bearcat

[tuslick16]

its a 63 model the man i bought it from said it was a 55 and my mechanic said it was a 75 it came off of a house boat so the gears are not set up for speed does any one have a different foot or is anyone interested in buying it? it runs very well but it smokes alittle is there a rebuild kit any were?

 

[JB]

Re: bearcat

Hi, Tuslick.<br /><br />If it is a Bearcat it is probably a later model than a '63.<br /><br />I believe that the early '60s models were called Homelites. The Bearcat name came along after Fisher-Pierce bought the designs from Homelite.<br /><br />Only 55hps were made in the '60s. During the '70s they made a few Bearcat 85s, but never made a 75.<br /><br />I never saw or heard of a special leg/gearbox for houseboats, but that doesn't mean there were none. It is just unlikely. I suspect that it has a special prop, if anything.<br /><br />You can find additional info on the Bearcat engines on www.continuouswave.com in the reference section.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: bearcat

I used to work on those many many years ago. Try this site:<br /><br /> http://hometown.aol.com/homelite55/index.html

 

[JasonJ]

Re: bearcat

I had one of those motors, and as far as I know, there was no alternative gearing for it. Most people who ran them on houseboats just ran them as-is, maybe with a different prop. Those motors were manufactured from 1961 to 1972, they went from being Homelite 55s to Bearcat 55s in 1968 I believe, and I think in 1965 they went to improved valve seats for unleaded fuel and a proper thermostat. I liked my Homelite, it was a 63, but I wanted more power so I sold it after finding an 85 horse Merc.