Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

[crbbjrp]

Story:
I've never owned a boat but love to fish and be on the water, so a few weeks ago I found a 1969 watercraft with a 1969 Merc1250 motor. (This is an inline six cylinder, Block is silver.) It also came with a trailer that had an easy release that slides the boat into the water. It's an old park ranger's boat, but I got it all for $500. The boat has no holes or anything and seems to be in fairly good shape. Supposedly it has been sitting for 4 years, and the guy I bought it from said that it would idle fine, but when he gave it gas it would just spit and sputter.

What I've done and plan to do:
This winter I plan to reinforce some areas, paint the whole thing, replace the seats, and replace the carpet. I have everything I need to do this but the carpet, but don't think that that will be hard to find. I have also checked into my boating certificate, trailer plates, registration, and pretty much have these taken care of.

I put about 8 oz. of Seafoam into the 5 gallon tank and it took about and hour, but I got it started and it ran good. There was quiet a bit of smoke coming out of the prop at first, but after about 10 minutes it stopped smoking. I didn't have the spit and sputter problem when I gave it gas, it actually seemed to run well. When I shut it off I had fumes coming out of 1 or 2 carbs and then saw gas coming out. I also checked the fly wheel and when I twist it I don't hear or feel anything loose.

The wires are not in horrible condition, but there are a couple that I can see the green inside on. They are easy to get to and I wonder if I can just replace them with regular wire? I plan to do a compression check this weekend but have a lot of questions. I have been reading online about a lot of things with it, but it seems like I am seeing a lot of different answers and having a hard time finding them so I figure it would be easier to ask them here and get them all together.

Questions:
1. Oil: What type? I read regular TW-3, but have seen others disagree.
2. Mix: What ratio? I have read everything from 23:1 to 50:1.
3. Compression: This motor? I read 100psi+ with diff. of < 10, Top to Bottom.
4. Wiring: Replace? Should I replace all or some, and with what wire?
5. Manuals: Buy? Should I buy manuals? If so which ones? (Brand & Type)
6. Carbs: Rebuild? I have seen total rebuild kits for $15. Should I? All 3 carbs?
7. Water: Prop? I saw water coming out the prop? Should I see it elsewhere?
8. Clean: Motor? Should I clean any parts or lines on the motor?
9. Seals: Replace? Are there any major seals I should check and/or replace?
10. Winterize: Best? What's the best way to winterize the motor? (Ohio)
11. Anything else I missed, should look for, or know?

Sorry for the long post, I'm obviously a newbie at boats! Thanks in advance for the responses, I appreciate all the help and advice!!!

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

Story:
I've never owned a boat but love to fish and be on the water, so a few weeks ago I found a 1969 watercraft with a 1969 Merc1250 motor. (This is an inline six cylinder, Block is silver.) It also came with a trailer that had an easy release that slides the boat into the water. It's an old park ranger's boat, but I got it all for $500. The boat has no holes or anything and seems to be in fairly good shape. Supposedly it has been sitting for 4 years, and the guy I bought it from said that it would idle fine, but when he gave it gas it would just spit and sputter.

What I've done and plan to do:
This winter I plan to reinforce some areas, paint the whole thing, replace the seats, and replace the carpet. I have everything I need to do this but the carpet, but don't think that that will be hard to find. I have also checked into my boating certificate, trailer plates, registration, and pretty much have these taken care of.

I put about 8 oz. of Seafoam into the 5 gallon tank and it took about and hour, but I got it started and it ran good. There was quiet a bit of smoke coming out of the prop at first, but after about 10 minutes it stopped smoking. I didn't have the spit and sputter problem when I gave it gas, it actually seemed to run well. When I shut it off I had fumes coming out of 1 or 2 carbs and then saw gas coming out. I also checked the fly wheel and when I twist it I don't hear or feel anything loose.

The wires are not in horrible condition, but there are a couple that I can see the green inside on. They are easy to get to and I wonder if I can just replace them with regular wire? I plan to do a compression check this weekend but have a lot of questions. I have been reading online about a lot of things with it, but it seems like I am seeing a lot of different answers and having a hard time finding them so I figure it would be easier to ask them here and get them all together.

Questions:
1. Oil: What type? I read regular TW-3, but have seen others disagree.

Yup, much better oil then in 1969!

2. Mix: What ratio? I have read everything from 23:1 to 50:1.

50:1

3. Compression: This motor? I read 100psi+ with diff. of < 10, Top to Bottom.

100 plus and even is good enough 140 and even is better.

4. Wiring: Replace? Should I replace all or some, and with what wire?

Replace, they sell the harness here on iboats

5. Manuals: Buy? Should I buy manuals? If so which ones? (Brand & Type)

Yup, Mercury shop manual

6. Carbs: Rebuild? I have seen total rebuild kits for $15. Should I? All 3 carbs?

You said it ran fine, don't unless ya have to, (Scaaty will tell ya to do it anyway)

7. Water: Prop? I saw water coming out the prop? Should I see it elsewhere?

Tel tale pee hole at the rear of the powerhead MUST pee all the time!!!

8. Clean: Motor? Should I clean any parts or lines on the motor?

Not critical, I like a clean engine.

