1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

[Jimmyz123_]

I have a 1973 Merc 850 that was sitting outside for some years without lube or anything on its parts. I have gotten the stearing cable freed up and the motor moves up and down, with a lot of help. However I cannot get the thing to turn side to side. What is the best way to get this unfrozen? I've tried Wd40, and Liquiod wrench. What do you all think?<br /><br />JimmyZ

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

Torch, hammer, and spray lube.<br /><br />Spray with penetrant, heat with torch , spray again, and smack with hammer all around bushed pivot areas.<br /><br />I suppose if it has a grease fitting, you could add grease to that equasion, or make some sort of penetrating oil injector instead of the standard fitting.<br /><br />Continue process daily for as long as it takes.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

Jimmy, The other choice is to take the entire motor apart to clean up the bushings. There is usually a nut on the bottom of the pivot shaft, that needs removal. Also pull the powerhead, shift shaft and lower unit.

 

[Jimmyz123_]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

I purchase a replacement mounting bracket off of E-bay, but it does not look the same. Besided I'd really like to keep the one that is with the motor. Are these brackets easy to change if I should choose to change it out?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

Jimmy, To replace the part of the bracket that allows left-to-right movement is the same work as to clean it up, because you need to disassemble the motor. If you bought the entire midsection of the motor, you can pull the powerhead and lower unit and transplant most of the other stuff, to the new midsection.

 

[erniex]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

Had the same problem with the same motor years ago. I had to pull the P/H and L/U first and removed bolt at bottom of the pivot shaft. Attached a 4' 2"x4" to the top of the midsection for leverage to try and turn. Ended up putting a jack under the bottom of the pivot shaft and jacked it up while turning the mid section back and forth with the extended 2"x4". Applied some heat and used the weight of the boat to help push it out while I turned it. Grease inside had totally solidified and locked it up. Cleaned up the shaft and cylinder, put in new seals. Keep it greased up. It was tough but I got it.

 

[Jimmyz123_]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

So what I am hearing here is that the grease probably froze up and became more like glue and locked up the pivot point. Well if I have to take the thing apart, and I probably should to clean it, I could put that other midsection bracket on and/or get the other one working and have a spare for later times. So taking it all apart is not that difficult to do?

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

Jimmy, Taking it apard can be a drag since there may be rusted bolts. Try not to break any important ones. Also, the manual doesn't devote much verbage or pictureage to the midsection, so you need to look at it closely to determine what to take off and how. If you already have the other midsection, check the lower unit and powerhead mating surfaces on the new midsection to be sure they are the same and install it!.

 

[Jimmyz123_]

Re: 1973 Merc 850 Mounting Bracket

You know what, I have looked at them and they do not look the same. That has been the main reason I have not wanted to take it apart just yet. I also kind of want to keep the original midsection on the boat if I can. Maybe I will just clean it all up and get that working since I have to take it apart anyway.