1GM10 repower to Beta 14

[dnewl...@msn.com]

There's been a post or 2 about this and I recently did it.  Some random comments and if any questions, LMK.

I did this myself over a few weeks, still holding down a job and marriage, with the exception of a friend to help remove/install the engines into the doghouse. 

The engine is slightly bigger and I had 22" of vertical clearance already cut into the front of the doghouse from a previous 1GM10 repower.  I didn't need to cut any more.  

The Beta manual dimensions are ALMOST spot on as I cut a 1/4" ply template of the engine length, width, trans flange and position of engine mounts (that require new holes).  I tried very hard to exact my trans flange placement from the 1GM10 and all looked great until I tightened everything up.  Motor ended up 3/8" more forward than I measured for/wanted, that cascaded into driveline shaft fitment issues.  Quickest move was to mill the face of the prop hub .30 to get me more shaft as I had no more on the front end to play with.  

Existing shift/throttle cables worked, with 2 exceptions.  I had to flip the linkage behind the throttle arm to get forward = forward.  And, the trans cable shift coupler was frozen to the cable threads and broke = new cable needed.  

Positive/Negative existing wiring reached to the new Beta locations with some simple re-routing. 

Exhaust is on the port side of the Beta, but they sell a tall cross-over manifold and it kind of gets to the starboard side. It doesn't reach as far to starboard as the 1GM10 so you need a bendy hose and/or a slight movement of the water muffler inboard off the starboard engine bulkhead.  I'm still fine-tuning this and I bet I'll end up with a few inches of the muffler sticking out the back of the engine box to get good hose alignment, and a few inches inboard of the starboard bulkhead. 

Engines mounts required a 3/8" shim.  I probably could have gone 1/2".  Beta does have various mount options and I should have inquired more about this (or they should have played better offense).  Maybe they have a mount that matches the 1GM10 bolt pattern?  I know they use this motor as a drop-in for the Atomic.

Fuel lines go to 8 mm or 5/16" 

Water line goes from 1/2" to 3/4". 

Heat exchanger gets pretty close to the port engine access panel.  I'm going to clearance mine.  

Some engine noise insullation has been removed (back side of forward access panel and port side panel for instance, and sides low around the mounts).

Transmission flange bolt pattern is different, so you'll need a different shaft coupler (and drive saver if one is used).  A machinist could cut your existing coupler but it needs 4 new holes plus a larger pilot bushing dimension.  I stayed with my 3/4" drive shaft.

I went with the 2:1 gear box (from 2.62:1) and my 13x9R prop was calculating good per Flex O Fold's and Beta's calculators, but water tested way off.  I could only get 3000 RPM's and 3600 is needed for proper running and warranty.  12X8R prop is perfect.  There is also a 2.5:1 Beta gearbox available but I don't know if I would see better effeciency with more prop diameter. 

I got the larger control panel and it required some slight shaving of the top/bottom edge and rounding the corners so it would fit.  Nothing major.  I also added 4 more mounting screw so a total of 8 are holding it in place rather than 1 in each corner.

1 thing I did that was very helpful was build a platform at the mouth of the doghouse, at the same level as the lowest level of the opening.  3/4" ply.  This not only was a great place to plop the motors before picking with the halyard, I spent quite a bit of time laying on it doing install/cleaning/drilling/epoxying/bleeding/cussing.  I also found it somewhat easy to step out of the cabin with it, so I could stow the ladder the entire time I worked on this project.

1 thing should have done (and will do) is enlarge the port side engine access panel.  I'm going to 21" by 29".  This will help get better access to the +/- wiring terminals on the engine and also some help with the mounts.  

The motor runs really well and I think it's about 14 lbs heavier than the 1GM10.  Transmission is a cone clutch type and smooth.  Serviceablility is fantastic with oil/fuel filters and impellor all front and center of the engine.  Built-in oil pump out.  I also have better access to all aspects of the engine mounts for some reason (maybe wire rerouting freed up space and insulation carve-out).  

Beta was very good to work with.  The motor was in stock and they ran it before it went in the crate.  Their online store for parts is very well organized with a 10% discount.  It won't make up for the chunk I threw down for this thing, but it will help slightly.  They were good with quick email responses and such.

I'm off to the Newport to Ensenada race next weekend and that return will be it's first gig.  We'll see how she does.  

[Colin]

Wow!  Thanks for the detailed account.  It sounds like a big undertaking but glad it all worked out. 

Good luck in the Newport to Ensenada!

Cheers,

Colin Mann

J/92 Poohsticks #8