Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

[philbur]

Hi Everyone!

I am in the final stages of a complete rebuild on a V6 2.4 1986 V200 (200hp)
and I cannot positively identify the correct placement of all the bleed lines on this motor.

The Clymer Manual I have is not good enough as it has only a partial layout of one side of the routing pattern and it even mis-identifies the horizontal and vertical reed types.

My block has one fitting on each bore...(at the top sides, close to the heads)
one fitting at the block and crankshaft case per bore...
one fitting at the top and bottom of the carb manifold and one fitting at each of the other four carbs...
There are also fittings at two bores recessed between the cylinders, close to the "bottom" of the block (nearer to the cranshaft instead of the heads).

The hose routing seems logical for a few of the fittings...but I would rather have a positive guide to go by, seeing as I did not have a completed example to go by when I originally picked up this motor.

Ideally...if any of you have the Mercury Factory Repair Manual for this block...I could use a scan of the routing....the Clymer Manual has been pretty vague in many aspects and I am lucky that I can draw on my experience as an automotive mechanic to get most of the work done...but when it comes to two-strokes...well....this is something I do not want to guess at, as it means tearing out all the ancillary components on the motor to re-route these darn things if I get it wrong.

Also...is there any harm in using premium-quality CLEAR fuel hoses for all my needs on this motor? I am planning on using them for EVERYTHING from the quick-connect to the carb distribution lines. (this has always been a great comfort to me when I had old "beater" snowmobiles and saved me a ton of time whenever there was a running problem....

I am also planning on using clear, braided hoses for the cooling system and would also like your opinion on whether this is a problem...(once again..this is a way of ensuring all is well by simply looking at them)

Thanks in advance for your help, all...and if you are from my part of the continent....I wish you all a peaceful hibernation and look forward to enjoying my "new" Hydrostream and Merc in the spring.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Are your reeds vertical or horizontal they built them both ways.

 

[philbur]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Hey Laddies..
Thanks for asking...
My reeds are horizontal...six stacked rows of over/under reeds, 10 reeds per carb.

The Clymer manual is not much help...page describes three possible configurations and offers only a Starboard view of the block that I have.
And this diagram only shows the "top" hoses that travel between the cylinders and the crankcase. There is not a proper diagram showing the other hoses that comprise the carb routing.

I can draw a diagram of the exact nipple placement if it will help....

 

[achris]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

From the service manual

From the service training notebook

 

[philbur]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Holy Sweet Shop Manual, Batman!....

This is fantastic...thanks again...
My rant about the guy asking for an "online" manual sort of paints me as a hypocrite...but alas, I have been bugging Charpter/Indigo for this publication for long enough without sucess and the Clymer and Seloc I have for my motor are starting to look pretty "low-rent" by comparison...

Here is what I have done to the poor little bugger....just to freak out the Merc die-hards that have been on me about "keeping it black, the way it SHOULD be"...I always like to be able to spot problem leaks, arc-marks, or even annoying dirt on my motors...so this is what I have done to this one...and the gold exterior is a perfect match for the brown metal flake on my Hydro...

Do you regret helping me now...or an I forgiven?...heh heh...
P.S. Do you have an opinion on using Clear fuel lines and clear braided cooling hoses? Thanks again, Phil in Ottawa, Canada. (Snowing tonight!...but Hockey is back.)

 

[achris]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Sort of makes "Black Max" a bit of a misnomer...

 

[philbur]

Re: BlackMax is moot

Re: BlackMax is moot

Hey Chris...yeah it does...

But this entire motor seems to have been a bit of a misnomer...
The block is from a non-oil injected motor, the transom serial number indicates it should be oil injected, the wiring was a joke, the carb jets have been "Vise-Gripped", the temp sender, temp alarm, and thermostats were all missing...and to top it off whom ever sleeved two of the bores used original chrome bore replacement pistons for them...
I am still really lucky I got it for the price I paid...but the mind boggles at how people just assume that they will always be trolling around close to the dock when the inevitable failure occurs instead of skipping across the water at top speed hours away from your trailer...Darwin would be proud.

Ahem...I just might lose the BlackMax decals...
Maybe "Gold Medium" instead?
But seriously, maybe a Merc V-6 logo....that would work....

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Outstanding. The red heads should make it go faster, and the gold cowl certainly adds value.

Get it right, then wear your life jacket, use the kill switch, and enjoy the ride.

BTW, I like tygon lines. Good looking, tough no matter what kind of scrap hydrocarbons are run through it, defined as fuel.

I don't think they are marine rated, though. A bonehead harda@@ inspector could tow it.

hope it helps
John

 

[achris]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

A bonehead harda@@ inspector probably wouldn't know tygon if it bit him!

