I was taking a look at an old gale buccaneer outboard motor which has some
problems and when looking through the spark plug hole noticed a small hole
on each piston top. I got 50 lbs dry compression on this motor, but am
curious as to whether the design includes these holes, or these are burns
which will continue until they go right through the piston?

Chris wrote:

I was taking a look at an old gale buccaneer outboard motor which has some
problems and when looking through the spark plug hole noticed a small hole
on each piston top. I got 50 lbs dry compression on this motor, but am
curious as to whether the design includes these holes, or these are burns
which will continue until they go right through the piston?



No hole required. It's toast.

Is this a 35hp w/ fiberglass black & white cover? Or rounded white
metal cover?

Rob

its actually a 3hp... just a little guy...

I'd guess the holes aren't right through yet and so I do get some
compression, but who knows for how long.

wonder what a set of new pistons / rings would be - if they can even be
purchased that is...


"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...
Chris wrote:

I was taking a look at an old gale buccaneer outboard motor which has
some problems and when looking through the spark plug hole noticed a
small hole on each piston top. I got 50 lbs dry compression on this
motor, but am curious as to whether the design includes these holes, or
these are burns which will continue until they go right through the
piston?

No hole required. It's toast.

Is this a 35hp w/ fiberglass black & white cover? Or rounded white metal
cover?

Rob

Chris wrote:
its actually a 3hp... just a little guy...

I'd guess the holes aren't right through yet and so I do get some
compression, but who knows for how long.

wonder what a set of new pistons / rings would be - if they can even be
purchased that is...


You threw me off course with "each piston" in your OP... I thought the
3hp Buccaneer/Gale is only one cylinder. Are you sure it's a hole in
the piston(s)?

If it is a twin(2) cylinder, it shares major components with the Johnson
JW series & Evinrude DuckTwin/LightTwin series, and you may well be able
to find replacements easily.

How are you doing the compression test? Dry cylinders? Out of long
term storage?

Ring/groove inspection & cleaning may be all it needs. I've never seen
an outboard this small burn through a piston.

Rob

Chris wrote:
I was taking a look at an old gale buccaneer outboard motor which has some
problems and when looking through the spark plug hole noticed a small hole
on each piston top. I got 50 lbs dry compression on this motor, but am
curious as to whether the design includes these holes, or these are burns
which will continue until they go right through the piston?

It's reasonably common for a piston to have a little "dimple" in the
crown. If it looks pretty similar between the two pistons, chances are
it was made that way.

%mod%

Yup its a twin cylinder. little one.
The compression was done dry - 50lbs
Run last year.
Got it actually running this year briefly until it seized up... Believe it
was overheating... After cooling down it wasn't seized anymore. and the
compression was still 50lbs.

I verified the holes again, and yes there are holes there, how deep I don't
know, but seems they get narrow. There's carbon around them, so to say they
are identical is hard. The top of the piston is not flat though, it does
have a crown which I think would be thick.
I'm thinking about taking the head off it to look closer.

Since I don't have a new gasket set, I may have to consider options for
home-made gaskets like they used to do in the old days....

Water pump has great rubber, so not sure if something could be plugged
around the head? thus not allowing water through? I want to take it all
apart, but still a little shy due to the gasket situation...


"trainfan1" wrote in message
et...
Chris wrote:
its actually a 3hp... just a little guy...

I'd guess the holes aren't right through yet and so I do get some
compression, but who knows for how long.

wonder what a set of new pistons / rings would be - if they can even be
purchased that is...


You threw me off course with "each piston" in your OP... I thought the 3hp
Buccaneer/Gale is only one cylinder. Are you sure it's a hole in the
piston(s)?

If it is a twin(2) cylinder, it shares major components with the Johnson
JW series & Evinrude DuckTwin/LightTwin series, and you may well be able
to find replacements easily.

How are you doing the compression test? Dry cylinders? Out of long term
storage?

Ring/groove inspection & cleaning may be all it needs. I've never seen an
outboard this small burn through a piston.

