Lock washers or not?

[mashenden]

Is there a rule of thumb on when to and when not to use lock washers on Seagulls?

It seems that many bolts on my Seagulls do not have them. For example, only flat washers on the head bolts and the 4 crankcase bolts. My oldest motor had lockwashers on the two bolts that hold the block on, but neither other motor has them.

To me it seems it would be better to have them in all cases, than not, but then again, that may be Matt Logic, not reality

Oh, and another thing that catches my eye - is my entire EFPC motor staying out of the water by relying on a plastic collar around the shaft where it pivots?? I noticed that the older ones are made of metal, but even that still seems like a single point of potential kersplash. Is there a history of these failing, in particular the plastic bit on a long shaft (which puts more of a moment, hence strain on it)?

[headdownarseup]

Myself being a motor technician, i would always use a lock washer on any fastener, particularly if the item is prone to vibrating. Have a look through some of the owners manuals and that will tell you for sure.

As a safeguard, i'd use a length of rope wrapped once around the drive tube and tied to the transom of the boat at both sides. (just in case)

I'm fairly confident the plastic is pretty strong to withstand most things you can throw at a seagull, BUT you never know.....

jon

[mashenden]

Seems like good advise on both accounts. Thank you.

[Charles uk]

Seagull have been building this series of motors for over 50 years, if the lack of spring/lock washers was going to cause a problem, I think it would have happened by now!

If I remember right only the drive shaft retaining studs on the base of the crankcase, are ever fitted with a spring washer by Seagull, the only other location is the tiller arm retaining stud normally fitted with a thackery & a plain washer underneath the castle nut. Ignoring any used under the flywheel.

As for the black plastic drive shaft retaining saddle, I've never heard of one of these letting go even under the thrust & weight of a long shaft Kingfisher

[Hugz]

I've had the stud rust and expand cracking the plastic saddle. I changed before a drama happened.

[mashenden]

Seagull have been building this series of motors for over 50 years, if the lack of spring/lock washers was going to cause a problem, I think it would have happened by now!

If I remember right only the drive shaft retaining studs on the base of the crankcase, are ever fitted with a spring washer by Seagull, the only other location is the tiller arm retaining stud normally fitted with a thackery & a plain washer underneath the castle nut. Ignoring any used under the flywheel.

As for the black plastic drive shaft retaining saddle, I've never heard of one of these letting go even under the thrust & weight of a long shaft Kingfisher

Good info. To a large degree the intent of my lockwasher question was to find out what was traditionally done. Then to see if anyone advised against them for some reason that I was not understanding. I'll probably use them except on the head - I'd rather not change that design for the "better", if you get my drift.

Regarding the plastic retaining saddle, to be safe I'll make a short SS cable with loops on both ends so I can tether the motor to the bracket or boat in some way (and/or use the metal collar from my SJP) To me it seems it would fail when putting the motor down, causing it to keep on going off the transom and to the bottom. Once I finally get mine working that would really be a downer .

[Gannet]

Spring washers.

In my experience, I have come across spring washers on the early series 40 in the following three positions :-

1. The two tank location studs. The spring washers were copper based alloy - probably bronze. Fairly consistently used in this application.
2. On the flanged studs in the magneto baseplate used in locating the soft iron cores and holding on the HT lead connection block. These spring washers were steel.
3. Under the three nuts holding the points ignition system to the magneto baseplate. Again the spring washers were steel.

Apart from that, they do not appear to have been used on the early 40s. Their absence doesn't seem to result in things dropping off too often!
Maybe it was because of the super smooth running and the precise balancing of the whole rotating assembly...... or perhaps not!!

Jeremy

[JERSEYMAN]

a large degree

I like it mashenden