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

A bonehead harda@@ inspector probably wouldn't know tygon if it bit him!

Yeah, but he'd maybe know it ain't black and ugly, so it's gotta be against the law.

 

[philbur]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Hey Guys...
Thanks for mentioning Tygon...I am leaning toward it...F40 rated...

I have yet to see a single incidence of "banished to the trailer" inspections around my part of the planet so I am going to use this stuff and just keep tabs on it's properties over the duration of the season....

Going with the Clear Braided Cooling lines as well....again, I'll keep an eye out for problems...but I suspect they will be fine.

The only thing left to do is find a flywheel....I had to cut the Magnet Collar away from around the inner hub...and I found out the hard way that this hub is not like an automotive part....(replaceable)....

....and yes...I expect at least another 5-10 mph with the Red Heads...thank you very much...and the Gold housings and Cowl should be worth a minumum of about an hour or two of hassles and ridicule coming from the 2-way....

 

[RobMac007]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Gents,
I have a 175HP Merc early 80s. Where can I find the correct bleed valve routing diagram and check valve rotations? My motor has only ever had five bleed hoses (no.3 never been connected and no connection nipple). Can this be right?
Any help would be great.
Regards Rob.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Gents,
I have a 175HP Merc early 80s. Where can I find the correct bleed valve routing diagram and check valve rotations? My motor has only ever had five bleed hoses (no.3 never been connected and no connection nipple). Can this be right?
Any help would be great.
Regards Rob.

Yep, it can be right. (Page A46, 90-97658-3 manual)

BTW, I learned that a Tygon pulse hose on the fuel pump can cause problems. It's too soft and not ugly enough.

John

 

[RobMac007]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Thanks John,
How do I get a copy of the page?
Regards Rob.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Thanks John,
How do I get a copy of the page?
Regards Rob.

Buy the manual.

 

[RobMac007]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

John,
I have purchased the service manual (90-86133-3) which the Merc dealer in Aus told me was the right one. Another $120 for a page is hard to justify on my budget. Just thought this might have been a friendly site.
Regards Rob.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

John,
I have purchased the service manual (90-86133-3) which the Merc dealer in Aus told me was the right one. Another $120 for a page is hard to justify on my budget. Just thought this might have been a friendly site.
Regards Rob.

#1 It isn't my fault that you believed your Merc dealer and he was wrong.
#2 I paid about 30 for mine on eBay
#3 This is a friendly site.
#4 This is also a legal site (for the most part) The manual is copyrighted.

Sorry for your negative feelings, but I can't do anything about that either

You can actually noodle it out without the book. The bleed routing takes fuel from a particular carb/reed valve, and routes it to the opposite cylinder. Where that is depends on if it's a horizontal or vertical reed engine. Horizontal reed engines, the carb feeds the cylinder on the other side. All the check valves are one way valves and they all go the same way. If nipples are missing, and you have reason to believe they should be, (I said so) then ignore that route.

hope it helps
John

 

[achris]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

John,
I have purchased the service manual (90-86133-3) which the Merc dealer in Aus told me was the right one. Another $120 for a page is hard to justify on my budget. Just thought this might have been a friendly site.
Regards Rob.

If you gave the dealer your engine serial number and he got you the wrong manual, then take it back and ask for the right one (under the trade practices act if he supplied the wrong one after being given the right information, then he must replace it, by law!). The manual you have (90-86133-3) covers V175s from 1976 to 1979 (serial numbers up to 8063934).

....
#2 I paid about 30 for mine on eBay...

John,

Regrettably we don't have the same market in Australia as you do in the US. I have looked at eBay (USA) and have been positively gob-smacked by the range and quantity of material available. I have even tried to buy a manual from there, but sadly the sellers are all asking most for postage than the manual itself. I have to admit that $120 for a Merc service manual is a bit rich, even for Oz. The retail list price here is about $87 (a little more than your $30). I have looked extensively and regularly for Merc service manuals on eBay (Aust) and they rarely come up.

Chris.........

 

[j_martin]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

The trick to outboard anything on eBay is timing, like December to February.

 

[RobMac007]

Re: Merc V6 Bleed Hose Routing and types.

Chris,
Thanks for your support. The serial number of my 175 is A8056125 which suggests 90-86133-3 is the correct manual? This manual led me to believe that all cylinders had bleed pipes, which is incorrect. I have also found a diagrm at "http://www.stayawayoutboardrepair.biz/Bleed%20Line.htm" which is exactly the diagram of my current bleed pipes (no No.3) routing.
One other interesting point, my manual doesn't have any copywrite restrictions/warnings/notifications. (If I was a lawyer I wouldn't have an old 175).
Regards Rob.