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Western Auto WG4

I have a Western Auto (Wizard?) Model- WG4 Serial- 511566 single cylinder outboard. Cannot find any information on this motor. I have not found any motor like this. Can you help?

Thanks.

Re: Western Auto WG4

WG4 is a twin cylinder model offered between 1951 and thru at least 1954. If your motor is really a single
perhaps there has been some creative parts swapping
at some point in past. I believe the id plate is on
the leg so that grafting a twin leg to a single
would pose no problem EXCEPT the singles exhast
straight down into the leg while the twins exhaust
out the side into a water cooled exhaust chamber
and then into side of leg...same leg differnt machining at factory.
Singles model end in 3 while twins model ends in 4
for the early 2 inch bore 1 3/4 stroke motors.
So we are a little puzzled...please verify single
or twin, model plate id and exhaust routing.
Could even be a swapped id plate although I don't
know why someone would go to the trouble to do that.

Re: Western Auto WG4

Stan,
You have a Kiekhafer Mercury-made Wizard. It is a 6 HP direct drive model, and yours was made in 1952. It is based on the Mercury KD4 and most parts are interchangeable. Good place to start is oldmercs.com.

JP

Re: Re: Western Auto WG4

Just re-read your post and Louis'.....yep, the single cylinder wouldn't be the 6HP super twin WG4. You might have WD3??

Re: Western Auto WG4

ERROR CORRECTION!!!
WD3,WD4,and WF4 used the cast aluminum leg ( similar
to if not same as the early Mercurys)
WG4 uses a different style (and I think a slightly
different driveshaft length) Had to look at example
in basement. No Id plate on my sample but I think
located on clamp casting (mine has weld and two holes
in that area where plate may have been)
Additionally I do not believe Wizard offered a Mercury
made single after WD3/WD3S...per the chart

Re: Western Auto WG4

I may have an odd ball or maybe something was swapped out on this motor. On the gas tank located above the carb, I can make out "Panther" Cast iron, 2 1/4 HP. This is stamped on the side of the tank. The only possible exhaust I can see are 6 holes on the rear above the foot? Not sure. The nameplate definitely says model, WG4 and serial, 511566. Do you think someome exchanged parts on this motor?

Thanks.

Re: Western Auto WG4

Can you post pictures? I have made my alloted
number of wild guesses.
Louis

Re: Western Auto WG4

Will be glad to post pictures. Will get these out over the next day or so.

Thanks again for the info.

Re: Western Auto WG4

Here are some photos of the motor. The carb, points and condenser are Clinton. Could this be a Clinton powerhead? All of the motor bolt holes line up properly. Could I have a Clinton powerhead on a Wizard lower unit?

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Re: Re: Western Auto WG4

That would be my guess, too. It is definitely an air-cooled powerhead (could be Tecumseh manufactured??), and I doubt a Mercury lower unit would mate up up with it. I think it is more likely that you just have a Wizard transom clamp and that's all. Interesting concoction. If you post another picture showing the full exhaust leg and lower unit, maybe we can help figure this "beast" out. :)

JP

Re: Western Auto WG4

I have seen a John Deere racing outboard...John Deere
liquid cooled snowmobile engine grafted to a Mercury
racing lower unit...colorful and fast...but not
quite the way their respective manufacturers
assembled them at their factories.
The folks at John's Old Mercury group spare no
effort in search for a combination of parts that
will go faster...called FrankeMercs...lot of
experiments don't pan out but some become
legends and soon copied.
Yours is probably the result of desire to make use
of a good lower unit with a bad powerhead..."waste
not, want not."

Re: Western Auto WG4

Louis---i saw your comments and would like to ask a couple of questions I have about an older WD3S.

Thanks

Thom Cherry

Re: Western Auto WG4

Did you ever figure out what the motor was. I have one too.

Re: Western Auto WG4

A lot of creative swaps are possible between and among the various Kiekhaefer
made outboards. It is possible to make a single cylinder KE4/Mark 7, WF4,WG4
as the bolt holes,exhaust openings, driveshaft splines and water tube line up so an earlier Kiekhaefer single cylinder powerhead can be mounted without alterations...I do not say they would work at all well...different gear ratio
likely would overwhelm single.
Adapting air cooled or other brand water cooled motors takes more work
and may require considerable alterations.
When you run into a more or less well done conversion you have to admire
the "where there is a will there is a way" attitude.
Louis