The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

[cprince]

The I bought an Eska (1977 15hp) because I did not know better. I bought it on a whim and then read all the horror stories about it.

At the start of the season I was on my way to a little fishing vacation when the hing that holds the engine onto the bracket cracked off while driving. Good thing I had a couple of straps on it or it would have been a hood ornament for the little Matrix that was on my butt for about 20ks.

After much ado... I fashioned a fix a couple of weeks ago. It seems more solid (This hinge) than the original.

From the top:

From the bottom and behind:

I hit the water with it for the first time... and she ran great... a little under powered for a 15, but I was VERY pleased. The water pump was pumping and the sparkplugs were sparking... Quite happy!

The next thing I want to do is get a carb kit and change the LU oil. How do I change the oil? I do not have the first clue on how to do this!

Here is a pic of the Eska. I see a little rectangular plate near the bottom.. is that where I drain it from? The prop also seems MUCH smaller than my friends JohnnyRude 15... is that normal?

 

[steelespike]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

Change oil There are to screws on theport side of the motor bottom is a drain top is the vent.Use sae 90 outboard gear lube. Drain with motor upright.fill through drain hole till oil come out vent insert vent screw then drain screw.Note color of old lube if creamy like coffee with cream indicate water present.recheck oil color after a couple of hours use if creamy looking.

 

[cprince]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

Change oil There are to screws on theport side of the motor bottom is a drain top is the vent.Use sae 90 outboard gear lube. Drain with motor upright.fill through drain hole till oil come out vent insert vent screw then drain screw.Note color of old lube if creamy like coffee with cream indicate water present.recheck oil color after a couple of hours use if creamy looking.

Thanks for the reply admiral steelespike! Sounds easy enough. I would guess that I will have to have it kinda warm to properly drain this stuff? If cold will it be like molasses?

Any idea about the prop size?

I am considering a new prop... but only if it is interchangeable with a Johnny-Rude... if this thing gives up a coil pack... it will go in the garbage pretty quick, but if I buy a new prop for it... I want to be able to put it on another 15hp of some kind.

 

[steelespike]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

Thanks for the reply admiral steelespike! Sounds easy enough. I would guess that I will have to have it kinda warm to properly drain this stuff? If cold will it be like molasses?

Any idea about the prop size?

I am considering a new prop... but only if it is interchangeable with a Johnny-Rude... if this thing gives up a coil pack... it will go in the garbage pretty quick, but if I buy a new prop for it... I want to be able to put it on another 15hp of some kind.

By the way thats a nice solution to the broken mount.
Oil will flow ok at room temp.If you have to do it in the cold just give it time to drain.Your not likely to find a different prop and the prop is specific to the Eska.It appears small because motor isn't particularly powerful.
Concentrate on careful setup.Motor height and trim, weight distribution
elimination.Starting with the antivent plate(just above the prop)even with the bottom of the boat raise the motor a little at a time by placing 1/4" sticks on the top of the transom.Probably won't go far because the prop is pretty primative.Be sure it continues to pump water.Carefull motor trim
and weight distribution.If you really want to play with setup a GPS and tinytach will be big help.The tinytach is reasonable easy to install and will work on any similar engine regardless of stator poles.
A evinrude 15 is rated for a max speed of about 25 stock on a light fast boat.

 

[cprince]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

Interesting reply! I like the setup info you gave me... just not certain about the tiny tach. Would the RPM change based on how the setup? I would have thought that if I am at WOT, it would be the same RPM no matter the resistance...

I thought that the RPM *sounded* a little low to me (Compared to a Johnny-Rude of the same HP).

 

[steelespike]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

Interesting reply! I like the setup info you gave me... just not certain about the tiny tach. Would the RPM change based on how the setup? I would have thought that if I am at WOT, it would be the same RPM no matter the resistance...

I thought that the RPM *sounded* a little low to me (Compared to a Johnny-Rude of the same HP).

I couldn't find an Eska 9.9 or 15 rpm range I would guess hp is rated at 5,500.
The E/J 15 are rated at 5,500 to 7,000.Your rpm may be on a plate on the motor.
If you think about it as you add wreight and the boat slows the rpm decreases.So if your dragging too much motor through the water it will slow the boat and thus lower rpm.At the speeds your traveling raising the motor isn't going to do much but will assure the least resistance.May slightly improve hole shot and give a marginal speed improvement.I would say your not likely to exceed the motors rpm rating in almost any application.The tach probably isn't necessary except to compare rpm to performance.Keep in mind if you get one the tinytach will work on any 2cyl. 2 stroke motor and with faster motors with a prop selection a tach is a must for fine tuning the setup and checking rpm is within range.

 

[cprince]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

I hope you are still reading this section Steelspike...

I found two different replacement props for my model Eska;

The standard one (I think) is described as: 9.9-15 HP - 8 1/4 x 11 PITCH
The one that *may* interest me is described as: 15 HP - 8 1/4 x 12 PITCH

Is this a bigger prop or is it just the pitch that is different?

Do you know if it would translate into faster performance in any way? I want to get another prop anyway (nice to have a replacement hub and prop...)

Thanks!

Craig

 

[steelespike]

Re: The Eska LIVES! Now how do I change the LU oil?

I hope you are still reading this section Steelspike...

I found two different replacement props for my model Eska;

The standard one (I think) is described as: 9.9-15 HP - 8 1/4 x 11 PITCH
The one that *may* interest me is described as: 15 HP - 8 1/4 x 12 PITCH

Is this a bigger prop or is it just the pitch that is different?

Do you know if it would translate into faster performance in any way? I want to get another prop anyway (nice to have a replacement hub and prop...)

Thanks!

Craig

First of all If you read the helps on the iboats prop store page it will help you understand prop selection.unfortunately its difficult to select a prop without a present base line performance.Including prop size rpm and speed.
What is the present prop size? What boat and typical load are you running?
Selecting a prop is like selecting a single gear in your car to do everything.
Too low (smaller number) lots of power, high rpm(over rev) little speed. Too high(higher number) less power, more speed(maybe) lower rpm(lugging motor).
Your prop number 8 1/4 X 11 (diameter X pitch)Pitch is the critical number.
You need a prop that puts the motor near the top of the rpm range with a light load. A 1 inch pitch change on a small motor is signifgant.
Guessing motor rpm isn't a good idea but if you feel it was a little low you might go to a lower pitch.