Seagul is there life after the new regulations?

[Sam_Steele]

Hi

I have a trusted seagul outboard. I hear there are some new polution regulations coming banning 2 stroke outboards. Is this for new outboards or will it mean that I can't use my seagul in the future. When does it come into effect?

Thanks

Sam

 

[Mirelle]

Seagull

I think that you may safely carry on using it.

I believe that I am right in saying that the regulations concerned new two strokes, and were part of the reason why Seagull gave up - the cost of the redesign needed to meet the new regulations would have been excessive.

May I commend John Williams's website, and his spare parts service? clicking here:

Saving Old Seagulls

should get you there.

 

[Sam_Steele]

Re: Seagull

thanks for the info and web site

 

[m1taylor]

From what I understand, the new regs apply to sales of new engines from 1/1/07. So dealers can continue to sell 2 strokes throughout 2006, and may sell unsold stock at 31/12/06 into 2007. There is no ban regarding the use or maintenance of existing engines, so seagulls can live on (if you want them to!!?).

 

[Mirelle]

Thank you.

Yes, I hope that my Seagull will last for many years to come.

I have heard of, but have yet to see for sale, biodegradable two stroke oil...

 

[KevB]

I thought all marine two stroke oil was biodegradable? That's why it cost twice as much as motorbike two stroke oil??

 

[Mirelle]

I thought that was because outboard twostroke oil has to lubricate at lower temperatures, because raw water cooled motors run so cool, compared to air cooled ones like motorbike engines? The water that comes out of my Seagull is barely warm.

 

[Guest]

Long Live Seagull O/bds ....

I for one am considering getting another ..... having gone the later style with the Mariner, Johnson etc. - I miss the simplicity of the SG ....

 

[aitchw]

Re: Long Live Seagull O/bds ....

Just wish I could find the time to service my Silver Century. The last time I used it the difference in thrust (better) in comparison with the Merc 4 I have was remarkable. I know that is partly down to prop spec. but never-the-less...............

Needs to start more reliably, that's all.

 

[Guest]

Start better ...

Often down to oiled plug .....

As you know yourself - there is not much that stops a Seagull from starting !!

 

[graham]

Re: Start better ...

Shane Acton famously used his as a Sea anchor for a few days mid ocean in a storm.He claims he dried it with a rag blew in the carb and plug hole put fuel in and it was ok.

My old 3 hp seagull hung in the shed for a decade or so and restarted without much bother. Just need some old canvas to protect the other stuff in the boot of your car /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[aitchw]

Re: Start better ...

Yup, you are right. In this case though the oiling appears to come from a sticky float in the chamber causing too much fuel to enter the cylinder. If I whip the plug out, dry it and refit she'll start again and run so it isn't much o a problem to fix.

Gotta do it.

 

[m1taylor]

Re: Start better ...

I do have a 1968 featherweight which I carry as an emergency spare. It burns at 10:1 fuel oil - now that's real blue smoke. But I agree...how many modern engines will last 38 years! Most have so many plastic components, which a very finite life - once brittle they break, and the the engine will be uneconomic to repair.

 

[Guest]

Re: Start better ...

Sticky floats ..... generally this is a problem wrongly attributed to fuel .....

Many claim this is gumming up of gasoline ............ but actually is normally due to the high levels of 2T oil used on SG's. The Gasoline evaporates off leaving behind the 2T which then clags it up .....

It is true that modern blend gasolines are prone to gum problems - but additives are put in to break this down and prevent it for significant period .....

 

[Gordonmc]

This is my understanding too.
It will be a similar situation as for non-DSC VHF radios... unlawful to sell new ones, but they will continue to be used until they all fall to bits.
I have a featherweight which with a few mods is now just as reliable as my Merc 2.2 and no noisier. It was found in the bilges of my boat when it was bought and brought back into service as a tender motor, then a spare.
I would prefer to use it on the tender all the time because without the transom bracket its very light, but the family object to the smoke and dribbles of oil which are "embarassing".
How can a merc be "cool"?

 

[aitchw]

Re: Start better ...

In my case attributable not to oil or fuel but to the engine's idle owner not cleaning the sh*t out!!!!

 

[Guest]

So you are a Typical SG owner !!

Must account for about 99.99999% ??

Only time SG gets looked at is a) fit a new prop split-pin, b) change throttle cable, c) pour fuel in .......... not in that order of course !!

Not many other motors could claim such .......

 

[Mirelle]

Re: So you are a Typical SG owner !!

For the sake of completeness...

replace HT lead...

buy it a new spark plug...(Champion D16?)

change the gearbox oil (NB - hardest bit as only few places stock SAE 140 oil now!)

The real enthusiast can of course take the pulley off and reset the points. (20 thou?)

A Seagull should be slightly "fatigued", as they say in the furniture trade, in order to look its best. Ideally there should still be chrome on the drive leg, and the transfer with the WARNING on it should be on the tank, but paint chips and a tank dent or two are all part of the charm. Tradition requires that the starter cord consist either of:

A) blue polypropylene baler twine or

B) a Snotti Yotti club tie!

 

[the_wanderer]

[ QUOTE ]
I thought that was because outboard twostroke oil has to lubricate at lower temperatures, because raw water cooled motors run so cool, compared to air cooled ones like motorbike engines? The water that comes out of my Seagull is barely warm.

[/ QUOTE ]

In the Seagull manual, many years ago, they stated that if you could not get marine two stroke oil, use straight sae 30 oil. I used this on an engine for two years, covering about four hundred miles of canals with no trouble with oiling of plugs etc. I now keep an old 'Gull on the back of my boat as a spare, lubricated with motorcycle oil. No problems, bit less smoke though.

Regards.

Alan.

 

[Heckler]

Re: Long Live Seagull O/bds ....

oh come on nige, you old dinosaur you! yamaha 2 hp, 4 screws the head is off, couple of screws,one nut same as the seagull and the flywheel is off, guess what, a set of points, i bought mine for £50, new water pump kit, and she is chucked in the boot, left in the garage, dont winterise, starts up 2 or 3 pulls every spring, looks like sh*t so no one will pinch it. you will be saying that westerlys are better than AWBs next!!
stu
PS is win 95 better than XP still?