Rob

Well, this isn't exactly just a dimple..
Although I can't say the hole goes through it, it does appear to go in more
than a dimple and narrow.
Have to take the head off to see closer...


wrote in message
oups.com...
Chris wrote:
I was taking a look at an old gale buccaneer outboard motor which has
some
problems and when looking through the spark plug hole noticed a small
hole
on each piston top. I got 50 lbs dry compression on this motor, but am
curious as to whether the design includes these holes, or these are burns
which will continue until they go right through the piston?

It's reasonably common for a piston to have a little "dimple" in the
crown. If it looks pretty similar between the two pistons, chances are
it was made that way.

%mod%

took the head off. I swear, it could be a dimple. Looks to be about 3/16
deep... and you could argue they are similar on each side. The hole narrows
the deeper it goes, and my wire is too thick to poke too far down. Was
carbon on the hole, so I'd think if it was burning through then it would be
cleaner. Also, the top of the piston appears to be pretty thick, so I think
a lot of metal there...



"Chris" wrote in message
.. .
Well, this isn't exactly just a dimple..
Although I can't say the hole goes through it, it does appear to go in
more than a dimple and narrow.
Have to take the head off to see closer...


wrote in message
oups.com...
Chris wrote:
I was taking a look at an old gale buccaneer outboard motor which has
some
problems and when looking through the spark plug hole noticed a small
hole
on each piston top. I got 50 lbs dry compression on this motor, but am
curious as to whether the design includes these holes, or these are
burns
which will continue until they go right through the piston?

It's reasonably common for a piston to have a little "dimple" in the
crown. If it looks pretty similar between the two pistons, chances are
it was made that way.

%mod%

Chris wrote:
Yup its a twin cylinder. little one.
The compression was done dry - 50lbs
Run last year.
Got it actually running this year briefly until it seized up... Believe it
was overheating... After cooling down it wasn't seized anymore. and the
compression was still 50lbs.

I verified the holes again, and yes there are holes there, how deep I don't
know, but seems they get narrow. There's carbon around them, so to say they
are identical is hard. The top of the piston is not flat though, it does
have a crown which I think would be thick.
I'm thinking about taking the head off it to look closer.

Since I don't have a new gasket set, I may have to consider options for
home-made gaskets like they used to do in the old days....

Water pump has great rubber, so not sure if something could be plugged
around the head? thus not allowing water through? I want to take it all
apart, but still a little shy due to the gasket situation...


Try:

http://images.google.com/images?q=sierra+18-3841

This should be your head gasket...

Rob

tested out this little motor after the fix and she works pretty good I'd
say. No problems running her now. Although for 3hp she isn't strong enough
to move my bigger boat....

"Chris" wrote in message
. ..
Thanks Rob,
The Gasket fit. Cooling issues as well as other gasket issues too, carb
cleaning, etc. She seems to run fine right now in a barrel. Although I
don't suspect at this old age she'd last long if abused at full throttle.
For trolling I think she may be ok, but I'll have to test that out soon.

do you know what the correct oil mixture is suppose to be? Is it 25:1?
or 40:1 for this old thing?


"trainfan1" wrote in message
...
Chris wrote:
Yup its a twin cylinder. little one.
The compression was done dry - 50lbs
Run last year.
Got it actually running this year briefly until it seized up... Believe
it was overheating... After cooling down it wasn't seized anymore. and
the compression was still 50lbs.

I verified the holes again, and yes there are holes there, how deep I
don't know, but seems they get narrow. There's carbon around them, so
to say they are identical is hard. The top of the piston is not flat
though, it does have a crown which I think would be thick.
I'm thinking about taking the head off it to look closer.

Since I don't have a new gasket set, I may have to consider options for
home-made gaskets like they used to do in the old days....

Water pump has great rubber, so not sure if something could be plugged
around the head? thus not allowing water through? I want to take it
all apart, but still a little shy due to the gasket situation...


Try:

http://images.google.com/images?q=sierra+18-3841

This should be your head gasket...

Rob