Obsolete 5hp Clinton 5hp chief outboard

Discussion in 'Outboards' started by valvebounce, Apr 27, 2020.

  1. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    I was given the outboard along with a few other bits when I bought my boat.
    It's stood 2 years without me doing anything with it.
    The pull start had seized up,which I have managed to free off .The problem is that
    The rope doesn't retract even though I can turn the rope in and out by hand.
    The pull start is off the engine.There seems to be a difference in the fly out centrifugal cams.
    The cams are on the flywheel and not part of pull start mechanism.Is the return spring not in the pullstart mechanism,and fitted to the underside of the flywheel?
    I am also having a problem connecting the fuel pipe to the fuel pump,the fitting is not the usual connector as on present day outboards.Is there a way of converting the connection to adapt to a normal fuel line connector.
    I did start the engine not long after I got it,and the pull start worked ok,but the motor ran badly,which I put down to the carb being gummed up.
    I'm getting it going purely out of interest.
     
  2. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Have you checked the compression, V ? If that is down, you have the job ahead.
     
  3. Ike
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    Ike Senior Member

  4. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Gooday Mr E,I haven't checked the compression yet,but,if it needs rings/piston, it will be headed for the junkyard.
     
  5. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Thanks Ike,that's the connector.
    There was a fuel tank with the engine when I got it,I took the connector off it and gave the tank away,and put the connector somewhere,
    SOMEWHERE,Haha.
     
  6. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    Easy enough to check the compression by just putting your hand to the flywheel, and seeing what resistance is there, you also want to feel a "rubbery" feedback, not a gritty one.
     
  7. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Gooday Mr E,
    I gave that a try like you suggested,and the compression feels pretty good.
    I turned the prop as well,pretty strong compression.
    I have a compression tester,but I haven't tried for what the compression is yet.
     
  8. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    If the pullstart won't work,just to start the motor,I might put a socket and rechargeable drill on the main flywheel nut and give it a spin.
    I'm only doing the job out of interest,I don't have intentions of using it.
    If I can start it,I'll be able to tune it etc.
     
  9. Ike
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    Ike Senior Member

    If the pull start spring is shot you can do it the old fashioned way. My Dad had an old 5 HP outboard that you had to literally wind the cord onto the pulley each time you pulled it. There was a slot on the pulley and the cord had a knot in the end and a wooden handle on the other. The knot went in the slot and when you pulled it the cord unwound and the knot came out of the slot. To pull again you had to rewind the cord.

    You might also want to look at Fiberglassics.com Clinton (Outboards) - Classic Boat Library http://www.fiberglassics.com/library/index.php?title=Clinton_(Outboards) They have a service manual in their library for Clinton outboards
     
  10. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    We used to have a lot of fun (?) with old lawnmowers with the rope start, a little difficult with an outboard though, under a cowl.
     
  11. Mr Efficiency
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    Mr Efficiency Senior Member

    I dare say, if this engine can be rehabilitated, and installed on valvebounce's dinghy, the vessel may be named , "Hillary".
     
  12. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Thanks Ike. Looking at the pull start unit,it looks encased and riveted in,and the casing has bolts through it that it's bolted to the motor with.
    To get access to the notch for the pull start doesn't look possible without destroying the casing that holds it to the motor.The design isn't like a conventional design..The actual fly out centrifugal cams are actually not on the pull start unit,they are on the top of the flywheel.The connection to the cams is by a piece of tubular steel on the underside of the pull start unit,which has four equally spaced slots in it.
    I have a couple of old British Seagull motors that are pullstart, but the design is for a hand cord start.
    Thanks for the info on Clinton outboards,I'll check them out.
     
  13. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Gooday Mr E,I have a couple of 'project' British Seagull outboards that are hand pull cord starts.They are running sweet.I faced the crankcase faces up on a peice of glass with wet an dry on it.it improved the revs no end.My project motors are building up in the shed,time for a clearout I think.
     
  14. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Funny you should say that,I thought the Clinton outboards were one of the Clinton industries.It turns out,they are made in Clinton Idaho.
     

  15. valvebounce
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    valvebounce Senior Member

    Hi Ike,I've downloaded the PDF on Clinton outboards,it covers every thing.Many thanks.
     
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