Any Information on Muncie 1B38 outboard?

[Thierry M. Petersen]

Hi:

For Christmas, I was given an old Muncie 1b38. Can anyone help me identify what parts I am missing? I was told that it was a 1938 model. Looking at the carb, it appears to be a 1941 (I indexed against the carb model #s), so I am not sure if the 1938 date is right. I think I am missing side plates. I might also be missing the shaft housing. Would you expect an outboard of this type to have 3 tubes not enclosed? It was seized, but amazingly has strong spark. Any information is helpful. I think it has had a tough life, but I am excited to get her working again.

thanks for your time,

Thierry

[Tom Martin]

I don't know anything about a Muncie engine, but I have a Johnson of about the same vintage with similar construction. The carb has a Start, Low and High setting, and the speed is adjusted via the spark advance lever. There is no gearbox, and the engine can't be swung all the way around because of the three tubes, so reverse is by paddle.

[JKWidener]

Circa 1933 the Munco sales company of Muncie Indiana tried to interest impecunious boaters by offering a $44.50 2hp single cylinder outboard motor kit. "All you have to do", said munco's tiny ads, "is assemble this tested outboard.No machining----a 12-year-old boy can put it together with a screwdriver and a wrench.

The Munco kit outboard looked exactly like a 2hp Neptune brand of simular vintage. It would seem likely that the Munco sales company was simply a small marketing arm of Neptune's parent, Muncie Gear Works. A little coupon on the bottom of Munco's advertising asked folks to send for "complete details concerning the assembly of the Munco Outboard Motor."

Because no mention was made of the Neptune or Muncie Gear works lineage (except to say Munco's design was Tested"), it is possible this very obscure kit motor came with Munco cast into the rope sheave plate. Consequently, the Munco may be considered an autonormous marque.

The above information came from "The old outboard book and can be downloaded here at this link.... So basically, it was manufactured by Neptune.
http://books.google.com/books?id=eii...l2co#PPA129,M1

You can look here at this Neptune sales ad and see that they advertise the Neptune and at the bottom it says "Muncie Gear Works".. And im almost certain yours is a 1938.. Here is some 1938 Neptune Pictures also...

[SCCC]

I'm no expert, but you can go to www.aomci.org/ and there's a place for non-members to ask questions. Those guys are the experts.

[Houston]

I dont believe you are missing any obvious cowling. I have an earlier edition of the same motor, everything is exposed. It will idle down to where you can read the script on the flywheel as it spins if you get it running right. One trick i have with these older motors is to drill a pin hole in the cooling water outlet tube (in the bottom of the curve as it comes out of the head) that way you have a tell tale on the water pump.