New guy, be gentle!!

[seagullbeginner]

Ok guys thanks, i'm also talking to a forum member about the piossibility of buying his motor, but it would then involve the shipping etc which i'm not keen on, i've got the guys number so i'm going to give him a call in a sec, could you give me an idiots guide of what to check & how to check if the tank is rusty or not?

thanks

[Horsley-Anarak]

If it runs and pumps, and is local Buy it.

H-A

[seagullbeginner]

I spoke to the chap who was selling it, he said it had'nt run for about 8 months & he'd given it to his grandad to start, i asked him if i could see it working in a tank & sounded a bit baffled as to why he could'nt just start it dry.
That kind of put me off & the fact it was also a Long shaft was'nt ideal.
I just paid fellow forum member Niander for his engine which will hopefully be winging it's way to me in the next few days

[charlesp]

I would say you did the right thing asking for a demonstration. Starting up a Seagull dry is fine, for up to maybe half a minute - you won't damage the impeller as it's a hard plastic device with a good clearance, unlike today's soft plastic which destroy themselves if run dry.

Good luck with the one from Niander, why not post pictures then we can all see what you've got...

[seagullbeginner]

I have better, i have a video

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7w3C3fFU ... r_embedded

[Keith.P]

If I were you I would get a spark-plug cap before it gets painful.

[charlesp]

Or, even better on a motor that age, a new HT lead complete.

[seagullbeginner]

Ok, an HT lead or a spark plug cap, i can imagine are fairly simple things to fit & source i presume?
Could you enlighten me, as i'm pretty crap with engines, as to why & what's wrong with the current one?

Thanks

[seagullbeginner]

bump

[charlesp]

The current one has the older type fitting at the end, one that is associated with the original Bakelite plug cap with thumb screw fitting. With a motor of this age there will inevitably be some deterioration, and it's a simple job to replace an HT lead. Many Seagull people replace HT leads as a matter of routine.

It's just a matter of order one from John, undo the spring retaining clip, and replace. A new lead should include - as suggested by another - a new plug cap.

I couldn't see the serial letters in the video - is this an Forty Plus or a Forty Minus? Not that there's any difference as far as HT leads goes.

[seagullbeginner]

Its engine no SJM4342 Fourty Minus.
I'd already emailed John & i'm just waiting for him to send me the invoice over.
Sorry, i don't mean to sound demanding i just don't have a blimmin clue on what i'm doing really & wuold rather hassle you guys to make sure it's done / being done right.
Is there a step by step on how to replace something like this?

[charlesp]

The HT lead is held in place by a spring that in turn is held by two small nuts, under the magneto. Undo one of those and it'll allow you to pull the plastic terminal straight out of the magneto baseplate. Shove the new one in (here I'm assuming you've bought a complete HT lead from John) and put the spring back.

[seagullbeginner]

Yeah i've bought a new one c/w cap