Smoky Outboard

[Mark-1]

If you do some googling, you can find a yamaha page suggesting that 50:1 is the sweet spot. Any less that 50:1 and you increase engine wear

I ran mine on 100:1 for ages but it's more convenient to use 50:1 so I can use the same fuel in my other outboard and my chainsaw. Switching to 50:1 caused no dire consequences whatsoever. (I was expecting plug oiling, etc.) So one more vote for 50:1.

It’s definitely more ecologically sound to make your machinery last as long as possible

Yup, hard to argue with that.

 

[ghostlymoron2]

Isn't 50:1 the recommended ratio for any two stroke?

My Seagull is recommended to use 10:1 but that's excessive so I use 20:1.

 

[Refueler]

My Seagull is recommended to use 10:1 but that's excessive so I use 20:1.

Depends on the year ... most SG's till latter years were 10-1 ... but SG were pushed to clean up and they rejetted carbs for 25-1 ...

In fact if you check with the guy - Saving Seagulls ... yes there was a guy who actually started a group to save the SG's with help on all matters as well as the spares he'd collected up. I seem to remembver him saying that a SG could run on 25-1 anyway ..

It still left its mark though !!

Such an iconic sound across the harbour ... bit of broom handle in the tiller am .... loved 'em !

 

[Snowgoose-1]

Depends on the year ... most SG's till latter years were 10-1 ... but SG were pushed to clean up and they rejetted carbs for 25-1 ...

In fact if you check with the guy - Saving Seagulls ... yes there was a guy who actually started a group to save the SG's with help on all matters as well as the spares he'd collected up. I seem to remembver him saying that a SG could run on 25-1 anyway ..

It still left its mark though !!

Such an iconic sound across the harbour ... bit of broom handle in the tiller am .... loved 'em !

And unique as a displacment engine. None of that tearing around stuff on the plane.
The quirky props and gearbox ratio were designed for the purpose . Wide diameter and sometimes with five blades.

 

[geem]

Depends on the year ... most SG's till latter years were 10-1 ... but SG were pushed to clean up and they rejetted carbs for 25-1 ...

In fact if you check with the guy - Saving Seagulls ... yes there was a guy who actually started a group to save the SG's with help on all matters as well as the spares he'd collected up. I seem to remembver him saying that a SG could run on 25-1 anyway ..

It still left its mark though !!

Such an iconic sound across the harbour ... bit of broom handle in the tiller am .... loved 'em !

They were crap! Couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding!

 

[Refueler]

They were crap! Couldn't pull the skin off a rice pudding!

Would you like to tell the Commandos that - who actually were the inspration and reason the simple Seagull was made ?

The Seagull 40 series must have been one of the most prolific outboards for years ....... until the likes of Tohatsu came along and gave so many others licence to rebrand.

The Seagull was never designed as a high thrust O/B to push heavy hulls .... it was designed as a cheap means to power a small dinghy .. with the Century series and later Kingfishers for small 20ft range yachts.

 

[geem]

Would you like to tell the Commandos that - who actually were the inspration and reason the simple Seagull was made ?

The Seagull 40 series must have been one of the most prolific outboards for years ....... until the likes of Tohatsu came along and gave so many others licence to rebrand.

The Seagull was never designed as a high thrust O/B to push heavy hulls .... it was designed as a cheap means to power a small dinghy .. with the Century series and later Kingfishers for small 20ft range yachts.

It didn't stop them from being awful. I was very happy when I replaced mine with a Tohatsu

 

[Mark-1]

It didn't stop them from being awful. I was very happy when I replaced mine with a Tohatsu

I guess the prime benefit of a Seagull is simplicity - well a Tohatsu 3.5 2T is about as simple as its possible to be once you take the cover off.

 

[geem]

I guess the prime benefit of a Seagull is simplicity - well a Tohatsu 3.5 2T is about as simple as its possible to be once you take the cover off.

I proper pull start instead of a bit of string was a big improvement. The reduction in noise was nice as well. Some thrust from a prop that didn't look like it had been robbed from a kitchen extract fan. I really had no good feelings about seagull.

 

[Refueler]

I proper pull start instead of a bit of string was a big improvement. The reduction in noise was nice as well. Some thrust from a prop that didn't look like it had been robbed from a kitchen extract fan. I really had no good feelings about seagull.

Later SG's had recoil starters ..... which was a good idea - with the old wind on string - I was always assking others in the dinghy to turn face away etc to avoid being caught by string end ...

I never found the noise bad .. it was distinct and as a low revving engine - I never found it as obtrusive as later high revving engines ...

 

[chriskeeler1982]

Thanks for everyone’s responses. Took the engine out for a run on the water yesterday and you were all correct, it runs well. Smoked at first but that died down when it had run for 15 minutes or so. Telltale is running nicely and the only thing of note it a slight colour in the water when moored up idling…oil or petrol sort of slick but guess this is normal on an old engine? I have just drained a little gearbox oil and would be grateful if your comments??

 

[chriskeeler1982]

Looks blacker than that in normal light, but the flash makes it look greyer.

 

[geem]

I would change the gearbox oil. It's easy to do and will give peace of mind. Glad the smoke wasn't a problem

 

[chriskeeler1982]

Thanks….this oil looks ok to you then?

 

[geem]

Thanks….this oil looks ok to you then?

It looks a little grey. That suggests it not be changed for some time. There is no emulsion, so water isn't getting in. Thats good so the bottom seal is OK.

 

[chriskeeler1982]

Appreciate the advice, thank you.