Sea King ID - where is it?

[rchasm]

Just completed my iboats registration. I'm very impressed with all the expertise in the forums - hope you can help me. I recently acquired a Montgomery Ward Sea King 7.5 hp, 140.8 cc engine but, for the life of me, I can't find a Model/Serial number. I have scoured the viewable portion of the engine and found the following: 1019, 10-75 (date?), 194 LM(E?), and WAIBRO? USA on the carburetor, Tillitson, Toledo, OH on the fuel pump, and 900-0437-00 and 900-0436-00 on the transom clamp brackets. I will start taking parts off if necessary to find the model/serial numbers but I would like to minimize that activity until I have the numbers needed to find an applicable manual (kind of a Catch-22 situation). Can anyone give me an idea of where I need to look and/or what parts I need to remove to find the ID numbers? I have attached a photo in case anyone can provide a visual ID. Thanks for your help in advance.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Is the engine an air cooled engine or a water cooled engine? If air cooled, it's a Clinton-made outboard. If it's water-cooled it's built by Chrysler. Can you take a picture with the cowling off so we can see the engine itself?

The model number should be somewhere on the outside of the engine, near the transom mounts. It should start with either KTV or VWB, followed by numbers. You don't need to remove any parts to find the model number.

 

[rchasm]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Thanks for the quick reply. Here is one view - I've got others if needed. The control panel says air & water cooled. I found one more number on the underside of the engine case: 701216, if that helps. After peering around with a flashlight for another half hour, I still can't find a KTV or VWB number. Might it have been on some kind of tag that has been lost?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

OK, then. That's definitely a Clinton-made outboard. The engine will range from a K-750 through K-753, for parts questions. Most parts will be the same between them, but I don't know what's different.

The carburetor is a Walbro.

These outboards were made for Wards from 1974 to 1984. The key to identifying the year is going to be from appearance, since the model number isn't there.

Some parts will be common through all 10 years, like the water pump impeller and some other parts. But there will also be differences.

The engine, itself, is air cooled, but there is a water pump in the lower unit that pumps water to cool the exhaust system. You need it to be working properly to prevent cooking gaskets, etc.

Find that guy on ebay who sells Clinton Outboard parts, ask him if he'll id your outboard for you, then send him the photo that shows the hood. He sells manuals and parts, and so will probably be able to tell you the year and model number.

Clinton maintained its parts department after it quit making outboards, so some parts are not too hard to find. You'll become an expert in finding stuff after a while.

Good luck with your Sea King. It's not an outboard brand I have any experience with repairing, so I won't be able to help you with details, but once you identify the year and model number, you should be able to find a repair manual, which will help a lot.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

More info: It appears to me that your cowling is identical to the Clinton K-753 model, which would put it in the years from 1978-84.

The Clinton Engines Products company may have parts:

Clinton Engines Products company
P.O. Box 860
Maquoketa, IA
Or Try to phone them at
563-652-2411

Worth a try.

 

[rchasm]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Wow! Thanks for the info - couldn't have asked for more. First thing will be to check with the eBay guy and get a manual and see if I can get the fuel system put together - don't have connectors, fuel line, or tank.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Your outboard uses a CHAMPION RJ14YC SPARK PLUG.

There is an LME Walbro Carburetor, and a carb kit is available at:

http://www.discount-marine-parts.com/walbro_lme.html

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

I have more information:

The K-753 engines with 140.8 cc displacement were only made in 1976, 77, and 78. After 1978, the displacement was larger. So...

Here are the sea king model numbers that would apply. I suspect that the parts are pretty much identical in all models. Changes weren't made every year in this line:

1976 - KTV52375
1977 and 1978 - KTV52307

That should narrow it down some more for you.

 

[rchasm]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Yes indeed. Since I can't find the model #, it's good to be able to narrow it down to just a couple of possibilities. I have already ordered a manual from the eBay guy and have a couple of questions in concerning fuel system parts and impellers. May go ahead and order the plug and carb kit since those are not big ticket items.

Since the engine hasn't been run for a couple of years, I'm thinking I should go ahead and replace the water pump impeller - I'm assuming it has a water pump on these air/water cooled engines. Hopefully the eBay guy will get back to me on that. As for the air cooling function, I have no idea how that is accomplished or what parts need to be replaced. I'm pretty clear on how to make sure water cooling is functioning on a normal water-cooled engine but not so sure on this hybrid. And I don't have any idea how to evaluate the health of the air cooling function. What I don't want to do is get the engine started and then have it overheat.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Don't worry about the air cooling. There is a fan under the flywheel, and the sheet metal shrouds on the engine direct the air over the cylinders and other parts. It's about the single thing on that engine that isn't really subject to failure. On a lawnmower junk like grass clippings can clog things up, but that's not an issue on an outboard. Don't worry at all about that end of things.

 

[rchasm]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

That's good. I'll just focus on water pump impeller. Think I found one on eBay. I'm waiting for answers from eBay guy on impeller and fuel system questions. Thanks again for all your great help.

 

[seamorewaterVIP]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

dont know if this helps or not but i have a 7 hp seaking and the model and sn are on an alum plate that is attached to the transom mount under the cowling look for two holes that migh have had rivets in them. you have to turn the engine 90 degrees to see it. Some of the other guys here have said that some of them are stamped into the curve of the transom mount. Good luck

 

[rchasm]

Re: Sea King ID - where is it?

Thanks for the info. I'll take another look.