It’s a 6hp and I am happy and a little bit proud.
My father bought it new. We used to haul it in the back of a big Chrysler when we rented a cabin in Minnesota that came with a boat but no motor or paid extra for one with an old junk outboard.
50 years old and still looks almost new.
I have kept it in good order and used it every year since he died in 1996.
2 weeks ago I was fishing around some submerged trees and motored out under low throttle when I felt a jolt. Thought I hit a tree or stump but didn’t see anything. A few seconds later started spinning like it was in neutral. I stopped, shifted into reverse, back into forward and motored across the lake just fine. Docked it and got the Jeep and trailer and motored right onto the trailer.
Obviously a shifting or gear issue.
Last week took my son in law fishing. Drifted off the trailer and reverse was fine. No forward, none.
Crap. Fished for 6 hours with bow mount trolling motor only. (Caught a nice batch of ‘gills.)Loaded up with hand winch and some difficulty.
Gear and pinion $288 if parts are even available. New 10hp Honda $2700. Yikes!
Yesterday I put it on a stand in the shop to find a prop shear pin in 3 pieces! Apparently it sheared and left enough of a burr to catch in reverse but not forward. 50 years and this is the first time I ever sheared a prop pin.
2 years ago I cleaned out my dads old tackle box and came across a spare pin. Eventually found where I put it and replaced. Changed lower unit lube and cleaned everything up and new plugs. A little spray paint on the hood and it will look and run like new again. Also glued the 50th anniversary emblem back on that I found in the tackle box 2 years ago.
Probably silly of me but I am giddy at the thought of using dads little outboard for a few more years.
