Bendix Air-Cooled Twin

[david-bartlett]

I have an opportunity to pick up a 1939 Bendix Twin. This is waaaaay outside my comfort zone so I have no idea what to look for when I go to check it out. Based on the age and coolness factor alone, I am very interested in it, but will take any insight that the group has to offer.

I will be sure to post pics if the deal is made.

thanks, David

[mercuryman]

http://home.comcast.net/~folke/wsb/html … html-.html

Check out this site all about Bendix

[garry-in-michigan]

Check for contaminated or stale gas – check compression – check ignition – check the oil in the crankcase and grease in the lower unit.

Good Luck – Not a common outboard …

[Tom]

Look for broken grill parts on top, broken cooling fins, and missing covers and cowls.

T

[lotec]

I would agree with what Tom said regarding missing and broken parts. The casting work is very fine and prone to breakage, though I believe Art DeKalb makes replacement skegs – one of the most common items to be broken. Also check to be sure the little bake-o-lite spark plug insulators are intact on the inside of the cover – modern spark plugs stick out too far and will damage them grounding the plugs out. Carb and magnetos seem to be pretty solid, condenser will probably need to be replaced with a modern generic one.

These are really great outboards, a bit unusual in the engineering department, however, they run very well and look cool. In the old days of the club it was thought they were super rare, however, a fair number do turn up. Jon’s site has almost everything about them on it and is well worth looking at if you get one. It’s a shame that more people don’t run them at our meets – they are my very favorite motor in the 5 hp class for that era. (Late 30s and early 40s.)

Here’s a link to the video I shot of mine a few years back if it is of interest. (I can’t seem to get it to embed)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mbkn97LsMoU

[david-bartlett]

Thank you all for the tips! I will be looking at in on Thursday and will get a look at it then. I look forward to posting pics at that time.

Thanks, David

[david-bartlett]

As you can see from the attached pictures, the Bendix Twin came home with me. It is a single family motor, it is complete, no broken fins, skeg is perfect, and the bakelite insulators inside the cowling are intact as well. Even got the original owners manual and a parts manual.

This one will be a winter project, so no plans to start doing much on it right away.

[Steve A W]

Sweet
Congrats!!

Member of the MOB chapter.
I live in Northwest Indiana

[lotec]

Dave – looks great! I think you will really like it, they are an under-appreciated motor.

[archangel]

That is a fantastic get! Those are beautiful looking motors. So different from everything else, too. Congratulations on a nice buy, Dave!

[Author]

Posts