Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

[BHOWELL]

I got this motor from my Grandfather and he said it has probably only been used a handful of times. Problem: It cranked fine and idles fine, but when you give it juice it keeps bottoming out. It won't open up. I need help troubleshooting this, but no one around here seems to want an Elgin in their shop. I found a website for the parts, I just need to no what the problem could be.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

UMPDADDY <br /><br />First thing you will need to do is clean the carb out as it is probably gummed up with varnish from old fuel. If you can find a carb rebuild kit, that would be even better. You're already ahead of the game with the engine starting and running fairly well now. Clean the carb and let us know how it goes. Not sure if that motor is air cooled or water cooled, but if water cooled, you should also look at putting a water pump kit in it.<br /><br />Look Here for more advice.

 

[BHOWELL]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Thanks Rick. I had a guy look at the carburator and he said he cleaned it and put new plugs in it. We took it out Sunday and it ran the same as it did before he cleaned the carb. What about something electrical?

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Hi Ump,<br /> Your motor is water-cooled, so I'd look into finding an impeller for it. If you get a friendly counterman, you might be able to bring your old one in and match it up, or at least get something close that can be doctored to fit.<br /> As for your running issue, first, make sure the motor is in te 12hp setting, or the governor will prevent it from throttling up all the way. Make sure the key on the front is actually working the linkage to give you the 12hp.<br /> Also, make sure you're running on both cylinders. Pull the plug wires off one at a time to see if there's a difference in performance. If the motor keeps running and doesn't miss a beat, then the one you pulled is the dead one. If it stalls immediately, then that's the good one.<br /> Run a compression check, too.<br />- Scott

 

[BHOWELL]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Excellent! I'm getting some good stuff here. I just talked with someone here at work and he suggested that if the carburator was cleaned, it may be flooding due to a faulty float. The first time I took it out it went thru about 1 1/2 gallons in only 3 or 4 miles. Ofcourse it was not running properly; I was moving at a snails pace, but should it go thru that much fuel?

 

[BHOWELL]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Also, there was no key in it when I got it. It is stuck on the 12hp setting. Wonder how hard that'll be to find? Both heads appear to be firing. If I am putting too much on the table, please let me know; but I want to get this thing running and I can't find a shop that'll take it because of it's age. I will use all of this info I get from y'all and take a crack at it myself.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Have you pulled the plugs to see what they look like? Wet or dry? Both about the same? I still think there is a Carb problem. Might disassemble it yourself and clean it out with carb. cleaner and compressed air. Be sure to blow through all the passages. Check the float while you're in there and make sure it is parallel to the carb. body when the carb is flipped upside down. Also check it for fuel saturation.

 

[BHOWELL]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Thanks again. The plugs looked fouled to me, but I'm no expert. One did appear wetter than the other. I haven't checked the new plugs we put in, but will do tonight. I should have enough here, short of diagrams, to troubleshoot this thing. I specialize in catching fish, not working on motors, but what the heck, I'll give it a shot and let y'all know by the weekend. Thanks. UMP

 

[steelespike]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

umpdaddy,If you can give us the model number<br /> We can tell you the year of manufacture.<br /> I believe Laings Outboards may have parts.<br /> I may have a parts manual with very fine line drawings that are excellent in the absence of a service manual for assembly and disassembly.

 

[J Clarke]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

I Screwed around with an older elgin. 1958 model 7.5 hp. I had a problem were it would idle smooth and when it was time to go it would bog out and quit. Turned out to be the high speed needle was not lined up with the high speed pick up orifice. Because the float bowl gasket thickness was wrong (To thick). I slapped the old one back on and snuged tight so it would not leak. Finally it woke up and took off.

 

[BHOWELL]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

The Model# is 571 58962 and Serial# is 962 3837. You wouldn't think it would be anything seriously wrong mechanically. It just seems that something is either giving to much or not enough. It has the two adjustment knobs for idle and high speed, but it seems to bottom out no matter what you dial them to. I've only ran this thing on the water twice. I want to get out there and run it and tweek it, but I don't want to mess it up worse. I am no outboard mechanic, that's why I'm in here for help. Does anybody know a good mechanic in the Atlanta, Ga. area who would look at this thing for me?

 

[steelespike]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Your motor is a 58. All Elgins with the 571<br />prefix are built by West Bend. Which was purchased by Chrysler in about 64 and became Force<br />in about 84.<br /> Typically when motors have sat around a lot they<br /> need the fuel system gone through from tank to carb with special attention to cleaning.<br /> If the motor hasnt been tampered with and has good spark it should run with a proper fuel supply.

 

[BHOWELL]

Re: Late 50's Elgin w/ optional Hp 5,7.5, or 12

Thanks Spike. I looked at it for awile last night and decided to wait until I learned a little more about the components of the carburator. Are there any surprises when removing the carburator for cleaning? I was hesitant because I didn't want anything to fall out of place. Also, in you professional opinion, do you think the problem is somewhere in the carburator?