Recent content by dave37

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    [SOLVED] setting timing belt properly 1973 50hp 500

    See solved at bottom for solution Have read through the posts concerning this subject, can't quite find my situation as I seem to have more factory marks on my flywheel. Prior to changing the distributor drive belt, I made marks on the pulley plate to align with marks made on flywheel (using a...
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    when to change timing belt on 500 50hp

    The distributor drive belt, or timing belt, on my '73 50-500 makes a clicking noise as each tooth seats in to the gear on the distributor end when turning by hand. It also has about 1/2 inch of deflection. Is it time to change the belt before it fails--I can still read the "keikhaufer" on the...
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    idle rpms suddenly increase

    Was winterizing my 73 50 hp 4cyl Merc this week, had it on muffs and after a couple of minutes running the rpms increased noticeably, not a huge amount, but a noticeable increase, probably a couple of hundred rpm. Wondering if this is a sign of anything ominous or just happening because it's...
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    impeller fins torn off of new impeller

    had my prop shaft straightened at a local shop a couple of months ago, haven't used the boat since. Went to winterize it today and no output from the pee hole and not a whole lot from around the prop. Shut it down, took water pump apart and the impeller fins were all completely torn off (not...
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    premium or hi performance lower unit oil

    Winterized my 50 hp 1973 4 cylinder 2 stroke Merc on the weekend, on filling the lower unit I realized the clerk had sold me "Premium" Mercury lower unit gear oil. I have been using the blue colored "Hi performance" Merc oil. Can I safely use the two mixed together (I had pumped in half of my...
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    tach pulse selection

    I was given an OMC tach that I'm hooking up to my 1973 Merc 50 hp 500. The engine has 12 pulses per rotation (6 positive, 6 negative) and the back of this tach has a pulse selection of 2,3,4,5, or 6 pulses per rev....any idea if this thing will work with 6 selected?<br /><br />Thanks!
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    500 logo for 73 merc

    Over the winter some sort of creature took off with the pentagon shaped "500" (about 1 1/2 inches wide )logo that goes on the front of the top cover of the motor. I'm contact cementing on a piece of thin plastic to cover the hole, but any idea if one of these can be had?<br /><br />Thanks!
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    ok to use johnson carbon guard?

    I decarbonized my 1973 50 hp inline 4 two stroke on the weekend (left a nasty black ring around the boat after doing the "on the water portion"). Motor runs great, still has a thin layer of carbon on the piston tops, does anyone know if it's safe to use Johnson/Evinrude carbon guard--the stuff...
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    Bent prop shaft fixed

    Being less than a year in the boating world I made a big mistake a few weeks ago, I misread my chart and whacked a rock bottom, smashing the prop, and (being an auto tech) checked the prop shaft and found 15 thousands of radial, 30 thousandths of total indicated runout.<br /><br />Read a lot on...
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    serial number

    Local Merc dealers are having trouble with this serial number, it's a 1985 Merc 4 cyl 2 stroke 50hp<br />s/n 7007633 I tried Merc's site and it doesn't come up either, and it's definitely the serial number, both on the plate and on the powerhead. Anyone have any ideas?<br /><br />Thanks!
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    Merc 50 cold start question

    Bought this motor used late last summer, 50hp Merc 4 cylinder 500,blue band, serial 7007633. As boating season approaches and it's still quite cool here, what is the ideal cold start procedure (electric start, electric choke). I've noticed that when pushing the choke button the choke closes...
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    low water pressure alarm

    I'm wondering if anyone knows where to buy the parts necessary for a water pressure alarm. My 85 50 hp Merc, s/n 7007633 has a pipe plug on the powerhead between the spark plugs that I could use for source pressure. I'm not really keen on a gauge as how often does one check it, I'd much rather...
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    Tach wiring question, OMC tach

    I've been given a tach, OMC model 174052. It has the following wires, blue, grey,purple and black. Any ideas what each wire is for, hoping to hook it up to the tach plug on my 1985 Mercontrol.<br /><br />Thanks!
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    kill switch installation

    Installed an "overboard" switch, 1985 Merc 500, 4 cyl. 2 stroke, 50 hp, s/n 7007633. Seloc wiring diagram showed A-F terminals as run position so I carefully installed it inline (series circuit)on the F terminal (white wire) wiring. Engine still runs with kill switch pulled. Am thinking of...
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    storage question

    50 hp merc 500 two stroke, 1985. I plan to fog the engine, drain the carb bowls, etc, but as this motor almost touches the ground in the down position I plan to remove the lower unit for the winter (and change water pump while at it). Since I have to have the control box in forward gear to...
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