Old 4hp McCulloch outboard questions

[Volitan]

I have an old 4 hp McCulloch outboard. It’s not the one in the photo below but it’s similar. 

I know it should really be sent to the tip, but I can’t help myself, I have to tinker.

so I filled it with fuel and gave it a tug and it started second pull.  So maybe there’s some life in it yet.

so does anyone know anything about these. Google tells me they were made in the mid 60s. 2 strokes. Apparently the power head was air cooled but there was an impeller in the lower leg which kept the drive and exhaust cool.

Being unable to download a manual, I have a few questions:

there is a label on the carb which says “prime” but I can’t find anything to prime - no visible priming bulb or lever?

there is no gearbox. No apparent way to put it out of gear - the propellor is always spinning direct drive. This raises all sorts of issues. How did you idle ? Did you start it with the prop in the water ? How do you flush it?

Did you just lift the prop out of the water when you wanted to idle? In that case how long can you run it out of the water for?

what ratio and what oil ? Will running it on unleaded matter ?

for easiest starting, where should the throttle be?

Finally, were they actually any good as engines in their day. I remember in the early 70s my father had a British Seagull engine, which I guess was a competitor. It was a hateful thing. The only good thing you could say about it was that it was better then rowing, although it was so hard to start you usually ended up rowing anyway.

anyone familiar with these things?

cheers

 

 

 

 

[antonywardle]

Hold on to it. I love old stuff!