My first boat - 1982 Success

mperu99 · Jun 14, 2009

Hello,

I just bought my very first boat.. a 1982 Success 17.0' with a inline 4 cylinder MERC. RUNS PERFECT... ( I think its a 140HP ) the stern unit says 140 on it.. but i think thats the model..

So i am looking all over the net but i cannot find my model Id listed even IBOATS only shows MH_166 or MH_170 but no MH_169

My ID starts like this MHP169xxMxxB (the x's are numbers)

does anyone have a boat ID like this ?? or know where i can find more information about my boat? I would like to find a manual.. parts reference.
etc...

the only thing thats got me a little concerned is when I have the engine running out of the water (water muffs or whatever they are called on with water hose attached) when you put it into gear it has this slight grind sound then it goes right in.. I have been told that is normal from going out of neutral to forward or back and that also my idle maybe to high. (its about 900RPMs now)

It does go in and out of gear both in reverse and forward just has the slight grind right as first 1/2 second or less is this normal?

Thank you.

zinc · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

First all...congratulates on your boat that runs good,.....the grinding sound that you hear is from the "clutch dog"as it is engaged......this is normal,as it is put in and out of gear,...please make sure no one is around the prop when you do this!
I think the engine that you have is what we used to called the "chevy iron duke"
It was an old 4 cylinder from GM 140 CID..... good engine that I recalled.
It was a raw water cooled, 2 BBL Rochester carb on it....
Good Luck!

ezmobee · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

mperu99 said:
the only thing thats got me a little concerned is when I have the engine running out of the water (water muffs or whatever they are called on with water hose attached) when you put it into gear it has this slight grind sound then it goes right in.. I have been told that is normal from going out of neutral to forward or back and that also my idle maybe to high. (its about 900RPMs now)

It does go in and out of gear both in reverse and forward just has the slight grind right as first 1/2 second or less is this normal?

Shifting a boat should be done quickly. You're doing it no favors easing it into gear. A little bit of a grinding sound is normal but snappy shifting should minimize it.

mperu99 · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

Ah.. ok see me being new, didnt realize that.. I was pulling it back easy and pushing it forward slow and easy..

Zinc: thanks for the crongrats..

so is 900RPMs to high?

ezmobee · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

Just read your other thread where you said you found a boat and realized it was this one. Thought I'd pop back and say congrats on your purchase. You did well. The Merc 140 4 cyl is a rock solid motor and is good power for a 17' boat. Love to see some pictures if you have any.

mperu99 · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

ezmobee said:
Just read your other thread where you said you found a boat and realized it was this one. Thought I'd pop back and say congrats on your purchase. You did well. The Merc 140 4 cyl is a rock solid motor and is good power for a 17' boat. Love to see some pictures if you have any.

Sweet - thanks, its good to hear that i did well with this purchase.
i will get pictures up as soon as I can and let you all see it..

mperu99 · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

mperu99 said:
Hello,

I just bought my very first boat.. a 1982 Success 17.0' with a inline 4 cylinder MERC. RUNS PERFECT... ( I think its a 140HP ) the stern unit says 140 on it.. but i think thats the model..

So i am looking all over the net but i cannot find my model Id listed even IBOATS only shows MH_166 or MH_170 but no MH_169

My ID starts like this MHP169xxMxxB (the x's are numbers)

does anyone have a boat ID like this ?? or know where i can find more information about my boat? I would like to find a manual.. parts reference.
etc...

the only thing thats got me a little concerned is when I have the engine running out of the water (water muffs or whatever they are called on with water hose attached) when you put it into gear it has this slight grind sound then it goes right in.. I have been told that is normal from going out of neutral to forward or back and that also my idle maybe to high. (its about 900RPMs now)

It does go in and out of gear both in reverse and forward just has the slight grind right as first 1/2 second or less is this normal?

Thank you.

Ok so here is a little more info that i do know... the MH_16xxxxx on the ID Plate stands for Mel-Hart Industries as they were the manufacturer during that time they made both the SUCCESS and BERETTA boats. I also found out that the ID listed on my TITLE may not be correct as I found out Missouri made lots of mistakes with ID's so I will find out tonight what the correct ID is..

mperu99 · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

mperu99 said:
Ok so here is a little more info that i do know... the MH_16xxxxx on the ID Plate stands for Mel-Hart Industries as they were the manufacturer during that time they made both the SUCCESS and BERETTA boats. I also found out that the ID listed on my TITLE may not be correct as I found out Missouri made lots of mistakes with ID's so I will find out tonight what the correct ID is..

