A question of fabrication?
- Thread starter Dennis
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Get a Honda
I replaced an old outboard on an O'Day 23 with a new Honda Four-stroke (a 9.9 in my case)based on almost universal good reports. This motor is more than the 23 requires, but can easliy be used on a bigger boat. Being relatively new to sailing, I wanted something dependable. So far with a few hours on it, I am very satisified. It has a 12 amp alternator and electric start. It makes life easier for a new sailor. I also am converting to a starter and house battery system with three switches for crusing purposes. Good luck.
I replaced an old outboard on an O'Day 23 with a new Honda Four-stroke (a 9.9 in my case)based on almost universal good reports. This motor is more than the 23 requires, but can easliy be used on a bigger boat. Being relatively new to sailing, I wanted something dependable. So far with a few hours on it, I am very satisified. It has a 12 amp alternator and electric start. It makes life easier for a new sailor. I also am converting to a starter and house battery system with three switches for crusing purposes. Good luck.
Easy Project
Use an electric cord instead of a pull rope. Pardon the pun but that does not sound like a cost effective practical project.
Use an electric cord instead of a pull rope. Pardon the pun but that does not sound like a cost effective practical project.
OB
I aggree. Buy a motor with a starter (and alternator). I bought a used 8 hp Nissan on eBay. Starts with one pull so I don't really use the starter but the alternator comes in handy.
I aggree. Buy a motor with a starter (and alternator). I bought a used 8 hp Nissan on eBay. Starts with one pull so I don't really use the starter but the alternator comes in handy.
Use your cordless drill motor
You can buy kits to use a drill to start a lawn mover. It shouldn't be hard to conver one to start a small outboard.
You can buy kits to use a drill to start a lawn mover. It shouldn't be hard to conver one to start a small outboard.
Where to start
First things first.you are going to need a flywheel with teeth that will accept the teeth of the starter motor you plan on using.Then you have to find a way to precisely align the gear mesh so that there is no binding.This means your motor needs a new housing as weel as milling flats on the engine block in a place where you can drill and tap screws to hold the starter motor.If you decide that this requires some exact machine work and think hmm maybe I'll try the cordless drill technique.I tried this with a difficult to start motor.All I ended up doing was driving the flywheel bolt down onto the end of the crankshaft that the flywheel bound up.Now aren't you glad you asked before you wasted alot of time?
First things first.you are going to need a flywheel with teeth that will accept the teeth of the starter motor you plan on using.Then you have to find a way to precisely align the gear mesh so that there is no binding.This means your motor needs a new housing as weel as milling flats on the engine block in a place where you can drill and tap screws to hold the starter motor.If you decide that this requires some exact machine work and think hmm maybe I'll try the cordless drill technique.I tried this with a difficult to start motor.All I ended up doing was driving the flywheel bolt down onto the end of the crankshaft that the flywheel bound up.Now aren't you glad you asked before you wasted alot of time?
Taking this in
a slightly different direction, many years ago we had a power mower, from sears I think, that came with a hand wound spring starter. The proceedure was to crank a winding handle then fold it back into its stowed position where it released the latch on the spring and spun the flywheel.
a slightly different direction, many years ago we had a power mower, from sears I think, that came with a hand wound spring starter. The proceedure was to crank a winding handle then fold it back into its stowed position where it released the latch on the spring and spun the flywheel.
How old is it?
Depending on the age of the motor and the brand, there may be a kit available from the maker. I just converted the tiller steered, pull-start 15HP Mercury I have to remote control and steering with electric start. The starter kit came with a ring gear for the flywheel and a charging system. It wasn't cheap, but it was less than trading the motor in on a new one that had all the goodies.
Depending on the age of the motor and the brand, there may be a kit available from the maker. I just converted the tiller steered, pull-start 15HP Mercury I have to remote control and steering with electric start. The starter kit came with a ring gear for the flywheel and a charging system. It wasn't cheap, but it was less than trading the motor in on a new one that had all the goodies.
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