Re: West Bend/Elgin 1957 12 hp questions

[lotec]

I run all my motors on the original gas/oil mix using either Evinrude/BRP or Mercury 2-cycle oil, so I’d suggest sticking to the correct 16:1 on you motor. If it is a good quality oil rated TCW-3, you shouldn’t see a sheen on the water. And anyway, unless you get the EPA guy from the original Ghostbusters, most people will be looking at your classic West Bend and not the water!

I do not know of a source to buy the OMC coils without the laminations. About the best prices for them are from Jim Judkins (oldoutboardjim) on this site’s Webvertize section. Here’s a link to one of his ads: http://aomci.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=7158

If you have the 13-tooth pull start Bendix gear, it is available from Mercury Marine for about $25 – P/N 43-803624T. The 11-tooth ones are NLA and it’s been a long time since I’ve seen an NOS one come up for sale. I’ve seen the 12hp motors with both types so lets hope you’ve got the 13-tooth one. If you have the 11-tooth and elect to make one, please make two of them since I could use a spare! 🙂

The stock aluminum 3-blade prop is pretty good for most 12′-13′ aluminum and fiberglass boats with a normal load. I just tried out the Michigan AMC354 at our last meet and it did give a 1mph advantage over the stock prop on my DuraNautic DN12. However it weighs 3-times (or more!) what the aluminum prop does, I could feel it gronch into and out of gear every time I shifted due to the added mass. I honestly don’t need that extra 1mph as much as keeping the shift-dog and gears intact! I’ll keep the prop as an accessory but wouldn’t recommend it for daily use.