OK I figured it out.. The ID plate on the back is the manufacturers Hull ID plate.. that gets put on the title, its slightly different than the actual ID that I been trying to look up.. (MODEL) My 82 Success is a model MH-166-RI
and must be a MH-166-RI-M4 (M4) indicates 140HP I finally found the model number.

so that being said I am a proud first time boat owner of a 1982 Success Model MH-166-RI-M4 Manufactured by Mel-Hart Industries of Conway Arkansas. The same Manufacturer of the 80's Beretta boats.

From my research the Success Boats were the more luxurious of the two models so bonus for me

mperu99 · Jun 15, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

Now i do have a few questions how do you change the oil in the stern drive unit and how the hell do you change the oil in the inline 4 cylinder.. i cant get a oil drian container that i use for other stuff to fit under the inline 4...

silly questions for most but for a new boat owner.. i want to make sure i change the fluids before i venture out

oh and what should i use for oils?

140 Merc

mperu99 · Jun 16, 2009

zinc · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

Hey;
Looking at your pics of the boat....looks really clean for an 1982 model,
suggest you keep Armour All on all the vinyl to keep it from cracking,
I did notice in 1 pic of the outdrive that a zinc (no pun intended) was missing from the cavation plate....this looks like a small fin that is bolted to the cavation plate, and is adjustable to help counter steer the torque generated from the outdrive....you may or maynot need it, you will know if you need it when you are out on the water running close to full speed and the steering wheel (helm) pulls in one direction......
Other than that, looks like a nice boat ,
ENJOY!

Cptkid570 · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

To change the oil, you suck it out of the dipstick. So you need a pump to get the oil out.. You don't change it out of the drain plug in the oil pan, you don't want to get the oil into your bilge.

Congrats on the purchase. The 3.0 is a good engine.

Just a work of advise, if you need any engine parts, it's much cheaper to find them on the internet (ebay, ebasicpower) than buying from a dealer. Don't use car parts on it.

ezmobee · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

Wow that is in unbelievable condition for it's age! Congrats on your purchase and good luck with it.

fishon13 · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

welcome aboard nice boat

rrhodes · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

zinc said:
suggest you keep Armour All on all the vinyl to keep it from cracking,
ENJOY!

Use 303 Aerospace Protectant not Armour All. You can get it from iBoats.

http://www.iboats.com/303_Aerospace_Protectant/dm/*******.376973473--**********.584036639--view_id.39567

gypsysoul · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

I had a beechcraft with the same engine/drive setup. it was great on fuel and pulled tubes and skiers very well. as far as oil changes, I installed a adapter where the drain plug was with a hose that was small enough to go out the bilge plug. it had a cap on it, after pushing it out the bilge drain. I just removed the cap and let it drain in a pan. I do this on all my boats. works well for me. and keeps the bilges clean of oil.

rrhodes · Jun 17, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

I have always used a 12volt oil extractor to change the oil in my I/Os. iBoats has them on sale for about $20...

mperu99 · Jun 18, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

zinc said:
Hey;
Looking at your pics of the boat....looks really clean for an 1982 model,
suggest you keep Armour All on all the vinyl to keep it from cracking,
I did notice in 1 pic of the outdrive that a zinc (no pun intended) was missing from the cavation plate....this looks like a small fin that is bolted to the cavation plate, and is adjustable to help counter steer the torque generated from the outdrive....you may or maynot need it, you will know if you need it when you are out on the water running close to full speed and the steering wheel (helm) pulls in one direction......
Other than that, looks like a nice boat ,
ENJOY!

Zinc...

I need to get a zinc.. but how can i tell what my stern drive is.. alpha? bravo? etc..?

zinc · Jun 19, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

That's an Alpha One drive you have.

Cptkid570 · Jun 19, 2009

Re: My first boat - 1982 Success

gypsysoul said:
I as far as oil changes, I installed a adapter where the drain plug was with a hose that was small enough to go out the bilge plug. it had a cap on it, after pushing it out the bilge drain. I just removed the cap and let it drain in a pan. .

I did that too. Here is what I got:

http://bpi.ebasicpower.com/mm5/merc..._code=1&srch_name=1&srch_descrip=1&srch_mfg=1

My first boat - 1982 Success

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Supreme Mariner

Seaman Apprentice

Supreme Mariner

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Ensign

Supreme Mariner

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Chief Petty Officer

Petty Officer 2nd Class

Chief Petty Officer

Seaman Apprentice

Seaman Apprentice

Ensign