What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

[vital velocity]

Family has had a McCulloch boat/motor since the 60s, it has sat for years on top of years and i think its about time we actually get it in the water to see if it still swims

We tuned up the motor and it seems to run fine, however i believe its a fresh water motor and all we have is salt water; we would prefer to swap it over for a saltwater motor or something that if we need to get a part we can run down to the local store.

My question is...im new to boats, just figured it would be fun to go out on the water with my dad and would like to make that happen this spring. What kind of motors can i swap this one with and wheres the best place to find a decently priced one.

I believe the one on there is a 75hp model; should we stick around that range?

Thank you and sorry for the noob questions
Paul-

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

IMHO, a 70hp J/E will be your best bang for your buck, nothing past say 1974 I'm not much of a merc fan although they seem to be a good motor and generally out run a similarly rated hp J/E...I just remember my uncles all swore by a Johnson and complained about every Merc they owned having lower unit trouble's and that they were hard to keep sealed and rusting prop shafts, in fresh water.

50hp J/E are reasonably cheap and easy repaired...plent of bang for the buck there for a smaller runabout and there abundant

 

[vital velocity]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

Do you know what would be involved in switching over? I read that the mcullochs had specialized steering and throttle cables?

So i need to find an older motor?

Again sorry for the noob questions i just dont even know where to start

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

you need to get the control's with the motor you buy replace your Mc with...and don't let anybody steal those Mc controls and motor from you as there hard to come by these days.

Steering should not be a problem if your buying a older J/E or merc...there is generally a provision for the older pulley system steering on the older model's, you may have to hit the local boat salvage yard.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

Heres what I run for fun, easy to work on and parts are as cheap as any its age...best power to weight ration a poor bilge rat like me can afford, I did however install boyesen reeds in it this spring and have been more than happy that I did. Oh and did I mention the wifey likes to play captain...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgmMmgRki9M

 

[chrisroberts916]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

If you going to get rid of the McCulloch controls I would be interrested in them. I have a nice Johnson Simplex controls Pollished willing to trade + $$$.

Can't beat a Johnson just because the parts are everywhere.

 

[RRitt]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

well, IMO - there is no such thing as a saltwater engine except in marketing and junkyards. Buy an engine you are willing to throw away every few years.

There is no escaping it. Stainless will suck every electron right out the aluminum. All it needs is water that conducts electricity. Like, say, for example, saltwater.

 

[mrcrabs]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

Buy an engine you are willing to throw away every few years.

or one you can systematically replace it part buy part, year by year:redface:

 

[RRitt]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

The problem with salt water is that outboards are mostly aluminum with stainless bolts. Galvanic corrosion attacks where stainless touches aluminum. The aluminum oxide is about 10x larger than the aluminum. So SS bolts become seized and start twisting off when you try to remove them. If your zinc anode goes bad it takes less than a year. If you stay on your anodes and wash/flush your engine religiously then you can delay the inevitable. I doubt you'll get more than a decade no matter how much anti-sieze and zinc you slather on.

 

[Tommy Two Stroke]

Re: What can i replace a McCulloch motor with?

Something you can do which helps to make the saltwater corrosion less severe, is to remove all stainless bolts and apply zinc chromate primer to the threads, and screw them back into the aluminum. Military equipment is often built this way, when stainless heli-coils are installed in threaded aluminum holes, to lessen corrosion potential in saltwater and salt-spray environments. There is a mil-spec which governs this assembly technique, but I can't remember the number for it offhand.