Help with Mercury 700 timing

[Shakespear23]

Hi im new on here, iv just rebuilt a Mercury 700 not sure of the year but its the Clamshell type cover and doesnt work on a distributor, i just cant get it timed up right because it was in boxes when i brought it, all iv got so far is it back firing and it sparking before the piston reaches the top because when im turning the engine over it keeps jerking back, theres no timing marks on the block or anything so i dont know where the flywheel is supposed to line up to.

i have some pictures it it helps

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Help with Mercury 700 timing

If you have a shop manual for your motor, the link and sync chapter should describe the procedures for setting the timing. I don't know your particular motor, but in general the first step of link and sync is to align the timing pointer with the appropriate marking on the flywheel when cylinder #1 is at the correct (TDC?) position. You need a dial indicator tool to do this.

If the timing pointer is not correctly aligned, you won't be able to set the timing correctly. If the timing marks on your flywheel are missing/worn, you need to put the markings on the flywheel yourself. And if that is the case, I suggest you do some research on how to do this or post another quesiton on this forum asking about that specific step.

A Mercury OEM shop manual for your motor would provide excellent guidance on setting the timing on your motor and pretty much any other tune-up, maintenance, or repair task.

 

[Shakespear23]

Re: Help with Mercury 700 timing

Hi i dont have a manual, the timing markings on the flywheel are intact but i dont know where or there isnt a timing pointer on the block or where ever its supposed to be?

thanks

 

[adam89k]

Re: Help with Mercury 700 timing

Hi im new on here, iv just rebuilt a Mercury 700 not sure of the year but its the Clamshell type cover and doesnt work on a distributor, i just cant get it timed up right because it was in boxes when i brought it, all iv got so far is it back firing and it sparking before the piston reaches the top because when im turning the engine over it keeps jerking back, theres no timing marks on the block or anything so i dont know where the flywheel is supposed to line up to.

i have some pictures it it helps

I have the same motor, it looks like your band on the fly wheel is gone for your timming marks.

If you can't figure it out let me know and I'll take pictures of my marks this weekend and I can send them to you.

pls reply to adam89k@hotmail.com

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Help with Mercury 700 timing

I think that many (including myself) would suggest that you get a shop manual for that motor, and do the the full link and sync procedure, before trying to run the motor again. If you try running it with the timing settings set wrong, you risk blowing the motor. You might have been lucky last time that the timing was so far off that it would not start at all. The cost of a shop manual is minimal compared to the cost of replacing the motor or a rebuild. Even the more experienced outboard motor owners / weekend mechanics would normally get a shop manual for link and sync procedures, specs, and such. Just my thoughts...

Having said this, below is an example of where and how to set a timing pointer. I am not sure the specs are correct for your motor but it gives you an idea of what you need to find out.