Homelite / Fisher Pierce Outboard Manuals

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About: Homelite and Fisher Pierce 460 Series Outboards

In 1961 the Homelite 460 Series 55HP 4-Cycle outboard boat motor was introduced based on a 44 cu. in. Crosley automobile engine outboard developed by Lou Fageol.

Dick Fisher of Boston Whaler's parent company Fisher Pierce recognized the superior quality and performance of the Homelite, and in 1966, Textron, Inc. sold him the production rights which he produced and re-branded as the Bearcat 55 hp outboard. He later developed an 85 HP model that was introduced in 1970.

Homelite 460, Deluxe & Grand Prix 55 HP Outboards

The Bearcat 55 engine was initially developed by Lloyd M. Taylor of Taylor Engines Inc., California, and initially adapted into outboard use by Fageol Marine, while later being redeveloped into the Homelite 460 55hp outboard in 1961, followed later with Deluxe & Grand Prix models.

The Taylor engine block was formed from about 125 steel stampings that were copper brazed in a 60-foot long furnace at over 2,000 degrees. Hardness and temper were imparted to the steel by controlling the cooling time. The finished engine block with refinements weighed 14-pounds and allowed the small displacement (44cc) engine to produce impressive performance.

The lightweight Taylor engine caught the attention of Paul Klotsch, chief engineer of Crosley Motors Inc., who was so impressed with its design and features that he negotiated an exclusive license to it from Taylor. Crosley Motors produced the engine and labeling it the Cobra for use in generators, marine pumps and other applications.

In the early 1960's Homelite developed a derivative of the Crosley engine into a successful 4-stroke outboard engine. This Homelite 4-stroke outboard ingenuity was years ahead of its time.

Homelite / Fisher Pierce Bearcat 55 HP Outboard

By 1966, the Homelite 4-cycle outboard caught the attention of Dick Fisher, as they paired well when used on the transom of Boston Whalers. With his interest peaked - Homelite agreed to sell their outboard manufacturing to Fisher Pierce. Like his Boston Whalers, there were many things about the Homelite 55 that attracted Dick Fisher. The outboard design was unconventional, and in many ways superior to the conventional 2-cycle outboards, just as his Boston Whalers were superior to most conventional boats.

The Homelite 4-stroke outboard engine was then re-badged as Fisher Pierce Homelite 55 in 1968, then the Fisher Pierce Bearcat-55 from 1969 on. It was produced and marketed from 1966 until 1972, after which Fisher Pierce ceased production of their four-cycle engines. However, in their heydays of the 1960's & 1970's, four-stroke outboards were a new innovative concept.

The four-cycle outboard was then pretty much forgotten for more than a decade until another small car automaker, Honda, adapted their four-cycle car engine to marine use in the 1980's.

These days, six decades after first appearing on the market, the 460 series Homelite Grand Prix and Deluxe along with the Fisher Pierce Bearcat outboards have made a bit of a comeback in popularity among vintage boat and outboard collector enthusiasts.

Fisher Pierce Bearcat 85 HP Outboard

In the late sixties, Richard Fisher felt the boating public was ready for more horsepower, which lead to the design and development of a 4-stroke 85hp Bearcat model. It was a modified light weight Coventry Climax F.W.E. engine married to the Bearcat 85 lower unit. Only about 650-800 of these 85hp units were ever produced.

A similar Coventry Climax engine was used in the Lotus Elite, making the engine far more valuable to the vintage Lotus folks than to the boating world, so many Bearcat 85's have become engine donors for vintage Lotus race cars.

The Bearcat 85 was introduced in 1970 derived from the F.W.E. 4 cylinder Coventry Climax aluminum engine block with 3 main bearings. The 85hp outboard was a great upgrade to the Bearcat 55, However, Fisher Pierce ended all outboard production in late 1972 and a proper Bearcat 85 service manual was never produced. NOTE: To the best of our knowledge, the lower unit on the 85 is the same as the 55, but the gear ratio is different, same bearings, housing, prop shaft, and seals. So the forward, reverse, and pinion gears are unique to the 85.

