1978 Mercury 70hp Worth Messing With?

[Mc Tool]

Yeah, it just seems easier to temporarily move one wire than to move the coils.
I'd put things back of course.
But if when I do that, and #2 then has spark, I know it's not a bad coil.

yep . One of the things that makes a good mechanic ( or any repair man ) is the ability to diagnose the problem and one advantage a multicylinder motor has over a single banger is the immediate proximity and availability of substitute parts for diagnostic purposes ....by all means swap things over to see what it can tell you .

 

[Berdink]

yep . One of the things that makes a good mechanic ( or any repair man ) is the ability to diagnose the problem and one advantage a multicylinder motor has over a single banger is the immediate proximity and availability of substitute parts for diagnostic purposes ....by all means swap things over to see what it can tell you .

I'm learning.

 

[Mc Tool]

I'm learning.

I been at this lark 46 years and Im still learning

 

[Berdink]

Lower unit oil must have been typical gear oil and not marine gear oil, because about a half a teaspoon of clear water came out when I removed the plug.
Oil was black. The plug has a magnetic tip, but I didn't find any metal shavings on it or in the oil.
.
I haven't started working on it yet. I just wanted to make sure the lower unit was good.
.
I'll start a different thread if I run into anything I need help with.
But from all my searching; the compression being good, the lower unit gears likely good, I feel better about giving it a chance to live again.
.

 

[Berdink]

Not a robust lower unit for a 70 HP.----...clip...

I'm reading the motor is actually only a little over 60hp at the prop.
But yeah, I just took it off.
It's a little light one.
.
It's on a 1978 15 foot Britton BeachCraft Trihull.
.
I think it being as light as it is - the whole motor being around 190, I think it'll be an advantage for me. Getting older.
.
I hope to leak test it Friday.
It looks clean and free from saltwater use.
A couple bang-ups though.
.
Oh, I should mention, the mounting nuts for the lower unit came off easy, and the lower unit dropped right off. The impeller is semi soft still.

 

[redneck joe]

looks fine to me.

i understand the older. decided to sell the 26 foot cabin cruiser on a trailer for an 18 foot aluminum with a 50 hp - about 1800ish lbs all in for that very reason and as fast as I'm going down hill it was the correct call.

 

[Chris1956]

Those are some pretty good bangs on the side of the gearcase. You might put a straight edge on 'em and see if there are dents in the casing.

 

[jimmbo]

It is apart, makes no sense to use the old Impeller, unless it is only a yr old, otherwise, replace it