WaterWitch Outboard

[Wildman1024]

Hey Guys new here. This is my 1st time here but I'm not new to forums or 2 strokes. I collect and restore Chainsaws. Anyways I'm here to help out my neighbor. he is an older guy with no internet or computer but has a vintage waterwitch outboard he needs some parts for to finish restoring. He says he needs ignition parts some rings and whatever gaskets he may need to do the job. I believe the serial # is 574-30. Anyone know the year of this engine?

 

[Wildman1024]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

edit

 

[dwco5051]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

574-30 I think is the Sears Model number not the serial number. Sears sold these before the war and a google search may give you a close date of manufacturer.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

Had some time on my hands so I looked up that model number. The 574 prefix was used on post war Elgins sold by sears. The starting model number on the Waterwitch should be 571.

I am not an expert on these early Sears motors but it sure looks like the waterwitch from the 1930's. I have several later model Elgins and it is not one of them.

Good luck on your search

 

[F_R]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

571-40 is a 2.75hp Sears Water Witch, made by Kissel in 1940. That's about all I know about it, except that there is a standing joke among antique outboard collectors that nobody has a Water Witch that actually runs. Of course that is not entirely true. Does it have the Mae West tank? At least they look cool, even if not running.

I seriously doubt you are going to find new parts for it, but who knows? Your best bet is the Antique Outboard Motors club website www.aomci.org They have a free classified ads page where you can post your wanted ad, and an Ask-A-Member forum where you can ask questions.

 

[Wildman1024]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

Thanks i'll check it out

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

571-40 is a 2.75hp Sears Water Witch, made by Kissel in 1940. That's about all I know about it, except that there is a standing joke among antique outboard collectors that nobody has a Water Witch that actually runs. Of course that is not entirely true. Does it have the Mae West tank? At least they look cool, even if not running.

I seriously doubt you are going to find new parts for it, but who knows? Your best bet is the Antique Outboard Motors club website www.aomci.org They have a free classified ads page where you can post your wanted ad, and an Ask-A-Member forum where you can ask questions.

Ahhhh yes. The old Mae West motors. They got that name, because the tips of the tanks stuck out like her hooters. Gotta love the old engines though. I had one of these once. Never got it to run though. A buddy of mine gave me the one I had and it had a big ol' automotive style coil mounted on the side of it, with some big ugly home made bracket. What a laugh I got that day. It had great compression and a good lower unit though. These motors are so friggin rare now, because they never ran right, so it might be worth the effort to see why and get it running.

The later Elgin made Sears motors were good runners though.

 

[Noodles33]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

I have a 1938 water witch wth turbo tanks, will need the lower surround to finish cosmeticaly.Any help would be great.
Noodles

 

[Vintage 4.8]

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

I have been working to restore an antique 1942 Waterwitch. I have not been able to locate any photos anywhere of what this old motor looked like new. The outboard is Model #571.15. Attached are photos of the motor when I purchased it for $15 dollars on Craigslist.

 

[Vintage 4.8]

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Here are a few photos during my restoration of a 1942 Waterwitch Outboard project. More photos to come when carb is cleaned up, painted and installed. These motors are so cool. Especially when you clean them up.

 

[nwcove]

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

nice work vintage! will it be a runner?

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Yea, that is a work of art, you have there. I think probably the one thing that usually fails on those, is the old Wico coils. Those are probably a little tough to find. It probably would be a good idea, to search someone out, that can recondition the originals. Since these motors were notorious for not running, the mechanic condition should be pretty good and not much need to tear into them. I'm willing to bet, that the average one has less than 50 hours on it.

 

[Michaeld61]

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

I purchased one off of ebay and it showed up today. Mine is a 1937 May West Model S/N 571-10. I found a website ( waterwitch.net)that has lots of information about WaterWitches. Mine has some cosmetic issues and was not running. It has a very odd carb on it "Never seen one like it" But, I think I have it figured it out. I am not an expert but I think it works like this; it has a piston type affair in the bottom of the carb that is sucked open and closed with the suction of the intake and exhaust stroke. this causes gas to be sucked into engine to be compressed and ignited. ( this is my understanding of how it works. I may be totally wrong. But, I have be able to get mine running I ended up having to make new gaskets and sanding the contacts on the points. To get mine running. I set the advance to straight up with the lean/rich around 7. To start when cold: I prime it by moving the spring loaded piston on the bottom of the carb several times ( until my finger is wet) It starts on the second pull now! I don't know If I have made any sense to anyone,but I'm just trying to help.

 

[1946Zephyr]

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Re: 1942-3.5 HP Waterwitch Outboard

Holy Crap!! You got your Witch to start that good? You're awesome. Like I said earlier in this thread, I read some stories about how tough they are to run, but I think someone with some good common sense can do it. LOL One thing you guys with these off brand motors should do, is invest in "The Old Outboard Book" by Peter Hunn. There's some amazing stuff in there about old motors. There's a write up about the old Witches too.

 

[retro54]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

Vintage 4.8,

Just joined this site because of your thread. I was looking for photos of this exact waterwitch model as well. When I get home, i will try to upload some of my photos, mine is almost complete, So it should help you out with some of your questions.

Cheers

retro.

 

[JB]

Re: WaterWitch Outboard

12. Please do not post to threads that have been inactive for more than 3 months UN-LESS you are the original poster. We have very active forums and any thread that remains inactive for that long should be considered "dead". It is especially confusing when there is an entirely new question posted to an old thread. This is considered a hijack. Please start a new thread of your own.