9. Seals: Replace? Are there any major seals I should check and/or replace?

Maybe the top bottom of the powerhead, depends on how she runs and you said she runs good. Scaaty will wanna change 'em! If they leak that could be part of yer low compression problem.

10. Winterize: Best? What's the best way to winterize the motor? (Ohio)

Foggin' oil n the seafoam in the gas as you have.

11. Anything else I missed, should look for, or know?

Check LU gear oil fer water, (milky look), change water pump, fuel pump diaphrams, check the screens on the top of each carb where the fuel comes in, (new gaskits), check fer gas leaks on the old compression fittings, (replace with new fittings and lines if leaking) I posted the part numbers fer silver blocks this summer, Timing should be no more then 21 degrees see Clams linc n sync thread here.

Sorry for the long post, I'm obviously a newbie at boats! Thanks in advance for the responses, I appreciate all the help and advice!!!

Good luck, Great old engines!! JR

 

[MercFan]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

I'd say go for the carb rebuilds simply because you said you had fuel running from them when you shut off (if the fuel only ran out when you lifted the motor out of the water, then don't worry, they do that). The seats are probably shot. So get needle+seat kits and clean the carbs. While you're there, float all the floats in gas and see if they all have the same boyancy. If they don't then boat (break out another thousand) hehehehehehe. They really cheap, but you're gonna spend a bit of money on the old girl. Not a 1000 though, so don't worry

Oh yes, when you replace the needles+seats, don't forget to set the float level with those levers. I don't know if your's has the 2 lever setup like mine, if it does. When you hold it in your hands, upside down from what it whould sit like in the engine, the, now top, lever must be horizontal, parallel to the casing.

 

[crbbjrp]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

Thanks for the replies so far. Anyone else have suggestions, difference of opinions, or anything else to add? Is the SELOC manual on this site a good one (Link below)? True opinions please.

http://www.iboats.com/Mercury_Outbo....257736--list_time.1192892075--view_id.214928

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

Do the carbs if ya have too, check all the old brass fittings on the gas line loop fer leaks first, (would be my advice), since she ran good when ya took her out. A little fresh fuel with seafoam, (as ya did) could possibly help on another few times out, (unless it is too late now), since she has not run fer four years. All my Silver blocks had problems with the brass compression fittings on the fuel lines, and there is one of those feedin' the top carb behind the starter on that engine, so make sure where the fuel is leakin from before tearin' em down. I posted the brass fittings parts fer yer engine here this summer. Good luck. JR ps If ya read all the threads on inline6(s) right here in this forum ya will get all the second third n' forth opinions ya need.

 

[crbbjrp]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

One thing I'll add is that I haven't takin her out yet. I've only hooked to a water hose and ran her. It's getting cold and I'd like to make sure I don't have any major problems before putting her away for the winter. If I have problems I have the winter to get her fixed.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

One thing I'll add is that I haven't takin her out yet. I've only hooked to a water hose and ran her. It's getting cold and I'd like to make sure I don't have any major problems before putting her away for the winter. If I have problems I have the winter to get her fixed.

Then you really have no idea 'til ya take her out. I'd test her, (after replacin' the water pump), before throwin' lots o' money at a 38 year old engine. They are not expensive to aquire, (think of what ya jus' paid). I run a few of 'em n' have fer many years, n' I know that is how I do it. Yer only $500 in (and ya seem ta like the boat). Good luck. JR

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

Well, looks like ya got it pretty well covered by the rest. I would for sure do a new impeller, and find (inside the cowl) the small black rubber line for the telltale stream out the right of the lower cowling. Pull it and clean it out..fills with silt and sand. I've seen some that even have a small screen in there..beats the hell out of me why

 

[lemonshark]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

I just acquired a Kona boat with what looks like a 1966 or 1967 95hp 950 SS mercury outboard engine. Replacing all of the hardware is easy with I-boat, such as bow and stern lights, fuel line connectors, emergency oars (don't want to forget those), and so on. I also found in Walmart a section of boating accesories that was unbeliveable! But the hard part is making sure that this engine is going to run the way I want it to. My friend who gave it to me swears that it runs great. Choke it, pump the prime bubble on the fuel line 5 times, and turn her over. After that all day he says that she fires right up without choking and runs superb. I have the dog ear attachment for the water to run the engine with the hose line. If she runs great after the first time I fire her up, is it neccesary to even tear her down, Even though she has sat for a couple of years?

 

[Scaaty]

Re: Lots of Questions - 1969 Merc1250

I just acquired a Kona boat with what looks like a 1966 or 1967 95hp 950 SS mercury outboard engine. Replacing all of the hardware is easy with I-boat, such as bow and stern lights, fuel line connectors, emergency oars (don't want to forget those), and so on. I also found in Walmart a section of boating accesories that was unbeliveable! But the hard part is making sure that this engine is going to run the way I want it to. My friend who gave it to me swears that it runs great. Choke it, pump the prime bubble on the fuel line 5 times, and turn her over. After that all day he says that she fires right up without choking and runs superb. I have the dog ear attachment for the water to run the engine with the hose line. If she runs great after the first time I fire her up, is it neccesary to even tear her down, Even though she has sat for a couple of years?

Well first I must tell you welcome the the mania called the IBoats, best Forum on the liquid planet. BUT, its not a Chat type room..you are pigtailing another post..take and repost you question on a new thread..