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Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

Thank you very much for this as Ive been going nuts looking!
BP

Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

The spring end "hook" if broken off can be repaired by heating and bending
a new hook and it will work fine.
I don't know if the WF4 and WG4 share Mercury recoil spring 24-20775 but
if it does you are in luck as that part number covers about all the
Mercury models (and Wizards thru WD3S and WD4S) up thru Mark 20
(Excepting the KF5 and later small twins and Wizard versions)
What that means is you can find good used recoils springs at club swap
meets reasonable without really looking. Same spring used on both
singles and twins.
Removing and replacing spring can be exasperating but it can be done
by ordinary mortals using ordinary tools. In replacing spring wind it
up tight and clamp it with a vice grip plier. With a little care the
spring can be inserted part way into place then release the vice grip
while pressing spring fully into place.
Recoils usually over lubed with heavy grease to keep them quiet. When
assembling apply a light coat of Lubriplate. You may find worn parts
that received no lube as well.
Good Luck
Louis

Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

Original Wizard WG-4 and WF-4 spring part Number: w-30-4076

Mercury # m-30-4076 became 24-20156

SPRING, STARTER REWIND (#24-29340T02)
Supersedes: 24-29340T 1, 24-29340A 1, 24-23714, 24-20156, 24-45073A 1

SIE 18-6506 MERC REWIND SPRING 24-29340T02
Sierra 18-6506 $32.12

OldMercs.com 24-29340T02 $41.08

used 2429340T02 $15.57

SI18-6506
Sierra $22.95

Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

Kiekhaefer (Mercury) had at least three different recoils and at least three
different parts numbering systems. It might help to understand a little more
of both subjects. I will try to briefly state what I know of subject.

Prewar 1940-41 Kiekhaefer owners manual included an illustration of each part
giving each a number, name and price of part. Part numbers started at #1 next
to part and a numbered list giving name and price of replacement. If you desired
outboard motor could be returned to factor for complete reconditioning to
like new including painting and decals.

Postwar a somewhat improved system with Mercury part number preceded by "M"
Parts manual was an improved illustration of each component with "M" part number
and name. By this time Mercury had several models that shared at least some
parts so different models might have part numbers in common. This covered the
early Green Tank models. Wizard part numbering system used "W" prefix with
same numbers as Mercury is same parts were used.

In the early 1950's Kiekhaefer revised the part numbering system. Each part
number was preceded by a two digit prefix and a five digit part number.
The prefix indicated the type of part and the 5 digits identified the specific part. The new system incorporated the old parts except No Longer Available
for which newer parts could be substituted.

So much for parts manuals and part numbers.

Recoil starters appeared on high end prewar models. The cast aluminum hood
was different for singles and twins but spring was same. The postwar KD3S
WD3S KD4S WD4S all used revised part number 24-20775. Green tank Mercuries
up thru Mark 20H all used same spring part number 24-20775

The small twin KF5 and later versions used a different starter recoil with
recoil spring part number 24-24081 Wizard versions likely used same spring.

These starter systems were called Magna-Pull as magnets played a part in their
functioning.

Beginning with Mark 25 Kiekhaefer went to a new starter design of a mechanical
not magnetic functioning. Motors equipped with Automatic Rewind Starters
have a "cage" on flywheel. Wizard WF4 and WG4 have these cages so it seems
fair to conclude they share the later type starter. The hood looks similar
to hood on prior WD4S/KD4S but it is not same..
Mercury recoil spring is part number 24 23714. Apparently this number replaced by 24-29340 as my parts manual has the former scratched out and the latter written in. Determining which spring part number applies to WF4/WG4 might
take a little more digging to get correct one. A recoil spring is one part that you want to know is right before you begin to wrestle with it.

Hope this reply adds some light but no heat. Hopebully it puts things into
perspective.
Louis

Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

Louis,
Thanks for the information on the part numbering system.
You may be right about 24-29340 being the possible part. You have much more experience with the old Wizards than I do.

I got the part number W-30-4076 from the model specific illustrated parts list I uploaded for the WF-4 and WG-4 motors.

I followed the bread crumb trail and assumed the Mercury part had the same number, substituting the "M" for the "W"

The Mercury parts list I also uploaded here gave me the "new" part number of 24-20156.

24-20156 was the part number for the wg-4 recoil spring in March of 1958 according to the manuals I uploaded.

Where the numbers go that superseded it, is anyone's guess. The numbers I got from a google search lead me to the 24-29340T02 number. Whether it is a direct match, I don't know, but it's probably usable with or without spring end modifications.

With finding parts for old outboard motors, "You pays your money and you takes your chance" and if you get it right, you pat yourself on the back.

Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

Yesterday I made a 56 mile round trip because the shocks the auto parts clerk
looked up and double checked at my request were not the right ones. Finding the
right parts when the right parts are not known is even harder. I have a little
problem with the vendor's broad brush approach of one spring part number covering
what Kiekhaefer needed at least three different part numbers to cover. Proceed
with caution as one size fits all may be a tad over ambitious.
Louis
I find nothing wrong with your research but I would question vendor carefully
before ordering to be sure what is purchased (plus S & H )is what is needed.
"Trust but Verify"

The hoods on KD4s and WD4s gave me some trouble that I can not recall exactly
as to nature. No possible connection to WF4/WG4 so please disregard
comments to that effect in prior entry.

Re: Looking for a 50's Wizard outboard

At Suter Meet today I was given a rewind hood assembly for a Kiekhaefer twin
because it would not fit KD4S tank. When I got it home I tried it on
Wizard and Mercury cast tanks and discovered the mounting holes allow it
to fit a Wizard tank but not a
Mercury tank. I do not know if this is
an across the board situation or if it only indicates Kiekhaefer fitted a tank
to a rewind without being too concerned about uniformity and interchange with
another tank or rewind.
One of those "the more you know the less you know" lessons.
Louis