After many months searching on the internet, I have now been able to identify an old outboard motor which came into my fathers posession in the early sixties. It's a Britannia Swordfish and the only information I can find on these motors is in the 'Old Outboard Book' and a picture on the SOS of one that is, I think, in Austrailia. The motor is circa 1949 and she was layed up, in the sixties until I completed the restoration recently, well.... apart from the last piece of the jig-saw. I wonder if anyone can help?
The engine is a horizontally opposed twin but with both cylinders firing at the same time. The Wico-Pacy FW magneto coil is defunct and I am desperate to find an alternative to the double wound coil, or to know of anyone who has experience of winding this type of coil, or perhaps, knowledge of a supplier who can supply one. The nearest I have got at the moment is a guy in America who could supply one for an engine driven Maytag washing machine, which, apparently used an FW magneto with a twin spark coil. However, he seems to have gone to ground and I cannot persuade him to come out of hiding to adress my request!
Anyway, I know this is a little away from the Seagull scene, but I do hope that some of you chaps may have the wisdom and knowledge to send me on my way with renewed hope!
Thanks
Old Brit Motor, alas, not Seagull.
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chiliwindow
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:18 pm
- Location: Scottish Highlands
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chiliwindow
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:18 pm
- Location: Scottish Highlands
Brittania Swordfish
There is a Swordfish on the SOS for sale site,or is that you under another name,if not it looks good for spares if nothing else.
Regards Ray
Regards Ray
Last edited by dinghydan on Thu Jul 19, 2007 2:10 pm, edited 1 time in total.
You could also try Meetens - in the Wimbledon area for coil rewinds or possibly replacement parts. They have a website you should be able to find direct or via Google.
They are obviously a commercial organisation so not cheap, and you can also find alternative magneto/coil specialists in the magazines dealing with old motorcycles.
I can post you a photocopy of a handbook for Britannias if you need one.
Private message me your address if so.
Petrol/oil mix for Britannias is 20:1 for when you get the sparks department sorted out. Rick
They are obviously a commercial organisation so not cheap, and you can also find alternative magneto/coil specialists in the magazines dealing with old motorcycles.
I can post you a photocopy of a handbook for Britannias if you need one.
Private message me your address if so.
Petrol/oil mix for Britannias is 20:1 for when you get the sparks department sorted out. Rick
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chiliwindow
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:18 pm
- Location: Scottish Highlands
Swordfish
In answer to Dinghydan, no, It's not me selling the Swordfish and if I can get it going, it's going to be handed down to my Son. It's got too much sentimental value to me to pass on at the moment. However, I can't imagine the ignition will be in good condition as this was the reason the motor was given to my dad in the sixties.
I have attempted four times to wind my own coil. First attempt was with 600 primary windings and as many secondaries as possible... good spark but not enough for twin spark. Second attempt went wrong somewhere in the middle of winding secondary and was binned. Third was with 600 again with more care to add more secondaries but same results.
Dropped to 400 turns with primary and much better spark, but not enough emf to produce two sparks.
Latst attempt was with 200 primary and as many turns as possible on secondary windings but alas, broke the secondary at some stage. Now at the stage of getting fed-up!
I have attempted four times to wind my own coil. First attempt was with 600 primary windings and as many secondaries as possible... good spark but not enough for twin spark. Second attempt went wrong somewhere in the middle of winding secondary and was binned. Third was with 600 again with more care to add more secondaries but same results.
Dropped to 400 turns with primary and much better spark, but not enough emf to produce two sparks.
Latst attempt was with 200 primary and as many turns as possible on secondary windings but alas, broke the secondary at some stage. Now at the stage of getting fed-up!
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chiliwindow
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 10, 2007 10:18 pm
- Location: Scottish Highlands
Swordfish
Thanks Rick,
The motor is in fantastic condition. I stripped the motor down in the late seventies when I was just starting in the motor trade, along with my Dad's 1961 Douglas Vespa Sportique. Thankfully, the Vespa has been a great success and is in full working order now. The Swordfish was a puzzle as no-one new what it was, so I stripped back the horrible green paint which I thought was emulsion. It turns out it was the the original, as supplied.
Very little wear in the cylinders, big ends perfect and no signs of crankcase leakage, so its a good base unit, original and little used.
Thanks for the info on the mixture, that's a good pointer and if I could just buy a tin of buff sparks I will be laughing!
I have some pics and must try and put them up on a page at some stage.
Once again thanks.
The motor is in fantastic condition. I stripped the motor down in the late seventies when I was just starting in the motor trade, along with my Dad's 1961 Douglas Vespa Sportique. Thankfully, the Vespa has been a great success and is in full working order now. The Swordfish was a puzzle as no-one new what it was, so I stripped back the horrible green paint which I thought was emulsion. It turns out it was the the original, as supplied.
Very little wear in the cylinders, big ends perfect and no signs of crankcase leakage, so its a good base unit, original and little used.
Thanks for the info on the mixture, that's a good pointer and if I could just buy a tin of buff sparks I will be laughing!
I have some pics and must try and put them up on a page at some stage.
Once again thanks.