56-Atom next steps help

Nice! Looking good!

56-Atom wrote: 8122pbrainard wrote: John, You should be getting at least another 1000 RPM. What prop (dia. and pitch) is on the boat? Have you set the timing? Setting the timing on the old flat heads is easy. All you need is two people. One at the helm giving it full throttle and the other at the distributor. You turn the distributor till you get max RPM and back it off slightly. Will check props when back up at the lake later this month. I did try to adjust timing as described, but no higher than 2500.

Thought I would give an update on the 56-Atom. After a great first summer of cruising at sub-rpms of 2500 which was good-enough, I went back to tinkering on things. We checked everything and applied all recommendations from the forum group, change of props, timing, fuel intakes, air, carburetor linkages, jets...thank you!

On the day that was to be the last run of the season...met an older gentleman at the boat launch who offered to take a look. He immediately ID the issue as a weak breaker arm spring. I adjusted it with a slight bend via needle nose pliers and we ran it up to 3000rpms. Adjusted timing (which is pretty fun with my daughter at the helm running wide open down the lake with one hand on the ski pole and the other on the distributor cap) ...with no improvement.

Back at the garage...replaced breaker arm spring, adjusted points .020 and talked my wife into doing one more run for the season...and to our excitement, we watched the RPMs tac up to 3400 which is max per manual. A wave runner clocked us at 32 mph. Felt exhilarating and hoped the old plywood would hold together!

Have put her to bed for the season and look forward to making her "more original" for some shows next summer as well as getting to a reunion or two.   I think the FB link covers most of the steps in the restoration that began in 2012.

Thanks to the CCF community, you have been a major part of getting the 1956 back up to speed!

81nautique wrote: No pictures of your boat from the top of the sand dunes? Silver Lake is beautiful. Good luck with the Atom.

Ah to be 19 again at Silver Lake with a dune buggy and a Bultaco Alpina. Seems so long ago.....

Above links


https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hKE34yeOkkBJRWl0FGOoWTdYA-T7ufJF/view

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TKkFaSF5qUPZxMTsQbKTHLVKPNRLSpRP/view?usp=sharing

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PaSyZtkbR_iwwLNm7rU9cA4y7GUzVP09/view?usp=sharing

John,
You should be getting at least another 1000 RPM. What prop (dia. and pitch) is on the boat? Have you set the timing? Setting the timing on the old flat heads is easy. All you need is two people. One at the helm giving it full throttle and the other at the distributor. You turn the distributor till you get max RPM and back it off slightly.

56-Atom wrote: Thanks Pete, That would explain why a closer look reveals turn signals, heater/AC ect.... looks like it car off a car panel.

John,
It's not a panel off a car. It's a Stewart Warner marine panel.

EDIT:
John,
Sorry, I misunderstood your post. I was too focused on the gauge panel. Yes, the fuse panel could have been made for a car but as mentioned, the gauge panel is a Stewart Warner.

Thanks Pete,

That would explain why a closer look reveals turn signals, heater/AC ect.... looks like it car off a car panel.

staying with 6-volt system and wondering if "original" fuse panel is safe or should I upgrade?

I'll attempt to share a few links of the motor running: if this does not work I will attempt to share a facebook link

First fire up: Pardon the excitement
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1PaSyZtkbR_iwwLNm7rU9cA4y7GUzVP09/view?usp=sharing

First Float running one 1 cyl
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1hKE34yeOkkBJRWl0FGOoWTdYA-T7ufJF/view?usp=sharing

2nd float w/ four cyl fired up:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TKkFaSF5qUPZxMTsQbKTHLVKPNRLSpRP/view?usp=sharing

I add ZDDP additive whenever I use conventional motor oil in a flat-tappet engine. I'm told that Shell Rotella oil marked "Diesel and Marine" has adequate zinc to protect older cams and lifters. I have not looked it up.

Mobile1 30. I’ll change it out before starting in the spring. Thanks!

Pete, since I had the motor out on the cart I just drained it out of the lower drain plug and then rocked it back and forth/side to side getting the last of the old oil out.

56-Atom wrote: I just may have not tightened the oil plug tight after we did the oil change when out of the boat.

John,
When you did the oil change, did you suck the oil with a vacuum extractor? It's easier than draining with the drain plug. Also, it's typical to open up the trans cover and suck it as well. You can get almost an additional pint out of it.

John,
There isn't an engine that doesn't leak some oil at one time or another. The older the era of the engine, the worse they leak. I have a thought and that's when you put the boat in the water, the aft end of it and the engine were low which would cause the oil level to go high aft. When you had the inspection plate off the trans, what was the condition of the gasket? When you found the oil on the engine, was it aft?