Lark V BigTwin Help...

Wooz

Cadet
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
22
From reading through some of the posts, I have figured out that the brand "new" boat that I have bought is a 63 Evinrude Lark V. I have also noted that there are a TON of people who give this motor a lot of credit and praise. After speaking to the previous owner, I have also found that the boat has not been in the water in about 5 years (was running perfectly well prior to being put in a garage) but hasnt seen the water since. I had an old Johnson 40 that sat for 6 - 8 years put it in the lake and it started in about 3 seconds... This one I dont want to just jump on it. I am mechanically inclined, however have NEVER worked on outboards, and very little small engine. I just want to know what should be the first steps before even attempting dragging it to the lake...

Thoughts... help... advice... I REALLY want to get on the lake :)

Thanks in advance! :confused:
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

Check compression. With the spark plugs removed, check spark. Take pictures and make notes of the carburetor, linkages, etc, then remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor.

Be sure to manually clean the fixed high speed jet that's located in the bottom center portion of the float chamber. Use a piece of single strand steel wire.

The carburetor will no doubt be fouled, clogged, gummed. Running the engine without being sure that it is perfectly clean may result in having the engine running lean..... piston damage etc.

Flywheel key aligned with fiber rubbing portion of points... set points so that a .020 gauge passes thru but a .022 will not. Use either Champion J4C or J6C plugs gapped at .030.

Lower unit if electric shift, use ONLY Premium Blend, also know as Type C, available only at your local dealership. If standard mechanic shift, use HiVis 80/90w available at Wal*Mart, K-Mart, etc... also at your dealership at a somewhat higher price.

(Carburetor Adjustment - Single S/S Adjustable Needle Valve)
(J. Reeves)

Initial setting is: Slow speed = seat gently, then open 1-1/2 turns.

Start engine and set the rpms to where it just stays running. In segments of 1/8 turns, start to turn the S/S needle valve in. Wait a few seconds for the engine to respond. As you turn the valve in, the rpms will increase. Lower the rpms again to where the engine will just stay running.

Eventually you'll hit the point where the engine wants to die out or it will spit back (sounds like a mild backfire). At that point, back out the valve 1/4 turn. Within that 1/4 turn, you'll find the smoothest slow speed setting.

Note: As a final double check setting of the slow speed valve(s), if the engine has more than one carburetor, do not attempt to gradually adjust all of the valves/carburetors at the same time. Do one at a time until you hit the above response (die out or spit back), then go on to the next valve/carburetor. It may be necessary to back out "all" of the slow speed adjustable needle valves 1/8 turn before doing this final adjustment due to the fact that one of the valves might be initially set ever so slightly lean.

When you have finished the above adjustment, you will have no reason to move them again unless the carburetor fouls/gums up from sitting, in which case you would be required to remove, clean, and rebuild the carburetor anyway.

(Carburetor Float Setting)
(J. Reeves)

With the carburetor body held upside down, the float being viewed from the side, adjust the float so that the free end of the float (the end opposite the hinge pin) is ever so slightly higher (just ever so slightly off level) than the other end. And when viewed from the end, make sure it is not cocked.

Oh, important torque spec here. If you have that flywheel off, be sure to torque that flywheel nut to exactly 105 foot pounds. Anything less results in a sheared key, damaged tapers to the flywheel and crankshaft.... a real mess.

http://stores.ebay.com/Evinrude-Johnson-Outboard-Parts-etc?refid=store
 

Wooz

Cadet
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

That will most certainly keep me busy for a couple weeks... thanks for the starting point... I will come back with results!!
 

Wooz

Cadet
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

Ok... found a few wires that have been fraid and almost cut through, they appear to be going into the starter, (alongside the mouse nest under the motor inside the casing) There is surface rust on the fly wheel, but the wheel turns fine (I expected it to be seized), starter also turns fine (nice). I will be taking the carb apart and replacing plugs (the hoses and lines look like they have already been replaced.. another bonus)

so, after I have the carb rebuilt, and the plugs and wires replaced... can it be dry started? currently it is in my driveway, and am not ready to test the luck out in the lake just yet... So, can I fire it up out of the water or shoudl I have the motor in a tub of some sort?

and Finnaly... I want to change the lower unit oil... this I have never looked at before.. and a quick "drain this way, put oil in this spot..." would be fantastic.

