Saving Old Seagulls

Hi I am trying to get a Seagull EFPCL running smoothly. The ID table says that it is a Forty Plus with Clutch model 55-mk3 ignition.

Now here is the problem: When it waits for a while, it tends to start the first or second pull. The problem is when I stop it and try to restart. Today I had to pull about 20 times before I could start it again. This could mean rowing exercise for me tomorrow:) Any ideas why? (a) Also I have noticed that it is a bit water shy. Could this be a serious problem (such as compression)

Some notes..I know that it says 90 gear oil, yet there is 140 gear oil in the gearbox. does this affect start up, or is it a running issue. I saw the my uncle top the gearbox with oil. I know that this is wrong, could this cause the problem? (b)

The sparkplug is new, yet the gap (just by looking at it) seemed larger than 1mm. So I knocked on it a few times to make it shorter. should I make it even shorter?

I am not good at the terminology. Does this model have points adjustment at all? If E stands for Electronic...(c)

How about the timing. Where is it located? (d)

Thank you in advance..

dev

Hello Dev,

Your model 55 has a points free CD ignition, For the 1979 to 1983 inclusive models, gap on the plug 35 thou.

Runs on 25:1 mix, make sure it is fresh..... Older than 3 months could be a problem.

The gearbox should have seals in it, so you can use 90 grade oil, but if the seals go that's when it's best to use 140 or EP140 for the interim. Changing the seals is not as easy as it could be, as the bevel gear seal is tucked away in the top and the prop shaft seal has a s/s cover on it that can be a swine to get off. 140 wil not hurt, but check it every 10 hours use and change it if it gets watery... See the FAQ page...

Make sure the Carb is clean, on the Villiers carb there is a secondary jet hidden in the main jet body. The flats half way up take a 10mm spanner, undo it ans it will reveal the other jet, blow it through.

Ensure centre brass jet, the 'centrepiece', is properly located in body. The little steel screw in the side of the carb fits into the square recess on the centrepiece, when you look down the top with the air slide out, you can clearly see it.

So many come to me with problems, where someone has stripped and rebuilt, neatly placing the screw in the round hole... Yes thats the jet hole and that's why they have problems!

Another reason for poor starting is drowning them, if the motor is too deeply imersed, there will be extra back pressure in the exhaust. This motor should be on a dinghy somewhere between 10 and 14/15 ft long. If it on a tiny dinghy and you might be of large proportions, the engine might be struggling...

You can rais these smaller motors up, use 2 engine lugs, the half round plastic bits that secure the motor to the shaft, with a pair of s/s bolts, fit it between mount and bottom of motor to raise it 3".

Ensure lower end of exhaust tube, the straight bit, is 1 or 2" into the water max.

Compression is only 100psi, they run happily at 85, that is not normally a problem.

Do check next time it happens to see if you still have a spark... If not the CD unit might be duff. Rare but can happen.

Hope all this helps,
Regards,
John
SOS

John, thank you for the quick response,

Today, I took out the carburetor, and roughly cleaned it up. It is an AMAL 416. There was some debris where the fuel first enters the carburettor. The rest seemed ok, and all the passages seemed open. This has improved the situation. It would start when "hot" in less number of pulls. Yet in some pulls It would make no "PA!" at all(excuse my gibbrish). I suspected that the spark plug gap is not correct so I took it out and narrowed the gap. Unfortunately I don't have a device for this, so it was all by look n feel. The sparkplug is Motorcraft BSF6. (I also have a very old champion d16). Now it fires almost every pull yet runs quite irregular, and it struggles at half throttle.I took out the spark plug and there was soot accumulation on it (could this be because I only ran it for a minute in the test bin?)

As far as the gearbox goes, we used a silicone seal (the red stuff) along with a SAE 140. Is this method ok for the gearbox?

Now I have more confidence that my seagull will bring me back ashore, yet I would like to have it running smoother if possible.

Hello Dev,

As your EFPC has the Amal 416 I am wondering what year it is and what ignition you have, if 1979 to 83 it probably has a Wipac Mk III, if so the plug should be gapped to 35 thou. If later to 25 thou.

It will be worth spending £2.00 on a set of feeler guages for it! Correct gaps are important.

The plug you mention I have never heard of??? I recommend the Champion D16. I sell them for £5.00

With the correct gap and a clea carb you will be well on the way!

Regards,
John
SOS