Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

[cajun66]

Tomorrow I'm picking up a 60s Elgin air cooled motor. Supposedly 3hp. I'll know exactly tomorrow.
What Oil/fuel ratio does it use?

 

[JB]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

I would start with Chainsaw/weedwhacker oil at 16:1, cajun.

You might be able to run 24:1, but in the absence of instructions I would go the safe way.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

I've been running a Tanaka 3HP air cooled on my canoe for 20+years on a 50:1 ratio with no problems. 50:1 is what they recommended for all their air cooled motors. I do run the Yamaha Ringfree in this little motor to help prevent sticking piston rings and of course the cylinder/head is a one piece item and very easy to remove on these to access and clean carbon from rings, piston crowns and ports, hopefully yours is similar. I usually do a manual cleaning/decarbon about once a year and have noticed some sticking of the top ring in the past, use a pick, wire brush, carb cleaner to free it up. Good Luck!

 

[JB]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

A 1980s Tanaka is not a 1960s Elgin.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

I believe some of the older air cooled motors may have run a "richer" oil/fuel mixture for some reason. Lacking any specific fuel/oil mixing instructions regarding your specific Elgin motor, and maybe to play it on the safe side, it won't hurt that motor to heavy up on the oil mixture. I'd love to see and hear that old motor run! Good Luck!

 

[steelespike]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

If its a 60 its a 2 hp built by West Bend.Fuel mix is 16:1 (8ozs per gallon)2 cycle oil or TCW3 rated oil will work.Don't skimp on the oil.
Also there was a 3.6 hp McCulloch built motor water cooled.Fuel mix is 24:1
Westbend motors have a 571 prefix, McCulloch has a 574 Prefix.Around 66 There is also an air cooled Clinton 3.5 mixed in there with a 582 prefix.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

Now I'm wondering what the technical reasons are/were for the richer oil/fuel mixtures in the older motors. Maybe the mechanical design of the motors or the quality(or lack of) the older lubricants? My dad's 50's Johnson Seahorse 10HP used that 8oz.of Esso Outboard Oil/gallon gas and it ran O.K., maybe more smoke. Nobody ever said much about carbon and stuck rings back then. I still have a 50's Johnson 4HP in my basement, if anyone would ever want it to fix up, I might make a gift of it. It has a cork carb float! Good luck with your Elgin!

 

[cajun66]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

According to the tag, it's a 2.0 horse power. Don't know what year. Serial # is 201 5714

 

[cajun66]

Re: Oil/fuel mix for air cooled Elgin

Model # 571.58201
1952 Elgin 2 HP
1/2 pint oil to 1 gallon fuel