Saving Old Seagulls

Looks like a fun day for all

Its always remarkable to see a seagull gearbox innards all seized up and rusty, only to find with a elbow grease and attention its comes back to quite serviceable again

Yes, its a brass round section tank for this engine.

These engines are now sold.

I have two BMB outboards for sale, both desirable pre war models. The first one is one of the early Britannia engines, approx 1930/1931 with the finned exhaust and twin coil ignition, coils seem ok, but new ones are available from Villiers parts. It has been partially stripped and loosely reassemble...

I didnt notice the crankcase was replaced, nice spot Keith

Next job was the tank, which had some deep rust. So I decided to strip it back to bare metal and repaint it. The waterslide decals came from Sharpy, who also supplies John at SOS.

The engine mount bracket is incorrect, there should be two clamps, one securing the drive tube, the other securing the mount bracket. This is mine.

So, as Hugo says the big steel side mount, but they are very rare. I've been looking for one for 10 years! Early post war for a short period was the so called "Skeletal" then the beefed up bracket with the firstly alloy, then bronze clamps we know and love. Cash waiting for a original side...

Next job was to look at the tiller, which was slightly bent! A bit of gentle persuasion worked a treat here. Does anybody have any idea what the original tiller grips were?

Nice job I have an identical engine on my rack thats been waiting to be looked at for 10 years. Must look at it next after the OG is finished.

Thats a great story and a great find too!

Heres a photo of my early BMB. The clip could be easily made from a piece of spring steel strip or similar. Do you want the actual dimensions? I also have a later BMB with the smooth exhaust casting and villiers magneto, but I suspect that part is different.

Next job was to give the crankcases a bit of a clean, and replace the tiller stub which had sheared. The original was made from monel, which is hard to find, luckily a brass SD one is identical. The treads in the crankcase for the tiller stub needed a light clean up by passing a tap through.

Next job was to investigate the gearbox, and would the end cap come off? I was hopeful as the FNR gearbox does not have the water pump behind the cap, so less chance of deep corrosion in the threads. Eureka!, it came off easily A full degrease and clean, and generally all in very good condition.