Before you start your Seagull for the first time...
Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 5:50 am
First you need to do a physical inspection...
- Is it all there?
- Is there anything broken or bent?
- Is there a lead to the sparkplug from the Magneto (the round thing on top)?
- Is there a throttle cable from throttle lever on tiller handle to carburettor?
- Does the throttle lever move back and forth?
- Does the magneto (flywheel) turn around without scraping noise?
- Is there compression (resistance whilst turning flywheel)?
- Does the propeller turn when flywheel is rotated?
- Does it have a dog clutch (i.e. a lever that goes up and down attached to a rod that attaches to the gearbox which the propeller is attached to)?
- Check there is lubricant in gearbox. The gearbox drain plug is at opposite end of gearbox where propeller is (older models have nipples and need disassembly to check).
- Is the tank, fuel line and filters (2 of) clean? [attachment=0]seagullc%2040+parts1small.jpg[/attachment]
- Make sure you add fresh fuel with 10/1 two stroke oil (or 25/1 in some later cases)?
- Install a new D16 Champion sparkplug.
- Place in test tank (wheely bin etc).
- Add water a few inches above gearbox housing.
- Undo blead screw on tank filler (lets air in as petrol is used).
- Pull fuel knob out at fuel tap at base of petrol tank. Expect petrol to drip out everywhere. Keep fire extinguisher handy and test in a flame free zone.
- Open throttle to about half (each motor has a unique starting position).
- Push choke lever (metal flap on Carburettor to reduce air intake) down.
- Push down small button on carburettor until fuel spills from a small hole, release.
- Wind rope around top of flywheel pulley. Knot goes into insert. [i][a diagram showing the highlighted words above could go in here][/i]
- Grip the tiller with one hand and evenly pull the rope with the other. Nothing? Do it again. Expect to try two or three times for a functioning motor.
- Once started, check to see if water is coming out of tell tale.
- If all is well, lift choke lever slowly as motor warms up. Play with throttle. If it has a clutch move lever up and down at just above idle speed. Never use full revs if the propeller is removed or clutch is disengaged.