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  1. 6

    '71 Merc 500 lower unit hard parts

    Boating and fishing life has been fun and reliable so I haven't been here asking for help in a long while. That is all changing now though. I let my nephew borrow my boat a few times later this summer to use on local lakes. Then I went to put it away for winter and noticed with controls in...
  2. 6

    '71 Mercury 500 red band reverse slips

    I'll have to look and find the model and serial #'s as I've lost my paperwork. This thing runs awesome except for reverse. When I launch my 15' tri-hull and back away from ramp it ratchets/slips if I go more than a tick above idle. I can live with that. When it really bothers me is pulling...
  3. 6

    Dorman products scare me

    first off I must mention that I am a veteran mechanic with over 23 years experience under the hood professionally. lately I have lost faith in their stuff. they used to be the cat's meow by having things the dealer had but at a great saving and improving on OE designs. it all started with the...
  4. 6

    do I really need/want a 90 HP?

    I am seriously thinking of getting a 2012 Alumacraft Competitor 165 Sport. http://www.alumacraft.com/2012-models/175-sport/165-sport/#info this would be for the wife and I to fish mainly. we go to local lakes of 2000 acres or less with less than 30' depth and occasionally to the river...
  5. 6

    2012 Navigator 175 Sport transom

    I am getting ready to buy my first new boat. I like the layout of this make/model but am curious about transom construction. are they plywood or box beam aluminum? I saw one in the showroom and noticed where the splash well meets the transom appears to be separating. should I be concerned?
  6. 6

    new boat, old engine. bad idea?

    I am getting close to buying my first new boat. wife and I will use it strictly for fishing local lakes and rivers. the furthest we run across a lake is 5 miles before I deploy the minnkota or drop anchor. I currently have a 1971 15' tri-hull and want to get a 16 or 17' V hull. I have a VERY...
  7. 6

    how heavy is this?

    1971 500 20" how much does it weigh?
  8. 6

    we need more power Scotty

    I'm givin' here all she's got Captian. 71 500 3011762 thunderbolt twin carb it needs a little something more, maybe up to 65-70HP would be good. what can a guy do without breaking the bank? I was told by a machine shop guy I know it would be done with improving airflow. can I do it with the...
  9. 6

    drive shaft dimensions?

    1971 500 # 3011762 I have decided to have my rusted-pitted drive shaft repaired by a highly competent local machine shop. I can see there is a larger diameter area about 3" long where the water pump resides. the top of this area is damaged as well so I am unsure of what the actual dimension...
  10. 6

    71 500 3011762, oh crap, drive shaft bad

    apparently no one in the last 40 years has bothered to replace the lower water pump seals. after I got that apart I discovered a BADLY pitted and grooved shaft. the diameter is about 1/8" less in the seal area that the rest of shaft:facepalm: every where I check the shaft is no longer...
  11. 6

    71 500 #3011762 lower water pump housing

    I bought the baot and motor a year ago, guy said impeller has been replaced 2 years ago. I had a weak (almost nonexistant) telltale last wknd so I am replacing the pump assembly. everything is going good except for the lower pump housing. I can't get it to budge. is there a bolt from...
  12. 6

    do I need this in my garage?

    http://siouxfalls.craigslist.org/boa/2465580633.html is it worth it or should I keep on keepin' on?
  13. 6

    what should I do with it?

    I have a good running 1966 Johnson V4ML-12M and I am unsure what to do with it. it run good and has plenty of power (never failed me). it is currently attached to a boat that will soon meet its demise at the land fill. I was wondering if I should try and sell it whole (most people will get...
  14. 6

    thunderbolt trigger theory and operation

    1971 50hp ser# 3011762 how does the trigger work? is it a hall effect or magneto-reluctance? if it fails how is it tested? specs?
  15. 6

    oh crap, 1971 500 died

    ser. # 3011762, according to research and previous/original owners bill of sale and title it shows as a 1971. I got no spark at plugs. I have no idea on how this thunderbolt system functions. y'all want the whole story? last summer it ran PERFECT. always started easy and ran so smooth...
  16. 6

    shaft replacement, minnkota PD65

    I bought a 2002 model 65PD with AP with 60" shaft used for a REAL good price. the problem I have is the shaft is too long for my boat. after research and measurement I determined I need to make it 14" shorter so it will fit on the bow of my 1970 Alumacraft Jamaica 15' trihull. I removed the...
  17. 6

    tracker quality?

    I am thinking for my 3rd of boat going new. the wife and I like the complete package of this one. rivets scare the crap out of me, maybe I am paranoid. the price is fair enough too. BTW, we mainly fish 1200 acre lakes and occasionally the river. sometimes we drag a tube behind. what do...
  18. 6

    1970 thunderbolt 500 lower unit or prop hub?

    I'll be the first to admit I know next to nothing about this motor. I bought it a month ago from the original owner. he used it for a total of 6 years and never had a problem. neither did I until today. I made a partially aggressive hole shot and got up on plane (1969 Alumacraft tri-hull)...
  19. 6

    Alumacraft made fiberglass boats?

    I'll be up front and apologize for not having pics. I have to take my camera with on Thursday when we run it on muffs. I am looking at buying a 1959 Alumacraft Jamaica 15' (14'10" IIRC) with a 1970 Merc 500. it has the original full top including side curtains and after a thorough 90 minute...
  20. 6

    tach install, 1965 100hp V4

    I have a used tach from a 2 stroke I got at a local car junk yard. the donor boat/Mercury 50HP looks to be mid 80s. it had a harness that plugged into the controls with 3 wires. the back of tach has 3 studs. BATT, GND, and ALT. the first 2 are a no-brainer, but the ALT stud has me and my...
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