1958 or 1959 5.5 HP Elgin

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  • August 5, 2016 at 3:05 am #4923
    kevinrude
    Participant

      I picked up a 5.5 HP Elgin over the weekend. I don’t have any particular interest in Elgins, but the seller was the original owner and the remote gas tank was spotless, so I figured ‘what the heck’.

      Anyway, the seller told me that it is a 1958. The model number is 571.59541. In checking The Old Outboard Book, there is no model number that exactly matches this. The 1959 5.5 HP is listed as 571.5954. So, I am figuring it is a 1959, even though my motor has a "1" on the end.

      The motor is white and salmon in color. Could this be why there is the "1" at the end? I thought most Elgins of this era were two-tone green.

      Either way, it started and ran in my test tank. It didn’t seem to be pumping too much water, but could that be due to the forward facing water pickup needing forward way to get water through? There is some gear lube leaking out, so I will need to seal up lower unit so I may as well replace the impeller at the same time.

      Does anyone have a parts diagram for this motor? If I am going to take off the lower unit, I would like not to molest the gear shift, if possible.

      Thanks.

      August 5, 2016 at 8:27 am #41621
      frankr
      Participant

        Remember, that is a Sears motor. What does Sears do? They run big ads that go something like SALE. Special purchase!! 5.5hp Elgin motor.. Sale ends July 4th. Buy it now on easy Sears Credit. No payments due until October.

        Anyhow, that "special purchase" sometimes, but not always, has a different ending character in the model number. AND/OR, it might be a different color.

        I’m not sure what exactly what you have. Does it have a fiberglass cowl? Those should pump water pretty well. Check the water pump for missing vanes.

        If it has a full FNR gearshift, the shift rod disconnect is on the outside of the leg. Crack the locknut loose, then turn the long coupling nut to separate the upper and lower rods. One end of the coupling nut has normal threads, but the other end has left hand threads. When you put it back together, try to start both ends at the same time, then turn it till it meets the locknut. The resulting adjustment should be about right. But if necessary, you can tweak it one way or other to make the shifter knob look right.

        Lower unit is typical West Bend/Chrysler. No surprises there.

        Disclaimer: All this is in vain if you don’t have the motor I think you have.

        August 5, 2016 at 2:34 pm #41626
        kevinrude
        Participant
          quote FrankR:

          Remember, that is a Sears motor. What does Sears do? They run big ads that go something like SALE. Special purchase!! 5.5hp Elgin motor.. Sale ends July 4th. Buy it now on easy Sears Credit. No payments due until October.

          Anyhow, that "special purchase" sometimes, but not always, has a different ending character in the model number. AND/OR, it might be a different color.

          I’m not sure what exactly what you have. Does it have a fiberglass cowl? Those should pump water pretty well. Check the water pump for missing vanes.

          If it has a full FNR gearshift, the shift rod disconnect is on the outside of the leg. Crack the locknut loose, then turn the long coupling nut to separate the upper and lower rods. One end of the coupling nut has normal threads, but the other end has left hand threads. When you put it back together, try to start both ends at the same time, then turn it till it meets the locknut. The resulting adjustment should be about right. But if necessary, you can tweak it one way or other to make the shifter knob look right.

          Lower unit is typical West Bend/Chrysler. No surprises there.

          Disclaimer: All this is in vain if you don’t have the motor I think you have.

          Thanks Frank.

          I’ll check the motor over the weekend to see if it matches your description, but we have a chance! It does indeed have a fiberglass cowl (with some chrome accents). It also has FNR. The shifter is on the front of the motor and the shifter handle is identical to the starter pull handle. I wonder how many people pulled their shifter handle off of the motor trying to use it as a starter????

          Regards,
          Kevin

          August 5, 2016 at 2:57 pm #41628
          Steve D
          Participant

            Kevin, I don’t know anything about Elgins but I did come across this website with model numbers and a brochure on eBay
            http://www.elginoutboards.org/modelnumb … epower.htm
            http://www.ebay.com/itm/VINTAGE-1959-SE … 3b&vxp=mtr
            imgurl

            August 5, 2016 at 3:45 pm #41629
            capn7391
            Participant

              I do know with the post 1960 Scott built Elgin that the last number stood for the production run ( Scott’s were 0 for 1st, 1 for 2nd, 2 for 3rd…)

              August 5, 2016 at 5:26 pm #41634
              Mumbles
              Participant

                Your West Bend built 5.5 horse motor is a 1959 model.

                http://discount-marine-parts.com/ob_elg … model.html

                August 5, 2016 at 6:06 pm #41636
                frankr
                Participant

                  Yeah Kevin, you have the motor I had in mind. Made by West Bend / Chrysler. I used to have a 12hp. Actually, it wasn’t too bad. The funky cable operated throttle is strange, but hey it works! I understand the starter pinions are made of unobtanium.

                  August 5, 2016 at 6:20 pm #41637
                  kevinrude
                  Participant

                    Awesome info, as always. Thanks guys!!

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