Saving Old Seagulls

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2009 12:13 pm**

Well, I have been being looking for a Minus for a while and found one on the Dreaded Bay. I have as new 1976 Featherweight which I love to bits already…….

I took a punt for just over Au$100 and came up with this.

Pictures are bad sorry.

Good is that comp is excellent and everything is there, including heat shielding by others? Maybe they used to run really hot in Queensland. Oil is fresh in the gearbox.

Bad is tank one end and transom clamp disks need replacing.

I think it has enough character and history dents to just clean and service. No restoration whatsoever, just the necessary with no fiddly detail other than being complete, clean and original. I have enough parts to do that in my kit. Sparks will be no problem if something is found to be amiss.

I just love the old varnish. It will be redone of course.

Brass Tank.

SJM 661-L5

Probably you lot see these every day and no big deal.

Taken me ages to find this. Hope you understand.

I am going away to my Shack down South, will take it and a box of spanners etc. Something to do during a storm in front of the slow combustion stove in the kitchen I think.

It will not take up too much room in my boat needed to get there…………Small eh?

Regards

C.I.

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2009 2:08 pm**

Nice one C-I; not all that common in UK on eBay. The "heat shield" and varnish is definitely owner applied.
Rather an odd affair though.......... possibly refuelling splash guard? Definitely a removal candidate........

BS recommended the varnish to preserve finish and help prevent corrosion.

Difficult to see in the pic but is the tilting latch there?

Peter

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2009 3:24 pm**

When did the drive shaft connection to water pump housing change from threaded to clamped for the little ones? Also what was the difference between the LS and SJM that were being produced concurrently during mid to late 50's?

Cheers Hugo.

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2009 4:52 pm**

Bruce you've got it bad mate!
And you might find it difficult to find a Seagull addiction counciller (if I could spell it) way out there in the far flung reaches of the old British Empire.

Therapy is free here!

Posted: **Tue Jun 30, 2009 6:39 pm**

The LS (and by association the LM) had threaded drive shaft casings just like the F/FV/VF/FVP series had earlier.

The SJM was the first of the featherweights, and was superficially similar in general arrangement to the LM. But the LM (Minus) and LS (Super) (ie Featherweight and Forty Plus equivalents) were in fact closer to the FV series in detail. They all shared a common cylinder block, with the fixing bolts running right through the water jacket. The LS and LM retained the clench ring holding the casing to the crankcase, but dropped the angled tank and the ring mounted bracket fixing of the Fv series.

Posted: **Wed Jul 01, 2009 1:37 pm**

Charles uk wrote:Bruce you've got it bad mate!
And you might find it difficult to find a Seagull addiction councillor (if I could spell it) way out there in the far-flung reaches of the old British Empire.

Therapy is free here!

Ah, my problem is with far more than a British Seagull or 12. I have a far darker and deeper issue with Old Dears.

I am moving said Old Dears to another place slowly and I have counted over 22 different makes from all over the world so far. I have maybe over 120 complete engines.

Plus spare parts for most of them. Boxes, Boxes, and more ...Boxes!

Plus original and scanned documentation. Even for stuff I do not have yet.

Plus all of the stuff from the relevant time periods even remotely connected with "The Infernal Combustion Engine" that can be said to be a Boat Pusher!

I have been at this for nearly 10 years now.

Hmmmm, I know that I am very strange in this pre-occupation and sites and forums globally help me no end.

I am actually amassing lots of old stuff so that when I go my Daughter, Laura, has to sort the whole sorry mess out. Revenge!

That is all good but I want to continue with my SJM here.

It is packed in my "Basha Boat" for my bush trip at the moment to be lovingly attended to as I previously mentioned while away from the modern world for a while.

Regards Bruce

C.I.

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:17 pm**

Well, the Old Dear is packed and I am off Saturday 4th.

Pics of kitchen table doings when I get back.

It will be here

http://www.donnellyriverhuts.com/about.htm

Regards

C.I.

Posted: **Fri Jul 03, 2009 1:54 pm**

Basha Boat? Like this!!! ??

http://www.woodsmoke.uk.com/documents/f ... racing.pdf

scroll down around page 16....

But presumably you use that local roo material?

How do you mount the motor

Peter

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:03 am**

Well, "Basha Boat" I have but not like that one 40! I will find a pic and post following.

Yep, just had a week away, took the Minus (Minus the bloody Tool Kit) and had a great time of it.

I pulled it apart on the fishing shack table after cleaning years of preservative grease and goo off with petrol on the front veranda.

As I stated the Old Girl is going to keep old varnish, dents and dints and Her history intact.

"Basha" is tied to my jetty in the background.

It has really great bits, all seemingly cool until, when finished, "The Crack"!

This is going to be my first BS experience in removing a head, cleaning jacket, welding up and putting back together. Probably like other Old Dears in extent.

The jacket is solid rust judging by the water relief being blocked. I will mill off the hex heads so as not to break the barrel further, put in studs and hopefully after welding it will be as good as possible. Lovely bounce compression and wonderful spark. Keep you informed as I go.

She will be 100% mechanical and 20% looks.

Regards

C.I.

Posted: **Sun Jul 12, 2009 11:33 am**

BASHA Peter..........

Australian Lass made by Savage Boats Victoria 1983. Hull number is 598. Rated 35Hp and 3.9m total length. She motors along as I have Evinrude model 35852 1978 on it.

Carries 600Kg and planes with low pitch prop. I am sorting a higher pitch prop at the moment as she over revs plus 6000 when empty at 50kph.

Basha is a bush boat and well suited to my Donnelly River, especially in drought time low water levels.

Basha was my Fathers or our family boat specifically for the South West of Western Australia.

Basha has dents, scratches and stuff but is kept up to sound mechanical and structural standards.

Regards

C.I.

Posted: **Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:47 am**

Thanks for that ...........

Didn't seem likely to be a roo hide and twigs but you never know with you lot!

Peter

Posted: **Wed Aug 12, 2009 12:17 pm**

Cool Peter

I am going to Rip Rip Woodchip (Aus Term) and remove the barrel and head assy, plonk into acid bath for a few daze with agitation and extract them bolts.

Keep you all informed how I go.

Everything else is, as I said, mint.

C.I.

Posted: **Sat Sep 12, 2009 10:17 am**

Well, I thought to run it before getting the block welded and, in the rain, gave it a go as below.

Fuel goes in and fuel comes out via case joint next to tiller bracket. Looks like a complete pull apart and do the tank as H-A has suggested.........with Seagull upside down mate!

http://s401.photobucket.com/albums/pp93 ... CF1372.flv

Such is life with Old Dears tho'

Regards

B

Saving Old Seagulls

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Re: I Found A Minus!