Hello, I am new to gas boats and I am currently building a zippkits easy vee. I have several echo string trimmer engines, and the one I would like to use is a 23cc from an edger, but the front cover and clutch housing (also the air duct), is made out of cast aluminum. I was wondering if, since I will be running in an open hull boat (no hatch), can I run this engine without the air ducting and front cover? Or will this cause an overheat? I won't be watercooling it since it has a canted plug and I haven't thought of a good way to get around that yet. I thought maybe I could because air will still be flowing past the cooling vanes. Thanks for the help for a noobie.

Paul

Normally you would try to trim away parts of the shroud to keep engine as compact as possible while maintaining the air cooling shroud to direct the air from the flywheel to the cylinder. If you decide to water cool it, it can be done by machining a ring that fits below the slanted section of the cylinder...as seen in this post: www.modelgasboats.com/index.ph...150&topic=929.0 You need machining equipment to do this however. Last resort, if you decide to remove the entire cooling shroud and have it "free-air" cooled, I would think it should survive, depending on where you live. In my area it probably would do fine! I would try to maintain the stock cooling at least. Especially if you ever decide to run a pipe or mod the engine.

Yeah, I would prefer to have it free air cooled cause the shroud is freakin heavy, and I have a plastic one from a smaller echo, but it will not work since the bolt patterns are different.

Machining is not a problem for me, I just wanted to be able to put it in and go, since I really was gonna use this engine to get used to the boat before a G260PUM.

Do you know where I could get a smaller flywheel then, so I can machine a clutch housing using the smaller clutch I have for another engine? Thanks man.

Paul

Give it a try and see if it's ok free air cooled then. If it overheats you can water cool it easy. I can't help you for the clutch housing though. sorry. I would suggest getting in touch with Mike Tyson maybe...I know he did some Echos for boats a while back..he might be able to give you some tips. mtyson at budweiser dot com. I guess it might be worth checking with Warehouse Hobbies also...Tony might be able to help.

Pending on ECHO engine in question ( Have a Picture ? )

I might have just what your looking for, Did ECHO conversions myself 10+ years ago and still have a couple small diameter fanless flywheels with single coil ignition units.

Can also post you a few pics of the one I did take pictures of with these parts installed if required.

Scott

Cool Scott! Didn't know you did those. I should have known though, you probably messed with just about all types of engines out there!

I actually don't have a pic handy. I do know that it is off of a PE 230 that is about 2-3 years old, the 23 cc engine. It has the big aluminum front cover, unlike the little 21.2 cc engines which have the plastic front cover, and a zama carb. I have a Walbro WT324 from a 36cc chainsaw I would like to use on it, any input on that?

I would like any pics or help you are willing to offer.

Here are a few pictures of it. This started life as a ECHO SRM-2500 trimmer engine. 30mm stroke X 32mm bore .. think it comes out to @ 24.6 cc

To build what you see, fan housing was cut off, crank flipped 180 in case, rotor style flywheel added, built a coil mount, Added spacers getting starter back into right location.
Not a typical engine beyond those mods, it has an added water jacket, billet head button & reed valve conversion.

BTW, flywheel & coil used came off a Mariyama trimmer that was marketed by Husqvarna @ 15 years ago. Still have 2 systems stashed away, both NIP.

Scott

Your carb off the 36cc engine won't work :'( The internal calibration will be too rich and the metering diaphragm spring will be far too stiff.
You should seek out an early 230pum carb ... WT-197 or WA-167

you interested in letting those ignition systems go? Let me know how much you want a piece.

The one I got is a 23cc, so it should make some decent power (not expecting anything like a g230 or anything, just a good runner). I live in Oklahoma, soon to be Kansas, so do you think this engine will be okay as free air cooled? Its got some large cooling fins on it. If not, I'm sure I could come up with a water jacket easily, it does have the ears on the top of the cylinder where I could tap for water jacket securing screws.