OJM Test Report: 1953 Elgin 2hp

Here is a short video and commentary on a 2hp 1953 Elgin model 571.58202 sold by Sears and made by the West Bend Aluminum Co. This is an air-cooled motor (with splash cooling of the leg) and originally sold for $88 when new in '53, These are a favorite outboard of mine, if you are interested, I put together a long write-up on them over on my oddjobmotors.com website.

[@BackyardBeeKeepingNuevo]

Love the smell of two stroke engines. I have one of these still unopened in the shipping box from five years ago. I should take it out and see if I can make it run. Thanks for the inspiration.

[@cajuncookone]

Thank you for all the hard work you put into the odd job motors website and your videos. I hope there is nice old shop and a lake in heaven for you to fix old motors and ride around. Rest in peace Art!!! May God comfort your family! Cheers my friend!

[@michaelfellini4418]

Really a quiet classic...just fantastic

[@stanleybest8833]

I have the 1951 two cylinder 6 HP water cooled Elgin and a red handle pull cord. They're both rare. My 2 HP Chinese 4 cycle would power your Duranautic just fine.

[@planetb69]

I just picked up this same motor at a flea market for $20. I think it’s been sitting for 40 years. There is a brown muck in the fuel tank. Something is plugging the fuel line that looks like solid waste. So going to clean it up and see what happens. Motor does turn over by hand and seems to have good compression. The spark plug looks new. Gets spark.

[@outboardsrus]

As noted above and below, be sure to check out the Elgin page on my OddjobMotors.com website. There is an extensive step-by-step write-up on these motors that addresses most things you will come across with them.

[@planetb69]

Wonderful writeup, reading it now 😄

[@johnblaisdell2179]

Very nice little motor. I used to have two. still have one and don't know what ever happened to the other. Mine says Chrysler rather than Elgin but looks exactly the same. No recoil start on mine either. I'm missing the prop but it does run. I'll check out your website. Thanks for sharing.

[@MikeSmith-hg6hs]

I am getting my hands on one just like that and wondered what resources you can recommend for parts? Thank you in advance

[@outboardsrus]

I address the "value" issue specifically for the 2hp Elgin/West Bend/Chryslers at the bottom of the write-up on my OddJob Motors website on the Elgin page.

[@carlstclair-it8ij]

outboardsrus Still have my 1967 clinton chief 5 hp that I bought that did not run and I recently got it running

[@johnwhitaker7657]

how do l find this web site l have a motor like this can get it to run a little none of the adjustments make any difference, seems to get flooded so l turn the fuel off then it will run fast until its gone tried adjusting the float because it was leaking fuel through the cork gasket. l had the bowl off with the fuel on the fuel level stopped just a little before the top where the cork gasket is but then it wold not start unless sprayed gas in the carburetor. any ideas.

[@fstarockaburns425]

Hi - gr8 vid and real nice website. I have the same motor (picked it up for $15 at a swap meet), one needle and plug is all she needed. Cleaned out the carb and set points gap. Just a question - I have to adjust my HS screw when its idling, and when I accelerate it runs bad until I turn the HS screw in a bit - so basically going fast and back to idle I have to adjust the screw. Im still fine tuning it but just wondered if theres something else im missing..

[@fleetwin1]

If only Elgin had Art for a spokesman back in the day!

[@cpeterson7608]

I have a nice 571.58201 however the tiller handle was replaced by someone. This tiller handle has a tag which reads 571.58202. Does anyone know if there is a way I can determine the serial number of this 571.58201 without having the correct tag on the tiller handle? Thanks!

[@fleetwin1]

Very quiet for a single cylinder air cooled engine!