Britannia Swordfish

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Tim Murphy
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:44 am
Location: Isle of Man

Britannia Swordfish

Post by Tim Murphy »

Hello all,
First time on the forum. After surfing the net for help with an old Swordfish I've been asked to get going I came across SOS. I emailed John and he suggested asking on the forum so here I am.... :D

I'm led to believe the engine in question is early 1970s. It is a boxer twin very similar to the article on the main site here: http://www.saving-old-seagulls.co.uk/no ... sh%202.jpg ...excepting that this one has alloy heads/barrels. It was given to me with the words "it overheats, can you fix it?" the trouble is I don't really know where to start....
I don't have a lot of experience with outboards bar a few 'modern' models, so am wondering how it's put together really...
Does it have an impeller as per 'modern' engines? There doesn't seem to be a lot of room at the business end of the shaft to fit an impeller in so I'm wondering if it has one further up under the engine :?: Maybe it has some other cunning cooling system design :?:
Glancing over it, it appears that you have no reverse gear and that you change the timing and start it up in the desired direction, would this be correct :?:
As you can tell I haven't delved to far in to it yet! I wanted to find out a bit about it before I start any deep investigations so any information would be useful.
Thanks in advance,
Tim

Edit: just noticed the 'Other Old Outboards (Non-Seagulls)' - feel free to move it Mods :wink:
Keith.P
Posts: 2837
Joined: Wed Oct 24, 2007 7:43 pm
Location: Hertfordshire
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Re: Britannia Swordfish

Post by Keith.P »

Hi, I don't know this engine, but I will see if I can help you with this one.
Right, impeller, I suspect by the holes in the casing behind the propeller, it has a wobble pump, a basic rubber ring with an off-centre cam that makes it wobble.
Most of the old smaller HP engines never had gears and clutch, so if you spun the outboard 180 degrees you got reverse.
Compression test the motor first, so you don't waste your time.
Tim Murphy
Posts: 2
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 2:44 am
Location: Isle of Man

Re: Britannia Swordfish

Post by Tim Murphy »

Cheers Keith,
I've had the engine running - there's no problem there. I'll take the prop end apart next and have a looksee if it has a wobble pump and if it can be serviced.
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Collector Inspector
Posts: 4196
Joined: Sun Jun 29, 2008 4:32 am
Location: Perth Western Australia
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Re: Britannia Swordfish

Post by Collector Inspector »

Welcome Aboard.

Engine number and pics of gearcase and all will be revealed.

Nice link to my 1956 Swordfish. That was the nearly last year by the way................Yes "wobble Pump" later ones which they should be ashamed of, love that description "Wobble"!

I would like some pics of power head for me/us by the way..........................."Alloy Heads and Barrels"?

Forget the tank, this pic, do the heads and etc look like yours?

PM me if you wish

Regards

B


PS; I just edited above.

PPS; I just added a photo as well................
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