Is it done for??

[NJCinMN]

Well lets see...1969 merc 1000
Engine all on specs: timing, rebuilt carbs, rebuilt fuel pumps, new plugs, new wires & coil wire.

Running last weekend just fine, started, purred along. While water skiing developed lean sneeze when trying to start and then wouldn't turn over. Choke, now turned over let off choke and would run but rough. So I adjusted idle screws out and helped but still not firing off like all weekend. Trying to diagnose and went to start and wow! I'm sure something let go cuz now a loud rattle, crazy vibration and only 3000 rpm.

Haven't looked at plugs yet cuz was so frustrated that I just packed it up and came home from cabin.

Rod or piston?? Done for? Can't get oversized pistons so this might be the end...what do you think?

 

[swordfish25]

Re: Is it done for??

Sounds like it eather got hot, or ran lean on oil and or fuel. If you can do the work yourself I would pull it appart and see what is left, and go from there. It is a 69, and that is old. Maybe you can find a used powerhead and get bye. There was a few years that would fit. Good luck

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Is it done for??

Well lets see...1969 merc 1000
Engine all on specs: timing, rebuilt carbs, rebuilt fuel pumps, new plugs, new wires & coil wire.

Running last weekend just fine, started, purred along. While water skiing developed lean sneeze when trying to start and then wouldn't turn over. Choke, now turned over let off choke and would run but rough. So I adjusted idle screws out and helped but still not firing off like all weekend. Trying to diagnose and went to start and wow! I'm sure something let go cuz now a loud rattle, crazy vibration and only 3000 rpm.

Haven't looked at plugs yet cuz was so frustrated that I just packed it up and came home from cabin.

Rod or piston?? Done for? Can't get oversized pistons so this might be the end...what do you think?

It is possible that the lean sneeze popped the keyway on the flywheel and screwed up your timing. I don,t recall whether or not the 1000 had a keyway with a woodruff key or a splined shaft, pull the flywheel to check.
If it was broken rod you would not get 3000 rpm. At this point I would pull the plugs and do a compression check on each cyl, post the results and start from there.

 

[emckelvy]

Re: Is it done for??

All the 90ci Sixes had a keyway. Another thing that can happen is the flywheel flexplate can crack. This will sound just like an upper main bearing going bad.

You can try rocking the flywheel back-and-forth and see if you get any 'creaking' or otherwise 'funny' noises.

Sometimes you can't see the crack 'cause it's underneath the center bolts' backing ring. You may have to remove the small bolts so you can pull the ring off and inspect underneath. If you do this, be sure to NOT move the flywheel or crankshaft unless you've made matching marks. The flywheel can be bolted up any number of ways, only one is correct, thus the need for the match marks. Reinstallation of the flexplate bolts requires a drop of Red Loctite on each bolt, and the correct torque for the bolt size.

Previous suggestions are good ones, compression check will probably tell a lot.

When you're wiggling the flywheel back-and-forth, keep and eye on crankshaft flex. You should have minimal side play. If it's clunking side-to-side, you've got a bad upper crank bearing or worse.

Pull straight up on the flywheel, there's supposed to be a max of .012" end play on the crank. If you get a lot more than that, something may be afoot.

Pull all of the spark plugs, then put them back one-at-a-time. Rotate the flywheel by hand, thru several revolutions. If you hear any clanking or other nasty thrashing on that cylinder, you may have issues. Compare any dubious noises to those being made (or not) by the other ones. Some 'natural' noise is gonna be present, especially in an old motor. You're just looking for the unusual noises.

HTH & let us know what you find...........ed

p.s. don't forget to check your ign cap for trash, misfiring can cause all kinds of nasty symptoms.

 

[NJCinMN]

Re: Is it done for??

Thanks for the thoughts guys. I haven't had a chance to do anything yet but might get to it tonight. I'll start with looking at the plugs, compression test, and listening for unusual sounds in each cylinder. Then I'll move on to the possible crank/flywheel issues.

 

[NJCinMN]

Re: Is it done for??

At this point I have found a running '79 115 with power t/t for $600 and am seriously considering going that route. Would be nice to have power t/t. Would any top end parts: ignition, carbs etc work as back-up parts from the 69 1000? I'm quite sure most of the bottom end would transfer.

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Is it done for??

At this point I have found a running '79 115 with power t/t for $600 and am seriously considering going that route. Would be nice to have power t/t. Would any top end parts: ignition, carbs etc work as back-up parts from the 69 1000? I'm quite sure most of the bottom end would transfer.

The 79 will be an ADI, different carbs, no distributor, different stator, different pistons different block. I would not count on the transfer of many parts. You will certainly appreciate the trim and tilt, make sure you get the trim pump and hoses with it. Your 69 1000 would have some intrinsic value to somebody who likes to play with the old inlines. If you were closer I would buy it in its current condition for $250.

 

[NJCinMN]

Re: Is it done for??

I hear ya dave. I'm pretty dissapointed because I really did like the design of this motor and have the mechanical ability to bring it back to full power (if cylinder walls are ok). I just don't know how much time and money I want to put into it, especially since I have no garage or shop-basement might work if ok with landlord! (i rent). How about a merc 1400 with power t/t, not sure on the year but would this be a similar vintage?

 

[emckelvy]

Re: Is it done for??

The 115 has so much more performance than the old 1000 that you won't believe the difference. And once you have an outboard with Power Trim 'n Tilt you'll never want to go without again.

The 1400 was produced just a handful of years, if there's a solid blue band around the cowling with Merc lettering and chrome accents top and bottom, it's a '72. Serial #'s for this year start at 3293234.

If it's got a blue stripe fading with black speckles it's a '78, memory escapes me what the '79 cowling looked like but very similar. Serial #'s for '78 start at 4865678, for '79, 5189788.

Either way, the 1400 is a Rip-Snortin', Fire-Breathin' motor and you'd best be sure your hull is rated for that HP and you have a stout transom.

I had a 1350 (the 1400's precursor and just about as wild) on a 16' Super Sidewinder and it could be a real handful, trimmed up and at speed!

Happy Motor Hunting........ed

 

[NJCinMN]

Re: Is it done for??

Ed,
Do you think it'd be worth putting the time, effort and $ into the 1000 or just move on? I was never really impressed with the performance anyway and have always wanted power trim. I guess the performance issue could be because this breakdown was already in progress the 2 years I've owned it. If I do move on I guess I would like to find something that I can use my 1000 as parts.

 

[emckelvy]

Re: Is it done for??

I'm thinkin' you'd likely be a lot happier with one of the bigger motors. The older Sixes are great on a light boat but don't offer the same level of performance that "modern" 99ci motors do.

You could always tear into the 1000 as a learning experience, if you can find a place to store the parts. If it's not too bad off inside you could fix it and peddle it sometime down the road.

I'd definitely save the lower unit as a spare, it'll bolt right up to the other motors mentioned.

HTH..........ed

p.s. be sure to check out the other motors thoroughly or you may wind up in the same situation as now (except with Power T&T, which at least is worth some $$$ on eBay as parts!).

 

[NJCinMN]

Re: Is it done for??

Yeah, I think I'm gonna move on to the bigger motor with power T&T and keep mine for the lower unit, any parts I can use and sell off parts others might be looking for. Other than compression test, spark test, and hearing run what else can I do to make sure I don't get a 99ci motor on the way out? Thanks again all.