Wind Engine

Talent wrote: »

I'd have thought the other way around seeing as the red one is larger but I suppose the pitch explains everything.

And I could well have the colours mixed up:D

Hi, I know this thread is pretty much dead.....but im trying to find out more info on the wind before I buy.
Did I read that these outboards have no reverse?
Thanks, Shane.

Delighted to read that reply by Feargal B quoting what appears to be either the manufacturer or the agent for Wind because I am looking for a replacement impeller for mine. Perhaps Feargal will let us have an address through which one can order parts?

Wind are outboards designed originally (according to popular lore) for use on remote Russian rivers and able to be fully serviced by a schoolgirl (or a competent schoolboy) on a windswept gravel beach. Anything you need to access is amazingly accessible and much of it can be readily stripped down and re-assembled. That's the good news. The other good news is that it originally came complete with a full set of spares including all the gaskets and other spare parts including valve leaves, an impeller and even an alternative prop. (I could be mistaken but I believe I also got a spare set of piston rings). The bad news is difficulty (until now!) acquiring additional spares, and the fact that the engine is rather heavy.

The ones which have tended to circulate here were the original 8 HP of which I have one. I acquired it "as new" for €400 (less than half of what you'd pay for a similar Evinrude or Yamaha) from a guy selling them from a container in Ringsend and he seems to have acquired them as a cheap joblot. When I got it it had never seen the water, let alone a Russian river but it was still approaching 15 years of age so my first task was to check the impeller to see if the vanes had stuck to the housing in storage. They had and I needed to replace it with the spare which fortunately I had to hand (which is why I need another!).

No, the original 8 HP Winds did not have reverse although they do have neutral and (correct me if I'm wrong) the engine swivels through 360 degrees so one can put your boat into reverse that way. If you are not paying too much for it it is a grand engine for not much cash and should be serviceable for many years. Can I ask how much you are being asked to pay?

I already tried a marine parts shop and they didn't have a match for the impeller although they were able to provide shear pins. Not too worried about the impeller in the short term, should last a few years but would be nice to have one in the locker. Will try emailing that address but payment is a problem. Don't fancy giving my credit card number across the Volga but perhaps they'll do PayPal? The thought of queing in the bank in Balbriggan for an international money order fills me with dread.

BTW, a word to the wise and junk the old tin petrol tank in favour of a modern plastic job. The metal ones were covered with some gunk (perhaps for anti-corriosion) on the inside which was detaching and gumming up the carb. Also I found that the fuel tubing was starting to get perished so I renewed it all round (being so accessible was a fairly easy job).

I don't know if I'm much help because my Wind engine is an 8hp 2-stroke but for what it's worth it takes an NGK B8HS sparkplug. Most Motor factors will be able to either sell you that size, or produce an equivalent in another make like Champion.

Holler if you need more help - do you have a manual?