new gull owner....help!!!

[nwcove]

just picked up my first gull, there is an F on the block, with 33409 under it. i did the checks, and it shows up as a 1955/56 or an early 1970's? what is it? it's not running, and only has spark very intermiitantly, did manage to get a puff of smoke from it tho. aside from a plug, whats the most likely cause of the no spark issue?

thanks in advance
tim
nova scotia
canada

[Keith.P]

F33409 comes up as a little model forty 1955/56, give the points a good clean and see if that's any better.

[nwcove]

turns out my eyes are bad! its a f 334c9, 1969 model year.
i got it running, but it seems to kill spark plugs? and when it does run in a barrel it misses really bad. i have cleaned the points, checked the gap . 020. why would this motor miss like that, it seems to be a spark issue rather than fuel.weak orange, intermittant spark.

[Hugz]

Is the magneto base plate firm on the crankcase? A slight wobble cause the points gap to change and also can inhibit a good earth path for the plug.

[weddigen]

Welcome to the strange world of Seagulls!If I were you I'd replace the HT lead to the plug with the proper copper core item(not the carbon type),ensuring a good connect.ion on both ends.Cheers

[nwcove]

did all the cleaning of points...againt, checked gap, good at 0.5mm. base plate is secure, no movement.is the ht lead something i have to but, or can i buy a piece of coper core wire and just replace that part.? also, how do i adjust the needle for a leaner run? (even at 16:1, there is about 1/8 inch of unburnt oil in my barrel after a half hour run, thats when it dies and need a new plug .....cleaning up the plug does not give me spark)

[Keith.P]

I wouldn't worry about the mixture until you get a good spark going, it will not be burning all the fuel let alone the oil.
Just the lead can be replaced, but you may end up having to got a new one, as they are easy at all to do.

[nwcove]

before i try to replace just the spark plug lead, is there any easy way to tell if this motor has been converted to 25:1 fuel mix?

[Keith.P]

Don't quote me on this, but I think the needle will be stamped.

[Keith.P]

Just had a read of John's main help page.
Needle number.

No 3 is 10:1

No 2 or '2 & 1/2% or a needle with nothing on it at all is 25:1