Any opinions on Mcculloch outboards?

[thepetrolist]

I have a lead on what is claimed to be a "1962 4hp mcculloch outboard". Or actually it is claimed to be a mcculloRch 😆 No other info than that. Haven’t seen it (it’s 50 km from my home), that is what the seller told me. The seller, an elderly lady, told me they bought the engine new in 1962.

Does anyone know anything about these engines? Tried to google it but didn’t find anything useful, only about newer mccullochs.
Is it an engine worth saving? Considering it is in the 20-30 $ range.

[phil-b]

McCulloch purchased Scott-Atwater in 1958 or 59, first removing the Atwater from the name, then calling them "Scott-McCulloch", and finally just McCulloch.

Here’s a list of models/years:
http://boatspecs.iboats.com/McCulloch/bpe/20br2245

And of the models they made for Sears:
http://www.elginoutboards.org/elgin1959to63.htm
(which includes how to decode post 1961 model numbers)

[phil]

If its not stuck I would pay that for it, can you get any used parts for it over there? It may the air cooled model at 4 hp. They are well made. If its watercooled it’s an old well proven design, lots of parts over here. Not that sure of the air cooled design,but they seem to work well. If it has the Walbro carb, they are a little weird, there’s a tube inside the carb that gets clogged and most people miss it. As I said lots of used spares over here though.
Think you will find new parts pretty rare, a decent impeller might be the greatest challenge and or cost. I think a rebuilt impeller for it will likely cost you at least $50 USD plus shipping, you will have to send the old one in to one of two guys from the club that rebuild impellers, so more shipping cost there. If I remember correctly, the air cooled one will require an impeller as well, it would be used to cool the tower, so the paint does not burn off.

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

[frankr]

The 4hp uses a modified McCulloch chainsaw engine, mounted on an outboard lower. The lower unit gearcase is like the popular 3.6hp Scott-Atwater motors that were made for many years. The water pump impeller is the "wobbler" type, and our guy makes them (no exchange needed on that one). A reasonably good motor, but weren’t very popular in this area.

[melugin]

Check the lower unit. It Is almost identical to the Scott design. EXECPT, it may not have lube fill and drain holes. You have to separate the halves to drain and fill the lube. Most of these died from worn out lower units or rusty gas tanks.

[phil]

Should have mentioned that a long time club member friend of mine, says the 3.6 hp Scott Atwater/ MacCulloch will run with as many or more things wrong with it as a Brit. Seagull will, and last at least as long.

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

[seakaye12]

Like this one?

http://boston.craigslist.org/sob/boa/4953103248.html

[melugin]

That Chrysler is an Elgin/West Bend unit. Not the same as the Scott/McCullough. The 3.6hp powerhead was used from about ’46 until the early seventies in various forms. The 4hp air-cooled unit was used in the late sixties and up.

[enrico-italy]

I had for few time a 4 hp, found as auxiliary motor on a sailboat I bougth in ’80s.

I remember only it was extremely hard to start, so I replaced soon it with a OMC Yachtwin 4.

Late, in 90’s, I bougth a mint 9 hp … it still runs well but I use it very rarely on my inflatable… I noticed it is a real "jack in the box", very hard to work on, so I classified it as a "museum item".

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