Perkins twin cylinder outboard engine

Yes still working extremely well.It`s really well built and reliable.They cant make them as good these days.Popswoo
 
Sorry, no info there as such. What I meant was being a Perkins outboard, your not likely to see those anywhere else other than a museum, was meant tong-in-cheek.

Am I right in thinking the Perkins outboards of the 50’s early 60’s went to become Archimedes outboards which in turn join hands with Singer outboards which again in turn turned into what became Volvo Penta outboards.

All as extinct as the dinosaurs!!!
 
Yes I agree it is out of the Ark but I have also met some prehistoric old salts on my travels.Surely one of them must be able to help.Popswoo
 
Phone the museum , they have loads of info there.
Also, these engines were bought by the Army and the Navy to power aluminium landing craft, so some ex WD surplus equipment sellers may have something. Those were 40HP units.

I raced inshore power boats as a kid at 11 feet long with a 25HP Perkins. It was rubbish, and was swapped first for a Bundy, then, Oh Joy, A Mercury.
Still at least I learned early how to take plugs out, change impellers, shear pins, pull cords, waterproof the coil/HT leads. I can still see it now, missing yet another start.... /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Best of luck with your search.
 
I had a 25 hp Perkins outboard when I was in the UK in the late 70's early 80's and I did have a manual. Will have a look when I get home to see if I still have it.

Will let you know if I find it
 
Perkins Outboards Repair Manuals

Will_M said:
Sorry, no info there as such. What I meant was being a Perkins outboard, your not likely to see those anywhere else other than a museum, was meant tong-in-cheek.

Am I right in thinking the Perkins outboards of the 50’s early 60’s went to become Archimedes outboards which in turn join hands with Singer outboards which again in turn turned into what became Volvo Penta outboards.

All as extinct as the dinosaurs!!!
Click to expand...

No No No, Archimedes was tied up with Volvo Penta I think. Perkins allegedly bought the outboard motor operation from Rootes Motors. Rootes had in fact been manufacturing American "Oliver" outboards as the Oliver shareholders in the US wanted the loss-making outboard motor division gone. It would seem that Rootes couldn't make a success out of the operation either and sold it on in about 1962. Perkins in turn sold out to British Anzani. If you ever have the misfortune to work on the 40HP Perkins watch out for the Bendix(?) magneto that is driven by a toothed belt. On the one that I "looked at" the points gap adjustment screw was also the contact breaker cam pivot! The rocking motion of the cam would loosen the screw and the points would close up. WHO DESIGNED THAT? No amount of Loctite or star washers would make it reliable and I seem to recollect that there was no room to drill and tap the mechanism for an extra screw. Apart from that the 40HP was a very tough motor as the example that I worked on had a power head with paint blackened by overheating! The impeller was totally worn out and only pumped at high revs. Cold water would then thermally shock the sizzling power head. With no Internet in the 1970s getting the correct impeller was impossible but a similar one that was too wide was machined to fit. This worked splendidly, no more overheating. Such a shame about the wonky magneto screw. Perhaps if the motor had been mine I'd have gone the extra mile and reverse engineered it somehow. The single screw must have been the work of a factory anarchist or accountant! (I have since come across a great many machines that were basically sabotaged on the drawing board but as the companies are still in business and have lawyers.......)

Here is a link:- http://www.pfs-ware.com/Parts/OllieParts.htm

and http://www.pfs-ware.com/

also http://www.aomci.org/

Good luck!
 
Of course I can tell you! Perkins outboards were really re-badged American Olivers. Owing to 40% import duty on US built outboards the Oliver clones were made in England and marketed as Perkins. Here is a link to the Oliver cyberspace museum.

http://www.pfs-ware.com/

I fitted a new impeller to a 40 HP Perkins many years ago as it had overheated and blackened its paint in the cylinder area. A proper impeller could not be obtained but one of the correct diameter and shaft size but which was too long was obtained and shortened with a lathe.

One really dreadful problem was the Bendix magneto which was driven by a toothed belt. The problem was with the points closing up all by themselves. This occurred because the screw that set the points gap also doubled as a pivot for the contact breaker arm. The result was that the reciprocating and vibratory effect caused the screw to work loose. Really a piece of extra metal needed to be welded to the fixed contact breaker so that an extra screw could be fitted. Loctite threadlock and star washers were of course tried but still the screw would loosen. It seemed quite incredible that what was basically a good motor was ruined for the lack of a screw. Perhaps accountants re-designed it? As the motor was not mine I did not want to get involved with welding and drilling and tapping so to be honest the motor was never going to be reliable. Looking back over the years I would say that the Oliver company failed just for the want of some screws which would have only cost pennies per motor. Take care!
 
To Windermere museum a little and anyone else even less may be the answer unfortunately
the start of this thread 2005? Was already indicating it’s demise
so perhaps someone with a static display of that vintage of boat could be looking for for nee
 
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