'56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

[Mas]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

Mas, I got the shift shaft o-ring, but I can't even beging to imagine how to replace it. It so far in there from both directions, and it's under a brass bushing. It seems like it would have been very hard to get in there in the first place.

There is actually a tool that consists of a rod with a shoulder that drives the bushing from the case side. One can even use a tap and cut a few threads in the bushing, install a bolt, then drive out the bushing. If you did not replace the shift seal, you can possibly seat the bushing a bit deeper to squeeze the o-ring slightly to account for any possible wear. You'll want to check the gear oil after the first long test run...also, if your shop is still helpful, you can have him pressure/vacuum test the case before painting.

Mas

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

There is actually a tool that consists of a rod with a shoulder that drives the bushing from the case side. One can even use a tap and cut a few threads in the bushing, install a bolt, then drive out the bushing. If you did not replace the shift seal, you can possibly seat the bushing a bit deeper to squeeze the o-ring slightly to account for any possible wear. You'll want to check the gear oil after the first long test run...also, if your shop is still helpful, you can have him pressure/vacuum test the case before painting.

Mas

That's great to know. I'll drive it in a bit to see if it will go deeper. If not, I will try the tap trick. Seems solutions are easy when someone points them out!

Thanks!

 

[Mas]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

That's great to know. I'll drive it in a bit to see if it will go deeper. If not, I will try the tap trick. Seems solutions are easy when someone points them out!

Thanks!

Still, you'll have to drive it out from the case side if you thread and install a bolt...kinda difficult with the case buttoned up. And pinching it certainly will not work with the shift rod in place unless you slide a pipe over the rod and tap on the longer pipe. You might want to get the case tested before you mess with it...you might not even have a problem.

Mas

Mas

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

That's great to know. I'll drive it in a bit to see if it will go deeper. If not, I will try the tap trick. Seems solutions are easy when someone points them out!

Thanks!

Send F_R a private message and tell him you want one of those neat tools for removing the shift rod seals. I got one and it works great.

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

Thanks Zephyr, I just orderred the part. FR offers it at an extremely reasonable price and it's an easy cure for a PIA seal.

Question about LU. Do I add any other sealant in addition to the spagetti seal between lower and upper half? I can't tell if what I cleaned off was a sealant or just crud.

 

[lindy46]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

Thanks Zephyr, I just orderred the part. FR offers it at an extremely reasonable price and it's an easy cure for a PIA seal.

Question about LU. Do I add any other sealant in addition to the spagetti seal between lower and upper half? I can't tell if what I cleaned off was a sealant or just crud.

I usually apply Permatex #2 in the skeg groove, then put in the spaghetti seal (holds it nicely), and more sealant over the top. Then around the propshaft seal bushing and on all the skeg bolts.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

Yep, permatex works good. That prop shaft worries me though. Did you replace it?

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

No, it's the same one. What looks wrong?

I'll give it another good inspection but nothing jumped out at me before.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

I was looking at the spline, where the clutch dog rides. It looks like it's scorched and excessively worn toward the prop side. Or is that just old grease and looks can be decieving?

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

I got ya! Nope, that's just grease/crud. After cleaning, the splines look brand new. The clutch dog slides nice and smooth. But I was pretty worried when l first opened it!

In fact, I think the LU was replaced at one time and this trans doesn't have very much time on it. Everything looks good and I don't see any knicks or gouges on anything. All bearngs roll freely and smoothly and I don't feel any binding when turned. Considering how little fluid came out and how much crud was in it.

Plus, under the Evinrude dark grey paint it was green. Might be Johnson green.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

Oh okay, that's good to know. It is quite common to see those splines roast out right there, where it rides against the washer in the gear. Oh boy I've seen a number of them.
Yea, it all looks good in your finished photos. I think that green paint may be the zinc chromate primer that they use on the motors. It does have a close match to the old sea mist green.

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

Tool shipped Monday and arrived today, nice!

Took just a few minutes to remove old and install new seal. Great working with the proper tools, and what a nice tool this is.

What is the capicity of the gear case? I looks to be around a quart, but is it more? With my luck it's 1.2 quarts!

Thanks for the help so far everyone and thanks to F_R for the great deal!

 

[lindy46]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

A quart will be more than enough.

 

[nmaccarp]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

I have one of these i just got her. i put it up on a stand today and sprayed some lube in it. while working the lube in she wanted to and did fire. oops. i was surprised and excited. i think that this motor cover maybe wrong though any thoughts. $59 with cockpit controls.

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

That looks like the correct cover, you're just missing some things. The "Evinrude" chrome script, the cover that covers the choke and fuel mixture knobs, and I don't see a choke knob. But it looks like it's in good shape, pretty cool!

 

[nmaccarp]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

king,
Is there a good sorce for the chrome that i am missing? Mechanically, the parts seem available but i havent seen many things online cosmetically.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

You guys will learn to appreciate the electric start on that model----it's quite possibly the hardest motor to pull start I've ever had!!! Easy to start, just hard to pull! I guess that's why the compression release came out the next year. I need to reseal the lower unit on mine-----one of 3.......
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

I'm not sure where to get the chrome stuff. Probably put out a want add on craigs list, or even here or other outboard message boards. I vaguely remember seeing the "Lark" scrip somewhere but can't remember. Maybe look for a whole other motor with the stuff you need and then you'd also have a parts motor.

 

[KingHardcor]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

jbjennings, don't you know it! I like having pull start back-up but I am real glad it's electric! Is that your truck in you picture? Looks like a '56ish Ford? Awsome!

 

[nmaccarp]

Re: '56 Evinrude Lark 30HP

to be honest i bought this motor thinking i would restore it and flip it but after owning it for less than a week i am begining to become attached and think there may be a vintage hydroplane in its future. ouch.. thats not gonna pay the bills...