Project Merlin

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

Must have been like a drag boat!! I bet coming out of the hole would've launched that boat 5'-10' in the air! HAHA!

I'll head down to my shop tomorrow afternoon to take some pictures of the pressure tank and how the two lines run to the motor. I have a '57 Johnson 10hp that uses the same fuel system. I'll post the pics in your thread tomorrow night. I think you should be able to rig something up.

BOB

Ya know, I got to thinkin' about that 8.7 gallon fuel tank that I bought (post #7 above) and realized that it may already be the right type. Here's a larger pic of the tank and it does have 2 lines. Maybe one is just a vent, but who knows... I'll have to check it in the daylight tomorrow.

Whaddya think? Were my instincts working at the time? LOL

-BWR

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

Hey BWR1953 - Cool project. About the gas tank though, those old OMC motors from the 1950s used a different type of tank than newer outboards. They use a "pressure tank" that has two lines instead of only one. One line forces air into the tank which in turn forces fuel up the other line to the engine.

I'll bet the guy you got the motor from probably has one lying around somewhere. If not, you can add a small fuel pump to the motor next to the carb to utilize the single line tank you already have. Worse case scenario, take a trip up here to VA and I'll let you use one of my old pressure tanks.

Good luck to you, I'll be watching the progress. BOB

Oboy, did I learn a lot today. Went to several dealers/salvage yards and finally did find an old pressure style tank. For a HUNDRED bucks! NOT gonna happen with me!

I guess I'll try to rig a pressure line from the motor to a nipple on my 8.7 gallon tank and see how that works. The next option if that doesn't work is to add a fuel pump. I probably won't do that.

If I get to that point, I'll probably just sell the little Evinrude engine and go with a larger, more modern motor that will end up being "the" motor, if not one motor of a set of twins.

It was a really nice day here and I went with another iBoater and we had a good time exploring the boatyards.

Someday I'll get that little boat on the water. LOL

-BWR

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Project Merlin

BWR - I'm pretty sure the second line coming out of your tank is a vent. I guess you could try to convert your tank to a pressure tank, but all the ones I've ever seen were metal and I'm not sure the plastic tank wouldn't explode. Would make for an exciting day though. If you keep looking around you'll be able to find one for $30-$50. I found mine in an old storeroom at a marina in MA $20 a piece! Those are great motors and will run forever with the right care. It would be a shame to have to get another motor for test purposes. Check ebay & craigslist too.

Even though you already found one and know what it looks like, I took pictures so humor me. Keep us posted on your progress.

BOB

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Project Merlin

By the way, if you do decide to sell it, put me first on your list!!

BOB

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

I actually didn't bother looking at the tank I found today, once the price was quoted. However, the description that I was given by a couple of the guys matches your pictures.

Looking at the connectors in your photos, it's clear that it's just set up for convenience, with one connector holding both the pressure and fuel lines. And to increase profitability when purchasing replacement parts!

If I run separate lines from the engine to the fuel tank, it should still work fine. Or so says the other salvage yard guy where I purchased the engine. My 8.7 gallon tank actually has 3 connections, plus a vent hole which will have to be plugged. I'll mess with it a bit.

Modern tanks are pressure tested and I don't believe that the small engine could produce enough pressure to actually burst the tank. I hope! Obviously, it would be a good idea to do some testing on it without going out too far first. LOL

I'm not sure how much it would actually cost me to add a separate fuel pump, but the guy with the tank quoted me $100 for that too. Seems like everything he has or does is in $100 increments! LMAO!

I really don't want to wait around forever in hopes of finding a cheap tank. If my alternative efforts don't work, I'll chalk up my lessons and move on.

Thanks for the great input!

-BWR

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

So I ended up going with ?Plan D? in the end. Dumped the antique Evinrude and bought a 7.5hp Seaking.

Plan A was to use the old Evinrude with the existing tank. That ended when I found out that the engine needed that rare and specialized pressure tank.

Plan B was to rig up my own plastic tank to work with the Evinrude pressure system. However, after research, I learned that while my tank was certified to 3psi, the Evinrude put out 4-7psi into the fuel tank while operating. That would mean my plastic tank would be under anywhere from 33% overpressure to 133% overpressure. That could mean B for Boom! Uh, no.

Plan C was to just pony up the $100 and buy the tank from the guy I met on Tuesday afternoon, so I drove down the road 30 miles to his place about noon. Got there and we grabbed the old pressure tank from a shelf in the back and put it on the workbench. It was toast. Rusted up inside, pressure relief valve missing completely, lid seal shot and the pump rusted solid to the tank. I was not a happy camper.

Plad D was that I traded the old Evinrude for the Seaking, plus the buck. I had to drive home and get my old motor and take it back to the place. We tested the Seaking and it ran fine in the water barrel. Got it home, mounted it up and started testing with muffs. Had some fuel connector issues with my existing tank, but got those corrected and the engine runs well.

Tomorrow, weather permitting, the little boat will be on the water!

Whew!

-BWR

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project Merlin

At least your fishin! I still have work to do on my boat before I can even think about taking it out.

max!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

At least your fishin! I still have work to do on my boat before I can even think about taking it out.

max!

Not fishing yet! This will be the first time I've put the boat in the water. It may not even float! LOL!

-BWR

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project Merlin

So what happened during the maiden voyage today? How did the Sea King do?

max!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

So what happened during the maiden voyage today? How did the Sea King do?

max!

Didn't happen... went on a date with a hot blonde instead.