Resources: 460 / Grand Prix / Deluxe / Bearcat

• Homelite Grand Prix & Deluxe Parts - ebay
• Fisher Pierce Bearcat Outboard Parts - ebay
• IDENTIFY Fisher Pierce/Homelite Outboards
• Compare: Homelite/Bearcat vs Modern 50hp
• Homelite 55 Press Release / Promotions
• continuouswave.com whaler bearcat history
• crosleyautoclub.com Crosley outboard history
• Scott Stewart's website / page 2 archive
• bearcat55.com homelite55.com archives
• Homelite / Bearcat Facebook Group
• Homelite Bearcat Interchange / Parts Price Lists pdf
• Homelite Bearcat Torques, Tools, Kits, ads pdf
• Tachometer, Carburetor, Remote, Prop Guides pdf
• 4cyclemarine.com homelite/bearcat archive

Homelite / Fisher Pierce - Outboard Models and Manuals

• Service Manuals, Owners Manuals, Parts Catalogs
• N/A = currently not available, got a copy? contact us

Homelite 460, Grand Prix, Deluxe / Fisher Pierce Bearcat 1961-1972 Directory

Download pdf Outboard Manuals

Bearcat 4-Cycle 55 Horsepower Outboard Specifications

• Engine Type: 4-Cycle, Water Cooled
• Number of Cylinders: 4
• Bore and Stroke: 2.750" x 2.50"
• Displacement: 59.4 cubic inches
• Firing Order: 1-3-4-2
• Compression: 9:1
• Total Ignition Advance: 43°
• Spark Plug Type: Champion J6
• Spark Plug Gap: .025"
• Distributor Point Gap: .020"
• Alternator Output: 14 Amperes Max
• Rectifier Fuse: 20 Ampere AGC
• Oil Sump Capacity: 2¼ quarts
• Gear Housing Lubricant Capacity: 12 ounces
• Lower Unit Gear Ratio: 15:28 (1:1.87)
• Weight: 234 lbs.
• Lubrication System: Full Pressure Feed
• Fuel Pump: Cam Driven
• Carburetion: Dual Side Draft Carburetors
• Water Pump: Neoprene Impeller, Self-Priming, Stainless Steel Lined
• Engine Safety Device: Red light and horn signal
  • high water temperature or low oil pressure
• Battery Voltage: 12 volts, negative ground
• Intake Valve Clearance: .012" - .014" cold
• Exhaust Valve Clearance: .015" - .017" cold

Homelite / Fisher Pierce - Outboard Identification Guide

Running Changes for the Homelite Grand Prix, Deluxe, and Fisher Pierce Bearcat models offer differences that can help tell what vintage engine you have.

• Early Homelite blocks didn't have hard valve seats, Bearcats had hard seats
• On later Homelite blocks, there's an embossed letter below the block number
  • The first series had an "A" (known as an "A" block.)
  • The Bearcat blocks are marked with a letter "F" (F block)
• In the mid Sixties, Homelite changed the block to include hardened valve seats
• A second mount at tower shaft housing base added block to base plate strength
• Early Homelite outboards had the oil filler cap mounted to the oil pan
  • In (1964?) a manifold side crankcase casting hole was added for filler cap
• The tower shaft end of Crosley blocks had boss tabs for fan mounting
• Early Fisher Pierce outboards included Homelite & Bearcat parts on some motors
  • - this makes identifying those motors much harder

Technical Data

Comparison Test of Homelite 55 vs Modern 4-Stroke

From bearcat55.com: How the Homelite 55 or Fisher Pierce Bearcat 55 outboards compare to a modern era 4 stroke outboard. Back in 1996 Scott Stewart facilitated comparison tests using a Homelite 55 vs a more modern 50hp 4 stroke. Both engines were run on the same boat, results of the test are in the table below. Note that the Homelite is much closer in performance and fuel economy than you might expect!

Bottom line: The Homelite 55 or Bearcat 55 match up well to newer 4-cycle outboards. Look at the optimum fuel economy figures at cruise speed, which is the rpm you'll realistically run your 55 at, vs (WOT) wide open throttle.