New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

[IBrokeMyFreakinNeck]

Here are some pics that I just took of my 1972 Mercury 115 Inline 6. I would appreciate any advice I can get. One question I do have now is I don't think there is a fuel line hooked up to the motor. Maybe from these pics one of you can confirm this true or not. I hope to start trying to get the motor running this weekend. I have to get the battery hooked up, and as you can see from one of the pics there is a big wire jungle I have to organize and I don't want to get anything crossed. Thanks. Please help if you can.<br /><br />

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[andrewkafp]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Looking at the motor from inside the boat, bottom left hand corner there is a square fuel inlet recess that recieves a Mercury female fitting. This will be connected to your fuel line and tank.I don't see any fuel lines but the motor fitting is a non removable fixture.See if you can get Zmoz to upload his dead 72 pics (before death), it has some good close ups of the motor from the stern.<br /> http://zmoz.us/wakesmall.jpg

 

[Hooty]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

<br /><br />Looks to me like:<br />A. Fuel Pump<br />B. Fuel Line Connector<br />C. Fuel Lines To Carburetors<br />D. Fuel Supply Line To Pump<br /><br />c/6<br />Hooty

 

[Matt O]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Hey IBMFN,<br /><br />That is the identical motor I have on my 1976 Hydrasport Bass Boat. My motor is a 1972 but has a newer cover on the outside. Looking at the motor from the carb side look at the very lower left part of the front and you will see where the fuel line hooks. As others said it takes a female fitting and goes in and turns. Most people I have talked to about mine have told me these are cold natured beasts. Mine is hard to start cold, but after initial start in the AM, will start fast and run good all day long. Good luck with your motor and your project.<br /><br />Matt

 

[IBrokeMyFreakinNeck]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Thanks for the help fellas. Can anyone tell from the pics how I hook up the fuel line from the motor to the built in tank? Right now the only fuel line I see is the one going from where you poor the gas in to the tank.<br /><br />Billy

 

[gewf631]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

I've got a late 80's model, so here's my take on your pictures...

<br /><br /> sorry for the quality, must be at the upload site

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Hooty is a SHOWOFF...

 

[briannh1234]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Usually, the fuel line connects between the tank and the connector on the motor. The fuel line will have a primer bulb in it to prime the pumps. It will have a mecury connector on the end for the motor, and an end for your tank. (usually a mecury connector at the tank as well.)<br /><br />If you didn't get the fuel line - it's a standard part at most marina's. Pretty cheap too. And since it's winter and your not using the boat - find a good price on line and order it.<br /><br />As for the jumble of cables - yuk. You will have to go through each wire one by one and fix em up right. Not an EZ undertaking. The service manual for the motor should identify most of the wire's coming out of the motor. You might want to be carefull and trace each wire through the motor - those pic's show the wires installed in a non-factory way suggessting that the wiring in the motor may has been modified in some way.<br /><br />Good luck<br /><br />- Brian

 

[IBrokeMyFreakinNeck]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

I bought a fuel line and a 6 gallon tank to run it until I know all is well. I finally got the connector on the motor side on, but I needed a little help from some channel locks. There wasn't a fuel line that came with the boat, so I'm a little puzzled how to hook up to the built in tank when its time.<br />As for the wires, It turns out they were taped together, positive and negative seperated. I put the new battery in and hooked them up and just bumped the ignition and starter came alive. No juice when I hit the tilt buttons yet, but there are a few wires not hooked up. Now I have to go back and get the right fittings for the temporary tank to hook up to the fuel line before I can start it.

 

[alcan]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Hi Brokeneck<br />Look like you got some work to do. Just my opinion, but I think I would test with a clean portable fuel tank. You don't know what's in the built-tank. I think I be cleaning the carbs first also.

 

[Brim4Me]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Good Advice Alcan.....A friend of mine rebuilt a boat and motor kinda like this guy is doing and his built in tank was metal. It ended up having alot of rust sediment in it and he had to remove it. If I'm not mistaken he had to remove the top "shell" of his boat to get to the hull. I do know he ordered a composite tank to replace it online. I will ask him where he found the new tank and post a link. <br /><br />I'm restoring a 15' Falcon with a 25 merc on it that has been sitting since 95. Its a 90 model boat and motor so I not undertaking a task like this guy is but I wanted to say that I have posted on a few forums over the years and you guys are the most helpful and friendly group of people I have run across. THANKS FOR THE HELP.

 

[MFG197]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

The "tower of power" always fascinated me since I was a kid...

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

That motor is a 1971 or 1972. Unique to those two years is the fact that by changing the reeds and a couple carb jets you can convert it to a 135hp. In later years you could not do that as the porting was totally different, Mercury caught on pretty fast - LOL. That said, changing the reed blocks is a total tear-down.<br /><br />ALSO - the timing sticker on that motor may say to set max-advance at 27 degrees. IGNORE IT!!!<br /><br />On todays gas, Mercury reccomends max-advance at no more than 21 degrees - too much advance will cause detonation and melt your pistons!!<br /><br />-W

 

[Spidybot]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Good advice on the tank. Unless you're 101% sure it's clean and tight all over, go for new transportable tank(s) - steel or plastic. By moving the fuel line from one tank to the next you'll even have a good idea about your available capacity at all times.<br /><br />If you don't use the built in tank and can spare the room, use it for flotation/buoyancy.

 

[mikemondo]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

My advise to you is to take that old horse out to the barn and shoot it.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Seabiscuit wouldn't run at first either. <br /><br />-W

 

[IBrokeMyFreakinNeck]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Originally posted by mikemondo:<br />My advise to you is to take that old horse out to the barn and shoot it.

Yeah the previous owner told me to use it as an anchor <br />I bought a brand new 6 galoon plastic tank to use to get this motor running. I thought it had a built in tank but I was wrong.<br />Hey, if it has good compression and fire, I'm not going to drop it to the bottom yet. Clams_Canino seems to have faith in these old inline's, so I will give it my best effort before I call it quits.(By the way Clams, I'm the ebayer who emailed you).<br /><br />Billy

 

[mikemondo]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Hey I have an old 84 inline Mariner 75 that is clean a a whistle and still runs like a fine watch. Keep on pluggin' if you have the time and desire. Good luck.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

Yes Bill, It was your e-mail that reminded me this place existed.<br /><br />If it's got compression and spark it can be made to run - for sure. <br /><br />-W

 

[MercNdude]

Re: New Pics of My '72 Merc 115 Inline 6-Please Read

I just got my first inline 6, a 140 hp. I am truly impressed with how much she wants to go. Mine is a late '70s vintage. For you, I'd suggest that, as CC said, check to see if you have spark and compression. The compression check should be pretty even between across the 6 cylinders. Do youself a favor and borrow or buy a spark tester. Put it inline on each plug wire and check that you're getting spark when she cranks. Next, hook a portable tank to the lower left front of the motor (the fuel fitting is readily available and should slide in and turn to lock). Pump the bulb several times and then then hit the key! Dont' run her w/o water going to some "muffs" for the water intake on the lower unit just forward and above the prop! Fuel/oil ratio for this test should be something like 30:1 to ensure that you get lots of lube to this ole gal.