Dolphin engine update, a bit more help

[dhippey]

Hi Chaps,

I posted a while ago about trying to obtain an old RCA Dolphin engine to refurbish. Well the update on that is that with the help of this forum I was pointed to a chap selling one for the right price. Thanks guys.

However my next problem is this. The engine had been sitting for 6-8 year and had completely gummed up. Anyway with lots of penetrating oil, a bit of old fashioned Castroil and some dirty words the engine now turns very freely.
I have given this a brief run on the bench and can confirm all is well apart from there is now is so much oily gunk in the engine that when I run it I get Red Indians answering my smoke signals! I had to pour some oil into the crankcase under the pistons to help free off the beast.

Is there a way you can suggest of cleaning out the penetrating oil mix before putting the engine into the boat? I hope so because until this aromatic gunk is burnt off/cleaned out I would look like I was burning a tar barrel on deck, and that would never do.

The engine is a very simple engine, 2-cylinders, 2-stroke, no valves.

Regards,
David H.

 

[Keith 66]

Stihl 2 stoke oil run at 50-1 its good stuff way better than the stuff you buy in chandlers.
Put that in & give it a right good thrashing it will be fine!

 

[steve66]

Use outboard 2 stroke oil, there is less smoke. I would suggest giving it a good hard run to burn out the old oil. Unless you have a hell of a lot of penetrating oil in your crankcase and your piston rings have seen better days you shouldnt get an awful lot of smoke coming from there.

 

[dhippey]

Hi Steve & Keith,

Thanks for the replys. Yes I do have a lot of oil in the crankcase below the pistons, that is what I'm trying to clear. It is a concoction of penetrating oil and old fashion engine oil (From my MGB supply). Proper oil ;-)

After posting last night I thought about draining this out the same way as I put it in. So I have removed the carb, set one of the pistons to tdc and have the engine lying above a drip pan. I'll let this drip, then set the other piston to TDC and try again. A few rounds of this should clear the surplus then as you both have said give the engine a good run to burn off the remainder.

I use proper outboard 2-stroke oil that I buy in bulk, see ebay 290441315586

Any more suggestions?

Regards,
David H.

 

[andrewbartlett]

Dolphin Engine

I used to have a dolphin engine in a folkboat 20 or so years ago. Does anyone know if it is possible to find a new or refurbished one ? They are so good . The only drawback with my old one is that I had to stop the engine to go into reverse.

 

[dhippey]

Hi Andrew,

Dolphin Engines are still going, see http://www.dolphinengines.co.uk/
Give them a call and ask for Edward, tell him I sent you.

Regards,
David H.

 

[andrewbartlett]

Hi Andrew,

Dolphin Engines are still going, see http://www.dolphinengines.co.uk/
Give them a call and ask for Edward, tell him I sent you.

Regards,
David H.

Thanks so much for the information quite nostalgic as well as possibly very useful. much appreciated!

 

[DownWest]

Check the mix ratio. I wonder if the 50:1 suggested is a bit lean for the old girl.

 

[dhippey]

No worries, I know the ratio is either 40:1 or 33:1 depending on which 2-stroke you use.

Regards,
David H.

 

[yoda]

No worries, I know the ratio is either 40:1 or 33:1 depending on which 2-stroke you use.

Regards,
David H.

The Dolphin is 50:1, on mine it was on a plate on the side of the exhaust manifold but that depends on which version you have. If you have the reversing engine version the charge in both batteries is critical to good starting particularly astern.

Yoda

 

[dhippey]

Cheers Yoda. My info comes from the Dolphin manual. Also there is a plate on both engines that states 40:1. The engines are the direct drive version.

Anyways, hopefully off to Largs tomorrow afternoon to fit the engine in the boat.

I'm dying to make some use of this fine weather

Regards,
David H.

 

[William_H]

Cleaning crank case

Hi Steve & Keith,

Thanks for the replys. Yes I do have a lot of oil in the crankcase below the pistons, that is what I'm trying to clear. It is a concoction of penetrating oil and old fashion engine oil (From my MGB supply). Proper oil ;-)

After posting last night I thought about draining this out the same way as I put it in. So I have removed the carb, set one of the pistons to tdc and have the engine lying above a drip pan. I'll let this drip, then set the other piston to TDC and try again. A few rounds of this should clear the surplus then as you both have said give the engine a good run to burn off the remainder.

I use proper outboard 2-stroke oil that I buy in bulk, see ebay 290441315586

Any more suggestions?

Regards,
David H.

Pour or pump in petrol into the crankcase and drain it out again. This will dilute the oil and make it more viscous so inclined to run out. good luck olewill

 

[dhippey]

Well good news... The beast is in the cage, the engine is back in the boat and all connected up.
Thanks to all the tips posted on here the smoke screen was fairly small as I left the marina.

The bad news... The water pump failed and the spare impeller was in the car :-(

Not all that bad though. I got a couple of the sails out while I had a picnic and drifted around between Largs and Great Cumbrae.

Today = A Happy Chap :-D

 

[bendyone]

It's a good feeling when a plan comes together

 

[Niander]

I love these old engines mines a penta c10 petrol 4 stroke got it running for the first time yesterday after it not running for years
smooth as silk!...also a happy bunny
Btw never "thrash" an old engine they need looking after!...
Also watch out for Dylan ..he wont be happy you running a smelly 2stroke....

 

[sealena]

Hi David H. I have a Dolphin eingine in my boat but the exhaust manifold is shot. In your successful search for an engine last year with the chap who was selling one, did you come across any other possible contacts that you didn't follow up on? A replacement manifold would be good but a replacement engine would also be good. So if you have picked up any other contacts on the way then any suggestions would be welcome.