1954 evinrude hard to pull start

[littletex]

hi i have a 1954 ss evinrude 7.5hp motor that i took apart and did a minor rebuild , water pumo, seals, spark plugs, wires , points, etc. i put it all back together and it is really hard to pull start . it feels like something is holding it back. any advice would be greatly apprecieated. thank you.

 

[lindy46]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

If you had the lower unit apart to do the seals, did the driveshaft turn ok after you put it all back together? Sometimes if you put the gears and bearings in and the bearings are not aligned just right, it will bind up when you tighten the skeg bolts.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

Shock absorber in the lower unit is probably broken.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

If that shock absorber in the lower unit is broken it probably expanded in the length wise position causing the l/u to bind up. If it is, rather than buying a new one, put it in a press and compress it back to its orginal length. At that time weld it together. It will no longer be a shock absorber but the l/u will work just fine. Been there and done that.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

yep, I had a few broken ones myself. Even if it's not broke, I would weld it anyway. Just put a good tack weld at 4 points and you should be good.

 

[littletex]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

thank you all for your advise . is it obviouse if the shock absorber is broken?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

By your description, it is obvious. But that doesn't mean "for sure". You will have to go back in to find out. Once you get to the water pump, remove the impeller and put the pump housing back on. It should turn freely. If not, loosen the pump screws and if that frees it up, the shock absorber has grown.

 

[ooldschooll]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

I have heard that some of the aftermarket impellers are too thick and cause hard pulling. If it was not hard to pull before the rebuild I would check that first then if still hard move to the other suggestions

 

[littletex]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

okay so i took the lower unit apart and put the shock absorber in and it spins just fine untill i tighten down all 4 bolts on the water pump. then it is really hard. when i loosen them up just a little bit it spins free again. so that is definately the shock absorber.??

 

[boobie]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

Yes. It has grown in length. Do as I said in one of the above posts.

 

[littletex]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

cool thank you . do you know how much a new one would cost in case i decide to get one.

 

[littletex]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

i tried compressing it in a vice and it didnt move . how hard should it be?

 

[boobie]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

We always had a press in the shop and I used that. Never tried it in a vice.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

A vice should work on that. Make sure you get the broken part matched up right. Once you do, then tack weld it on two sides 180 degrees from each other.

 

[littletex]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

it doesnt look broken i dont know how to tell where the broken part is

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

Typically, it's the springs inside that go tits up when they break. At least that's what I've always seen.

 

[ooldschooll]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

I would put it together without the impeller. If no binding the absorber may be ok.

 

[F_R]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

You will have to get the hole cleaned out real good (the hole that the drive shaft goes in). Then get out in the bright sunlite and peer down into the hole. You will see that fat spring in there. If it is broken, you should be able to see the broken ends.

If not broken, it may be expanded from over abuse. If that is the only problem, press it back together and use it.

The spring is designed to wind up and release if overloaded when striking an underwater object (shock absorber). If you had a test fixture, you could check it with a torque wrench. The spec is 13-19 Ft Lbs. But obviously you don't have a test fixture. So you are left with the visual looksee method.

 

[littletex]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

i did take the impeller out and it still bound up. should i be able to compress it with a vice?

 

[F_R]

Re: 1954 evinrude hard to pull start

Depends on how big your vise is and how hard you reef down on the handle. There is another way, stand it on end in the vise, with the big part resting on top of the jaws (protect the shaft with wood or something) then pound the top down with a large hammer (again, protect it).

I know a lot of people report success with welding them. Personally, I have not had good results. They came out distorted, out of alignment, so I quit trying.