1983 150 merc cowl seals

[drm11900]

I discovered recently that my 150 runs like a champ straight from the get go and at WOT but if I idle around on the lake it spits and sputters and dies. If I take off the cowling and idle around it will run great. It's on a 1978 17.5' Champion bass boat and it sits low in the water.

I think my problem is that exhaust is getting up and under the cowling and starving the carbs. Where can I get a complete seal kit for my 150? Specifically the seal around the midsection that the cowl seals to. I did some searching around and couldn't come up with anything. I couldn't find it on any diagrams at mercury parts express either.

Thanks

 

[ufm82]

Re: 1983 150 merc cowl seals

You are out of luck as far as "new" seals. I have a 1993 Merc 150 and I had an issue with the tube that goes from the exhaust housing to the rear center of my lower cowling. I'd start the engine and smoke would come out the front of the cowl. And I kept getting residue inside the cowling, leading me to believe I had an oil leak. Turns out exhaust was going into the engine cowling due to this little tube. I looked online and found NLA (no longer available) pretty much everywhere. I also found a problem with the lower cowling seal that the upper cowling fits in. It was rolled on the starboard rear and would allow water to get into the cowling if the water (waves) splashed on the rear of the engine. I got very lucky and found the exhaust tube on eBay and paid $4 for it. That solved the exhaust/oil issue within the cowling. I could NOT find the lower cowl seal anywhere and did my best to "re-form" the seal. It still doesn't seal 100% but it's better. You are going to have to get lucky to find the seal. Sorry but that's my experience.


http://www.marinepowerservice.com/B...90/modNum/1135422PD/Doc_Part_nbr/81609892.cfm


My piece was #38 on this page. No Longer Available. Nice.

 

[drm11900]

Re: 1983 150 merc cowl seals

Thanks for the bad news ufm82 haha

I did a repair where the mice chewed through the seal but I still have a rough idle and poor hole shot with the covers in place.

Is the piece you replaced in the mid section? Can I inspect it by simply removing the lower unit?