A man's gotta get his priorities right! LOL!

-BWR

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

I am now officially searching for a "Plan E" of some sort. Things did not go well.

Got the boat in the water for the first time today. Launching wasn't as difficult as I'd expected. However, I had a surprise waiting for me at the stern of the boat. Seems that I completely overlooked filling the lower mounting holes for that big Mercury and water was spilling nicely into the boat. A pair of lovely streams. Yeahh... it was an omen.

I tried like crazy to get the little Sea Kiing motor to start, all to no avail. I'd apparently flooded the engine. Meanwhile, I was becoming a bit concerned about the rising water level in the bilge area. So, I pulled it back out of the water.

Got it up on level ground, pulled the engine cover and worked awhile but finally got it to kick over a few times. It was time to try again.

Didn't have any 5 minute epoxy with me, but DID have a full tube of grease, so I slathered the bolt holes full of the goop and launched again. No streams this time.

Got the motor running and idling at a moderate speed, checked forward and reverse before releasing the winch line, then finally let it go. Naturally, as the boat slid off the trailer and into the center of the canal, the motor sputtered and died.

Tried mightily to get it restarted, but was drifting downwind and downcurrent, so I dropped the anchor. Mind you, the Jeep was still on the ramp, idling and unoccupied.

Kept at it awhile and the motor would occasionally bark back to life. Meanwhile, other folks wanted to launch their boat at the single ramp. One nice couple offered to move the Jeep for me. I gratefully accepted.

I jiggered with the motor until I got blisters, but got it to where it would run at about 3/4 throttle in reverse. Backed it over to the floating dock and tied off.

I tried again for 1/2 hour to get the engine to run reliably, but it was a no go. It may in fact be MY fault. I'm still using the 6 gallons of gas mixed at 16:1 that I had for the old, antique Evinrude motor. Might be causing the reliability issue? Dunno.

Now, if you will please excuse me, I must go retrace my route to the TWO boat ramps that I went to today... to see if I can find my brand new, shiny trailer license plate that fell off somewhere along the way.

I need a beer.

LMAO!

-BWR

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Project Merlin

At least it looks good in the water! That's something, right?
BOB

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

At least it looks good in the water! That's something, right?
BOB

Yup, that does count a little. AND... I found my license plate! Lucky, lucky me! LOL!

My back is KILLIN' me from yankin' on that starter rope so much! OUCH!

Does anyone know if that 16:1 fuel/oil ratio could cause the idling problems? The Sea King, I was told, only needs about a 50:1 ratio.

Thanks!

-BWR

 

[Landscaping Wiz 808]

Re: Project Merlin

Nah, it'll just smoke more...and probably foul the spark plugs. You should pull the plugs to check their condition. Clean or replace them if possible, re-install and try to fire her up again.

Is the tank full or can you pump some more gas in it to thin the mix a little?

BOB

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

Nah, it'll just smoke more...and probably foul the spark plugs. You should pull the plugs to check their condition. Clean or replace them if possible, re-install and try to fire her up again.

Is the tank full or can you pump some more gas in it to thin the mix a little?

BOB

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figured, which is why I didn't dump the gas. The tank is completely full with fresh gas and oil at a measured 16:1 ratio. I might be able to offload some of it into another tank or something, then refill it partially. Maybe.

I'll check the plug conditions tomorrow.

Seriously though, that little 7.5 was struggling to back me against the current and wind, even at 3/4 throttle. Very underpowered.

Still have that 115 Merc in the shed.... Hmmmm... LOL!

-BWR

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project Merlin

Sounds like some of my boating adventures! I think I've done about as much rowing as I have riding.:redface:

max!

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Project Merlin

Didn't happen... went on a date with a hot blonde instead.

A man's gotta get his priorities right! LOL!

-BWR

Does she like fishing?

Yeah, that's pretty much what I figured, which is why I didn't dump the gas. The tank is completely full with fresh gas and oil at a measured 16:1 ratio. I might be able to offload some of it into another tank or something, then refill it partially. Maybe.

I'll check the plug conditions tomorrow.

Seriously though, that little 7.5 was struggling to back me against the current and wind, even at 3/4 throttle. Very underpowered.

Still have that 115 Merc in the shed.... Hmmmm... LOL!

-BWR

Just keep in mind that 7.5 isn't brand new and you might also want to check the water pump impellar, the points and all the connections under the hood. With a touch of proper maintenance that motor might wake up a bit.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Project Merlin

The little motor beat me up pretty good. My back is still screamin' at me and my hand is not happy.

Ouch.

LOL

-BWR

 

[drewmitch44]

Re: Project Merlin

Surprised the rope or recoil mechanism did not kick it with all that pulling! I think that all that oil in the gas could have been your problem. It can foul the plugs, gum up the carb, and a few other things that would cause the problems you were having. It was said that it will just smoke more with too much oil, but thats with a little too much oil. 16:1 is a lot more than a little too much. Id try to get the mix right with a new batch of 50:1 and clean out the carb and plugs and try again. Just my opinion. Ohh and use your other hand next time to start the motor. I think it will hurt if you use that same hand.!

 

[maxum247]

Re: Project Merlin

The little motor beat me up pretty good. My back is still screamin' at me and my hand is not happy.

Ouch.

LOL

-BWR

That looks like it hurt!
Busted my nose once with the back of my hand while pulling on an outboard that wouldn't start! The motor kicked backed and my hand slipped off the pull cord handle and I ended up having to row back to the dock with a sore nose.

max!