Gale 5DL20 Outboard Motor Specs & Overview

Overview of the Gale 5DL20 Outboard Motor

The Gale 5DL20 is a classic 5.0 horsepower vintage outboard engine manufactured by Gale Products, a well-regarded division of the Outboard Marine Corporation (OMC). Designed as a reliable, budget-friendly alternative to OMC’s flagship Evinrude and Johnson models, Gale motors shared many high-quality internal components with their corporate siblings. The 5DL20 offers full-featured convenience for small utility boats, fishing skiffs, and dinghies, incorporating a full forward-neutral-reverse gearshift, a synchronized twist-grip throttle, and an external 6-gallon fuel tank setup.

Key Technical Specifications

• Model Name: Gale 5DL20
• Horsepower: 5.0 HP @ 4000 RPM (O.B.C. certified)
• Operating Range: 3500 – 4500 RPM
• Cylinders: 2 cylinders
• Bore and Stroke: 1-15/16″ bore x 1-1/2″ stroke
• Displacement: 8.84 cubic inches
• Powerhead Type: 2-cycle, 2-port, alternate firing
• Gear Shift Control: Forward – Neutral – Reverse (F-N-R)
• Gear Ratio: 15:26
• Propeller: 2-blade, 8″ diameter x 7-1/4″ pitch
• Carburetor: Float feed with manual high and low-speed needle adjustments and an automotive-type choke
• Speed Control: Synchronized spark advance and throttle twist-grip control
• Ignition System: Built-in flywheel magneto
• Cooling System: Rubber blade combination displacement and centrifugal water pump
• Fuel Tank Capacity: 6-gallon separate remote tank (Approx. 6 hours running time)
• Starter: Automatic recoil rewind starter
• Weight: 55 lbs (dry weight, excluding tank)
• Recommended Transom Height: Fits 15″ standard or 20″ long transoms

Restoration and Maintenance Guidelines

2-Stroke Fuel/Oil Mixture: For the Gale 5DL20, a fuel-to-oil mix ratio of 24:1 (1 quart of oil to 6 gallons of gas, or approximately 5 oz of oil per gallon of gasoline) is recommended. Always use a high-quality TC-W3 rated 2-stroke outboard oil mixed with fresh, ethanol-free gasoline whenever possible. Avoid modern pre-mixed fuels designed for modern 50:1 outboards, as older sleeve-bearing powerheads require the additional lubrication offered by a richer mix.

Ignition System Maintenance: The built-in flywheel magneto system utilizes standard OMC ignition components. When restoring or tuning up this engine, pull the flywheel to inspect the breaker points, ignition coils, and condensers. Clean or replace the contact points, setting the gap to .020 inches. If the original coils are cracked or green with age, replace them with modern OMC-style ignition coils. Standard Champion spark plugs (such as J6C or J8C) gapped at .030 inches work reliably in this motor.

Cooling System Care: The cooling system relies on a rubber impeller inside the lower unit gearcase housing. Because rubber deteriorates over time, replace the impeller before running an engine that has been sitting in storage. Always ensure the motor is submerged in a test bucket or water before starting to avoid frying the rubber pump blades.

Carburetor Tuning: The float-feed carburetor features adjustable high-speed and low-speed (idle) needle valves. For initial bench setup, gently turn both needles clockwise until lightly seated, then back them out 1 to 1.5 turns. Final adjustment should be made in the water under load: tune the high-speed needle at wide-open throttle for smooth, maximum RPM, then bring the motor to idle and adjust the low-speed needle until it runs crisp without coughing or stalling.

Gearcase Service: Drain and inspect the lower unit gear lube periodically. Fill from the bottom drain hole until fluid flows from the top vent plug using standard Marine SAE 80W-90 non-corrosive gear oil or OMC Hi-Vis lube. If milky water contamination is found, replace the gearcase oil seals and spaghetti seals before taking the boat back out onto the water.