Thanks for all the help for a rookie!
 

itstippy

Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Jul 17, 2003
Messages
548
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

No, you must not run it dry. It must be run in a trash barrel full of water, with the water level up above the anticavitation plate. That gets the water level above the water pump impeller, so water will circulate through the motor. Which brings us to the waterpump impeller. You must replace it. They are made of rubber and they get old and brittle and they fail and throw bits of broken rubber into the cooling passages. They are not too difficult to replace. Is your motor electric shift or manual shift? Electric shifts are more difficult to change. Heavy! There are some tricks we can share if yours is electric shift.

Replacing the lower unit oil is simple. There are many posts on it - do a search of this forum for "how to change lower unit oil".

You should order a Seloc manual from iBoats. Your "new" motor is a nice machine. It needs routine maintenance. The Seloc manual is a good read and has all the info you need to keep your motor maintained. It is well worth the money.
 

Wooz

Cadet
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

Thank you again... I was prety sure a dry start was not going to work... wanted my own confirmation :) It is in fact an selectric shift, so I would greatly appreciate that "changing advice"

Thanks again for all the help...
 

F_R

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jul 7, 2006
Messages
28,226
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

Electric shift is not hard to change. You just have a wire to disconnect instead of a shift rod.

First, you have to remove the rear midsection cover. (Whole bunch of phillips screws) If you don't have an impact screwdriver, consider getting one, it will make those screws easy. If you have a long shaft, there is also an extension cover.

Now you will see the shift wires. Slide the covers back to expose the scissors type connectors and disconnect.

Remove the inspection plate off the side of the midsection. Then remove the screws from the plate behind it. Squirt some oil on the rubber cable and pull the inner plate off the cable. Tie a string on the cable end to assist in pulling it back up through when reinstalling the lower unit.

Remove the bolts holding the lower unit on and twist it back and forth slightly while pulling it down and off. The water pump will be looking at you around the drive shaft.

When reinstalling, lube everything. Make sure the o-ring is on the top end of the drive shaft and in good condition, and smear a bit of waterproof grease on the splines but don't overdo it. Make sure the o-ring is on top of the water pump. It won't run with the hood on if that one is missing. If the water tubes came out of the upper grommets, remove them from the pump and insert in the upper grommets first. Watch it, one probably has a hole in it. Don't mix them up!!!
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

Frank, thanks for posting that i'm was fixing to pull my lower.
 

Wooz

Cadet
Joined
Jun 7, 2007
Messages
22
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

Ok...

- cleaned out the carb (no sludge or buildup anywhere in it, looks to have been replaced in the last couple years)

- Oil came out dark... but clean - about an 1/8 of a tsp of water drained first but oil came out like oil...

- Put some lubricating oil into the pistons... and getting new plugs...

- Replacing the prop cap, but the prop still looks good, a couple of knicks out of it, but I'm sure that will be non impact

All in all it has gone a whole lot smoother than I first thought... which frightens me... but without all your help, I would still have the case off staring at it... lol.. Now.. on to the Oil Gas ratio.... the manual says 50:1, I have seen others on here say 24:1... and the gas tank that came with it says "for 100:1 motors only" Which to use????? I want to try to start this puppy up this week....:)
 

Joe Reeves

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Feb 24, 2002
Messages
13,262
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

That engine can be run with the 50/1 mixture as the powerhead incorporates all bearings.
 

tashasdaddy

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
Joined
Nov 11, 2005
Messages
51,019
Re: Lark V BigTwin Help...

for the initial start i would use 24:1, so it can get lubed up, the tank has nothing to do with it. ignore 100:1, OMC resended it. there is a controversy as to use 50:1 or 24:1. by the way there wer 3 model of that engine, original list price was $570 to $775. deppending on model. also be sure to put new washer on the lower unit plugs, #1 cause of water intrusion.
 
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