Home › Forum › Ask A Member › 1973 Evinrude starflight 135
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dan-in-tn.
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March 13, 2016 at 2:37 pm #3832
Would this motor be one of the electric shift models?
March 13, 2016 at 2:49 pm #33365No, you missed it by one year. The 1972 125hp was the last V-4 to have electric shift. The 135hp had an oil pump to assist in shifting.
Dan in TN.
March 13, 2016 at 4:42 pm #33373Depends on your interpretation of "Electric Shift". Actually, the 1973 was "Hydro-Electric Shift". Hydraulic pressure from an oil pump did the shifting, but a pair of electrically-operated valves controlled the oil flow and resulting shift. This is a totally different system than the spring-clutch electric shift through 1972.
March 13, 2016 at 5:58 pm #33379OK thanks guys. I’ll look for something newer.
March 13, 2016 at 6:17 pm #33380Frank, I checked before I commented because I wasn’t sure when it changed myself. The ’73 model is the first hydro mechanical unit, no electrical assist solenoids. You are right it does depend on what electric shift you mean with OMC, but starting with ’73 the electric shift wires to the gearcase were gone. From then on just oil pump with mechanical assist.
Dan in TN
March 13, 2016 at 9:00 pm #33387Yeah, 73 was the "hydro mechanical shift assist", no electric. Very reliable gearcase actually. I always loved the graphics on the 73 V4s, along with their presence on the James Bond movie.
That being said, please know that these engines had pretty high compression and were subject to detonation/preignition damage. 73 was also the first year for the magCD ignition sysems on the V4s, so there were some improvements to the original components, but I’m sure any surviving engine would probably be updated by now. The other thing to keep in mind is that sometimes that high compression caused low cranking speeds that affected the ignition systems ability to develop decent cranking voltages for a good spark until the engine was actually running.
The only other thing I can think of is that the pistons used on the 73 135s were unique (along with the crankcase), wrist pin location was slightly different on 74-76 models. A very easy mistake to make during a rebuild, gee I’ll bet you can’t guess how I know that….
All that being said, Frank please let me know if I have misunderstood your post, sure don’t want to contradict you. DonMarch 13, 2016 at 9:15 pm #33390You guys are right, I was wrong, and I admit it. ’73 was the "Power Shift", works on similar principle as power steering in a car. No electricity involved.
Furthermore, ’73 got rid of the crappy battery CD ignition and distributor cap. A much improved motor.
March 13, 2016 at 10:37 pm #33396Alright now, you guys are just testing an old guys memory now. The ’73 V-4 s were the only V-4s with the odd stroke (wrist pin location). Yes I think everyone who has worked on one of these has put wrong pistons in and wondered why it won’t turn over? Pistons could be hard to find, but the 92 cu in 85hp is the hardest being 3 3/8" bore while the 115 & 135 were 3 1/2" bore. Don, Frank, surely you still have your special tool washer to put over the crank and move the sensor gap in to make the engine fire at lower cranking RPMs? That and the #581900 timer base pretty much took care of that problem. I don’t think I will ever forget that part number! When I worked in the dealership in the 70s we had a cut off date of 1973 as to motors we would not take in. Of course we were real close to salt water.
Dan in TN
March 13, 2016 at 11:31 pm #33398Yeah, I remember that friggin washer. I also remember replacing every sensor I tried the washer on after the flywheel ended up rubbing on the sensors!
March 14, 2016 at 2:09 am #33410Well Don they had to think of a way to get the #581900 (red) sensors on the motor somehow, didn’t they?
Dan in TN
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