Ethanol-resistant seals, etc?

[baytonemus]

Hi-

I'm brand new to the forum. I just inherited my family's old, small, aluminum speed boat. When I was a kid it had a long shaft Johnson 40 horse. That was sold at some point and it now has a non-running 35hp Evinrude that I believe is a little older - maybe late 50s?

Before I start in on the motor, I want to make sure that it's worth doing. I spoke with a local marine shop parts guy and he strongly discouraged me from attempting this. He said the main problem is that you cannot get ethanol-resistant seals or floats for these motors. At least here in MN, you can't buy any gasoline that doesn't contain at least 10% ethanol.

Is this guy's claim correct? Are there other alternatives or sources that he might not know about? I'd appreciate any input on this matter.

Thanks!

 

[F_R]

Re: Ethanol-resistant seals, etc?

Don't be freaking out. There are thousands of those things still running. True, the old floats had shellac coating, and alcohol disolves shellac. But the new ones are supposed to be coated with an alcohol-proof stuff. Trouble is, they pretty much look alike, so you have to trust you are getting a new one and not one that has been on the shelf for ten years.

Ethanol has been a fact of life for many years and any hoses made today should be ethanol-proof.

Seals?? Hey, they are 50 years old and deserve to leak, ethanol or not. They can be replaced, y'know.

 

[baytonemus]

Re: Ethanol-resistant seals, etc?

Don't be freaking out. There are thousands of those things still running. True, the old floats had shellac coating, and alcohol disolves shellac. But the new ones are supposed to be coated with an alcohol-proof stuff. Trouble is, they pretty much look alike, so you have to trust you are getting a new one and not one that has been on the shelf for ten years.

Ethanol has been a fact of life for many years and any hoses made today should be ethanol-proof.

Seals?? Hey, they are 50 years old and deserve to leak, ethanol or not. They can be replaced, y'know.

Thanks, F_R, that's good to hear. I think one of the points this guy was trying to make was that even replacement seals would not be ethanol-resistant. That seems a little fishy unless, as you suggest above, a person might be receiving something out of fairly old inventory.

 

[baytonemus]

Re: Ethanol-resistant seals, etc?

I noticed today that there is no float available through iboats for my carb. (I looked up the model number and it's actually a 40hp 1963.) Is that an indication that I might not be able to buy a new one? If not, what are my options?

And relating to my previous post in this thread, can you spray/coat an old float with something ethanol-resistant. I've never attempted this on any carburetor (car or motorcycle), so it could be common or impossible, for all I know.

Thanks.

 

[AlTn]

Re: Ethanol-resistant seals, etc?

one member stated he coated his cork float with super glue and this was successful