Topic: 1931 Elto Super C with Inertia Starter – Antique Outboard Motor Club,Inc

This topic has 10 replies, 7 voices, and was last updated 1 month, 2 weeks ago by David Bartlett.

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March 10, 2026 at 11:01 pm #308309
PM T2
Participant
Canada Member
I posted this in the current projects forum too, but thought I’d put it here as well so non-members can see it and maybe get further infected by the bug for old iron.

I did most of this work awhile ago but was doing more research on the topic and I don’t think many have seen a video of it being started, so here it is…

1931 Elto Super C. The model number is 613, serial number is 0002. The 613 model designates it as an Inertia start motor, as were about 31 other motors that Evinrude-Elto built in 1931-32. Anyway, this is the only known example of a survivor Eclipse Aviation built Inertia starter that was originally installed at the factory. (There is one other starter in existance, but it got transplanted or retrofitted onto a 1930 outboard).

Its a joy to start it. Sort of. Noisy as heck, and the starter grinds on forever after the motor starts until all the built-up inertia in the rotating assembly is finally spent. Motor sounds good tho. Anyway, enjoy the racket.

PM T2

He'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...
March 11, 2026 at 7:18 am #308406
Bob Wight
Participant
US Member
Well, that’s certainly different! Beautiful motor though.

Bob

1937 Champion D2C Deluxe Lite Twin
1954 Johnson CD-11
1955 Johnson QD-16
1957 Evinrude Fastwin 18
1957 Evinrude 3022
1958 Johnson QD-19
1958 Johnson FD-12
1959 Johnson QD-20
1982 Evinrude 25hp

“Every 20 minute job is only a broken bolt away from a 3-day project.”
"Every time you remove a broken or seized bolt an angel gets his wings."
March 11, 2026 at 8:13 am #308417
mas
Participant
US Member
Very cool!

Mas
March 11, 2026 at 9:49 am #308446
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
That ought to be a $10,000 outboard, given its rarity,
and probably worth that for the “cool factor”!
I’m pretty sure I’ve seen videos of the airplane version starting, but
can’t wrap my mind around as to exactly how the inertia device
works. Homework needed.

Prepare to be boarded!
March 11, 2026 at 11:20 am #308468
PM T2
Participant
Canada Member
Here’s the link to the pertinent patent if you want to scroll through it and decipher all the engineerese.

https://patents.google.com/patent/US2048075A/en?inventor=Raymond+P.+Lansing&oq=Raymond+P.+Lansing&page=8

PM T2

He'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...
March 11, 2026 at 2:42 pm #308525
JOSEPH BRINCAT
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US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK
Pretty cool for sure. We depend on T2 to come up with this cool and unusual stuff. Yes , an airplane starter system, which airplanes?? I think remember seeing WII fighter planes being cranked up. Some of the aviation guys here may chime in on that.

Joe

PS , hope to see ya’ all at Lockeman’s March 28th
March 11, 2026 at 6:11 pm #308584
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
Thanks.

Inertial Starter Patent pdf. —

Inertia-Starter-Patent

Prepare to be boarded!
March 11, 2026 at 9:56 pm #308639
Tubs
Participant
I suspect the cost to manufacture, and possibly its weight, or both, had much to do with its rarity. Why wouldn’t anyone want not to have one any outboard motor. When you consider the time, and the tooling, that they had back then, what they were able to accomplish is just amazing to me.

A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
March 12, 2026 at 9:10 am #308714
Buccaneer
Participant
US Member
Tubs, truly amazing indeed. Kind of like finding
the “Holy Grail”.
The engineering that went into that is beyond belief.

Prepare to be boarded!
March 12, 2026 at 9:27 am #308720
Tubs
Participant
JOSEPH BRINCAT wrote:

Pretty cool for sure. We depend on T2 to come up with this cool and unusual stuff. Yes , an airplane starter system, which airplanes?? I think remember seeing WII fighter planes being cranked up. Some of the aviation guys here may chime in on that.

Joe

PS , hope to see ya’ all at Lockeman’s March 28th

Video Link https://youtu.be/3zXkVQnVmuo?si=yPFO1-bxG84l-LSW

A "Boathouse Repair" is one thats done without having tools or the skills to do it properly.
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