Champion Hydro Drive 4.2HP

[joecb]

Well here we go again down the Hydro Drive trail. I have always been intrigued by the “HydroDrive” .. picked up a model 2LHD 4.2 hp at Constantine. Now getting into it and looking for information. Search here uncovered an old thread with some good info. Contributors were “outbdnut2” , “buccaneer” “mike-sea” and “jerigan” .

Outbdnut2 ( dave) posted this..

These hydrostatic lower units are cool when they are working right – when idling at minimum hydro setting, old Champion repair and parts guy, Lyle Swanson, told me you can stop the prop with your finger, but I never had the guts to try it. They don’t like water getting in. If the propshaft seal is bad, that is a custom Champion part. Lyle told me back in the 1980s that he had the molding house make up more occasionally until the mold broke. (when Champion folded and he got all the Champion factory parts, he got some molds too!). He had a new mold made – I don’t know if that mold still exists or if anyone has access to it anymore. Back in the early 1960s when I was 14, I bought a 4LHD for $35, got it running and ran it on a homemade hydroplane. That motor is long gone, but I bought another one a year ago that is seized. Haven’t gotten around to seeing if I can make it run yet. When running the 1st one on the hydro, due to the higher RPM it revved to, Lyle told me to run gas/oil mix at around 10 to 1, (note the CHampion HotRod racing motors ran on a 4 to 1 mix) and I had to go two heat ranges colder on the spark plugs. I dunked it several times.

“jerigan” said that he had a digital copy of the manual or parts diagram.  Also suppose to be some info on the “fiberglassic” site… I’ll look into it.

Meantime, anyone have any experience with one of these Champion Hydrodrives ? I have not yet gotten into the lower, waiting on some guidance before I open it up.

Thanks..

Joe B

[jcrigan]

I will look around for this. My old computer died a while back and that’s where I stored all my good info. I think that prop shaft seal could be a metric size.

[joecb]

I found the HydroDrive service instructions on “Fiberglassics” … reading thru the “how to” …it looks like a nightmare !

Joe B

[joecb]

To follow up on my Hydro-Drive adventure. After finding the service / parts manual ( thanks again jcrigan) I mustered up my courage and dissembled the gear case… and successfully re-assembled it. As anticipated the mechanics / hydraulics of it are a wonder. I took lots of photos in anticipation of writing a tech article for the “Outboarder”. So, all liiked real good inside, the problem is the rubber water pump impellor…. like “toast”. The rubber impellor aparently is bonded to a steel shaft, I see no key or pin. Tried gentely pressing and no movement. So now the search begins. I thought that I would start here with a couple of photos and dimensions in the hope that someone may have info or a part.

Pump impellor for Champion HydroDrive model 2LHD the part number is 2LH32. Six vanes, 1- 5/8 diameter X 5/8 thick bonded to a 7/16 steel shaft.

Any info / leads will be appreciated.

Joe B

[joecb]

I finally got into the gear foot of the Champion HydroDrive.  Thanks to jcrigan for the lead on the HydroDrive repair / parts manual. I got the gear foot apart , cleaned up and re-assembled OK. I took several photos of the process that I hope to develop into a tech article for the “Outboarder” as I suspect that this motor is a mystery to others as it was to me. All the internals of the gear/ hydraulics look to be in good usable condition,,, except , of course the rubber water pump impellor. Unlike some of the other contemporary Champions that have metal impellors, this one has a rubber impellor. Now the search begins… I thought that I would start here. The impellor appears to be bonded to it’s tubular steel shaft. no sign of a key or pin. I tried gently pressing that shaft off and there was no movement. here is some info on the impellor … Six vanes 1-5/8 diameter X 5/8 thick, bonded on a 7/16 shaft.  Much appreciate any info or leads on this one, Here are a couple of photos.

Thanks,

Joe B

[jcrigan]

That center shaft piece is pressed on. Take measurements on it before you drive it out of the impeller. There is a member who makes new impellers for this. He needs the old impeller core. Brian Wilcox is the name I believe. I wonder what fluid that gearcase needs. I put 30wt non detergent oil in mine. It doesn’t seem to slip as it should.

[joecb]

jcrigan wrote:

That center shaft piece is pressed on. Take measurements on it before you drive it out of the impeller. There is a member who makes new impellers for this. He needs the old impeller core. Brian Wilcox is the name I believe. I wonder what fluid that gearcase needs. I put 30wt non detergent oil in mine. It doesn’t seem to slip as it should.

You are correct sir, upon closer examination I can see that the rubber impellor does indeed have a metal (steel ? ) hub that is pressed onto the shaft. We here in S-E Michigan know Brian Wilcox of Algonac well… a very talented and most helpful fellow.  We were just together for a meet in nearby Marine City. You can meet us all in the next issue of the “Antique Outboarder”

“Membership surely has benefits”

Thanks for the tip,

Joe B

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