Topic: 1934 Evinrude imperial lite 4 – Page 2 – Antique Outboard Motor Club,Inc

This topic has 19 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 2 months, 1 week ago by Tubs.

Viewing 10 posts - 11 through 20 (of 20 total)

← 1 2

Author

Posts
August 16, 2026 at 3:10 pm #326483
Craig McKenna
US Member
Ok so as it turns out i do have resistance on the coil itself of 0.5 ohms but I have no resistance between either of the spark plug attach points and each other or to either side of the winding is this normal. This engine was made almost 60 years before I was born so I’m doing a lot of learning haha the coil measurements from mounting hole to mounting hole are 4 inches for the wider holes and 3.5 inches for the narrower hole the coil itself is 2.85 inches long and 1.6 inches in diameter. Thank you in advance for all the help.
August 16, 2026 at 6:57 pm #326499
JOSEPH BRINCAT
Participant
US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK
What Tom said … Also, before embarking on a major project, consider what your intended use of the motor. Does is have spark now? Just because you see an open on the secondary the coil can still produce a spark. Is this condition ideal? no! but unless you intend to use the motor in regular/ reliable service the existing condition may be OK for occasional runs but not for venturing out across the Atlantic.

Joe B
August 16, 2026 at 9:51 pm #326507
Tubs
Participant
A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
August 16, 2026 at 10:29 pm #326510
JOSEPH BRINCAT
Participant
US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK
Test the secondary (high voltage) winding as depicted in Tubs post. On a good coil you should see about 7, 000 to 8,000 ohms. The reading of 0.5 ohms that you saw was for the primary ( low voltage) coil. 0.5 t0 1 ohm is good. Extremely rare for the primary winding to be bad

Joe B
August 17, 2026 at 5:34 pm #326542
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
As Tub said, the Zephyr coils should work.
I found an old one today and did some measurements.
It shouldn’t be too hard to find a couple of good Zephyr coils,
or cheap parts motors for that matter.

Prepare to be boarded!
August 18, 2026 at 10:04 am #326601
CFB
Hello,

sorry to jump in here without a knowledge base, but trying to glean information about the older motors – I have a Johnson A-50. So I’m not sure what I have but may have to replace eventually, but I thought stranded wire was used for spark plug wires rather than solid. Since no one said anything, is solid core the norm or standard for these vintage spark plug wires? thank you, carl
August 18, 2026 at 11:35 am #326610
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
CFB wrote:

Hello,

sorry to jump in here without a knowledge base, but trying to glean information about the older motors – I have a Johnson A-50. So I’m not sure what I have but may have to replace eventually, but I thought stranded wire was used for spark plug wires rather than solid. Since no one said anything, is solid core the norm or standard for these vintage spark plug wires? thank you, carl

I’ve never run across an outboard of any vintage with
solid core wire, always stranded core copper, and
maybe aluminum rarely.

Prepare to be boarded!

1 user thanked author for this post.

CFB
August 25, 2026 at 9:49 pm #327205
Craig McKenna
US Member
Great news we have spark on all 4 plugs! The next step is reassembly and to hear this beauty run! The only thing we have left parts wise is a prop shaft seal any ideas on size or a replacement? I believe it’s a 5/8 shaft (.618 ID) approximately 1/4 in wide and 1/8 inch thick. Thank you guys for all of the incite you have provided it has been incredible!
August 25, 2026 at 10:11 pm #327213
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
That’s most likely not a neoprene seal, but rather some kind
of packing ring, retained by the brass cap.
I’ve used graphite pump shaft packing, cork, and even leather
rings once or twice.

Prepare to be boarded!
August 25, 2026 at 10:43 pm #327217
Tubs
Participant
I don’t know what you have there, but it looks similar to my 1937 Johnson – LS. If it is the same type, the seal is cork. Sheets of cork gasket material are available if you should like to try and make a replacement. I made a leather seal to lay over the cork. The hole is undersized so it would fit tight on the prop shaft. I ran the motor several times a day for a week this summer. Easily more than 15 hours. Zero water in the gear case.

A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
Author

Posts