Elgin Engagement Balls.

[derek1975]

Hey guys, I'm new here so please accept my apologies if I have posted in the wrong section. I had a bit of fishing fever yesterday and the desire to get everything ready for fishing season so the father in law and myself grabbed my old Elgin motor that I got in a trade last fall and decided to try to get it going. First thing we did was flushed the lower unit and put in new oil. It needed a gas line and the recoil fixed. Where the recoil rope ties on had a chunk out of it so we had to drill a new hole......no biggy. We did that. After that we had to replace the spark plug wire end, it was pretty shotty. We also pulled off the flywheel, and cleaned the magnets on the flywheel as well as the points. After that we threw it back together, put in some mixed gas and away she went......1 pull. I kid you not. Anyways, the only problem is I had to wrap a rope around the flywheel to start it because the recoil engagement balls were missing. I ripped apart the recoil on a Briggs and Stratton Mower and no luck, too small. Canadian Tire doesn't carry loose ball bearings. Strike two! What size of bearings do I need guys and where can I order them? I have a perfect running old motor and id hate to have to wrap the flywheel every time I want to start it. Any help is appreciated.

 

[F_R]

Re: Elgin Engagement Balls.

The first hurdle is finding out what size they are. After that, it's easy. If you are lucky enough to have a bearing supply house in your town, that is the place to go. Otherwise, you can get them on the cheap from McMaster-Carr

If nobody here knows the size, try The Antique Outboard Motor Club Website - AOMCI.org Ask-A-Member. There are lots of those motors still in use and somebody will probably measure one for you.

 

[twocyclemania]

Re: Elgin Engagement Balls.

I have a 61 or 2 Elgin 2 horse air cooled with the same set-up. Unfortunately I didn't inherit the skills and equipment my father, a machinist had. He could have given you a measurement within a 1000th if not better. I did take the recoil off of mine (never worked right since the top part seems to be worn and the balls jam all the time). I (now take it for what it's worth) did eyeball with an inch and centimeter scale. According to my vision it's 3/8 inches or 9 centimeters. If there is any other way of measuring them (I'm still looking for the micrometer) I'll try to help you out. Let us know how it works out.