB]

Re: 1959 35hp Evinrude Lark

Impellers should be replaced every 2 years, regardless of use, Jay.<br /><br />Reason? They are like your heart; if you wait 'til it stops working it is too late.<br /><br />Worth? Depending on condition anywhere from a couple of hundred to 4 or 5.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1959 35hp Evinrude Lark

Here's the deal: Replace the impeller whenever you pull the lower unit, unless you, yourself, have replaced it within a year. Why do all the work to pull the lower unit and not replace an impeller that could have been in there for years and might fail at any time?<br /><br />JB's right about value. If it's a perfect-running 35 of that vintage and looks good cosmetically, you can expect to get $4-500 for it, if your local market is a heavy boating area. If not, $2-300.<br /><br />They're very good old motors, and will run another 40 years if you maintain them properly. If you don't maintain them properly, they'll end up as junk. I'd say to go and replace that impeller. They're cheap as dirt.

 

[Jay410]

Re: 1959 35hp Evinrude Lark

Thanks for the help! However, I have now changed the impeller twice. Both times I got water to spray out when I 1st get it running (in a Garbage can of water). After a couple of minutes the water quits spraying and intermittant periods of steam blow out. I have turned the impeller upside down and tried it again with the same result. also water tubes seem fine. Is this normal, if not then what?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 1959 35hp Evinrude Lark

OK, you may have a bad thermostat on that Lark. It's under a little housing on the top of the motor that is held on with three screws. It's the only thing up there that looks like that. Pull the cover, and the thermostat should be right there. There's also a plastic valve with a spring below the thermostat.<br /><br />Drop the thermostat in a pan of water and heat it up on the stove. It should open somewhere short of the boiling point. You can actually see the thing move. If it doesn't, get a new one. In fact, get a new one anyhow, and replace it.<br /><br />There's a bypass system on that engine that circulates water before the thermostat opens. That's why you're seeing water spray when you first start. If the thermostat doesn't open, the engine will overheat and you'll get steam.<br /><br />Now, don't tell anyone I said this, but if you have to order the thermostat, you can go ahead and put the cover back on without the thermostat in there and continue to work on your outboard, if you have other issues to work on. You can even go out and run it on the water. When the thermostat arrives, put it back in there. The engine will be happier with the thermostat installed.<br /><br />That said, there are a whole bunch of these Big Twins running with no thermostat in them. In fact, the Big Twin didn't get a thermostat at all until 1958.<br /><br />It's certainly best to have it in there, though.<br /><br />By the way, if the gasket is damaged when you pull the cover, you'll have to wait until you get a new one, I'm afraid. You do need the gasket. Without it, water will spray everywhere.