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Working on a slow restoration, a 1931 OMC Lightweight with a Battery ignition.
This would be my first somewhat functional battery motor.
The timer is complete, it clicks, and turns over well. About 90 PSI in both cylinders.
The coil, however, is a totally different story. It is brittle, and the wires are basically nonexistent.
Would someone be able to fix this if I mailed it to them?
I haven’t seen too much about these motors online, so if anyone knows more information about them, any would be greatly appreciated!
Thanks!
"Shells sink, dreams float. Life's good on our boat."
1931 Johnson A-50
1950 Mercury KF-7
1951 Mercury KG-7
1956 Johnson JW-12RThe 401 was a descendent of the battery-ignition folding Lightweight that first was sold in 1929 and was also available in 1930 as the model 309. In 1931 they discontinued the folding leg and called it a “Special Lightweight” and assigned it model number 360. This motor used the same powerhead as the folding Lightweight, but was only in production for a very short time and was quickly superceded by the model 401 Lightweight with an updated powerhead and smaller ignition coil with the “Special” part of the name dropped.
The model 401 was built using two different ignition systems, and both of them were battery powered. The Atwater-Kent timer that used the typical Elto “dogbone” timer strap was only used on the first 1999 Lightweights built. After that, they switched over to what I refer to as the “Evinrude-Elto” timer that was used for many years in the 1930’s. This timer uses more conventional points that are actuated off the flywheel hub instead of a timer strap. The starting instructions are different, depending which ignition system was on the motor. I’ve attached scans of the operator booklet to illustrate this.
Hope this helps.
Best,
PM T2He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...
1 user thanked author for this post.
You need a 6 volt battery that provides at least 4-5 amps, but preferably 10 amps. I have used emergency light batteries where a charge would last an entire season. The coil should only take between 1-2 amps to fire correctly but its better to have extra amperage available.
Going by your serial number, you should have the Atwater-Kent timer. I’m supplying a photo of both timer types, you should have the one on the right.
Best,
PM T2He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...
1 user thanked author for this post.
The model 401 is pretty easy to find, I just liquidated the last two that I had, I had six of the darned things in my inventory at one point. I worked on them enough to get them running and passed them along to other members. My fave was probably this one, I used parts from four different motors to put one together. It had parts from a model 162 Foldlight, a model 401 Lightweight, a model 4016 Fisherman, and a 4229 Weedless Fisherman. You could call it a FauxLightweight. You could call it an Evinrude Weedless Fishydoo. You could call it anything, just don’t call it a Johnson…it did run nice tho, whatever it was
Best
PM T2He's livin' in his own private Idaho..... I hope to go out quietly in my sleep, like my grand-dad did..... and not screaming, like the passengers in his car...
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