Re: Elto Handifour 9.2 ownership?

[PM T2]

OK, I dug into it some more, and here’s what my ratty old book tells us.

Looks like I was right on the cylinders, as the book lists different part numbers for Lightfour cylinder blocks versus the Handifour parts.

There are also differences between the two on mufflers, exhaust pipes, and water pipes & associated fittings.

Other than those notable exceptions, most other powerhead parts (internally at least) seem to be interchangeable between the two.

There are also different magnetos and flywheels used, depending on where the motor falls in the serial number sequence. Handifours with serial numbers 0001 to 0500 use flywheel # 194571, and from 0501 and up they used #195086. The part number for the complete magneto Assembly for the Handifour is 194693, the corresponding part number for the Lightfour is 195060, so there must have been a difference, but I’m not going to pretend to know what the difference(s) might have been.

The book also lists different part numbers for the lower unit housings, props, and a few other items.

Rewind starting was available on the Lightfour, but NOT on the Handifour.

I suspect the Handifour was deemed to be redundant and discontinued after 1937, as it did have so many similiarities to the Lightfour. The Handifour did ont offer the typical Elto trait of battery ignition, so in fact to me it was more like an Evinrude than it was an Elto. I don’t think the Lightfour necessarily replaced it, I believe the decision was just made to drop the Elto and keep the Evinrude version in the line-up, possibly as a cost-cutting measure.

Garry Spencer might be able to provide some insight into the rationale behind the decision, but this pretty much wipes out whatever I got in the tank.

Hope this helps.

Best,
PM T2

He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...