1998 Mercury 175XL

Downrigger

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
42
Swapped my piece of crap Force for a 175 Merc. Love the engine. It will push my Trophy 2002WA at 46 MPH on calm water8). I have a new water pressure gage I installed last year for the Force but I can't seem to find anywhere to tap in to use it on the Merc. There must be a plug somewhere on the block I can use. Anyone know where it is? I've searched but haven't had any luck so far. I tried the crossover line between the thermostats but no pressure there. The Force was easy, there was a plug right on the head next to the thermostat.

Should I just swap out the pressure gage and install a temp gage?

Thx,

Larry
 

studlymandingo

Commander
Joined
Mar 22, 2006
Messages
2,716
Re: 1998 Mercury 175XL

Keep the pressure gauge. You can tee into the head, you won't be getting much pressure there until you have some throttle going.

Otherwise, go back to the Force and I will give you 50 bucks for the Merc!8)
 

Downrigger

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
42
Re: 1998 Mercury 175XL

Ah yes, but where to tee in is the real question. I figured I needed to do that but, I have no idea where to begin to find the right place to do this. Any suggestions/locations and a description of the location for a complete Mercury novice would be greatly appreciated. I don't see anywhere on the head to accomplish this seemingly simple task.

Larry
 

Don S

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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Aug 31, 2004
Messages
62,321
Re: 1998 Mercury 175XL

Tee into the line that goes from the top of the block to the poppet valve on the starboard side of the motor.
 

Downrigger

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
42
Re: 1998 Mercury 175XL

Thanks Don, I was wondering if that was the line I should use. Now I know. I knew I could count on someone here to steer me in the right direction. My first try was the line between the thermostats.....wrong. That produced absolutely nothing. Fact is, it produced more vacuum than pressure. When I couldn't get a reading on the gage and disconnected the line to see if there was any pressure I found vacuum. There's a new hose there now since I cut the original too short when I installed the tee....duh!:$

Larry8)
 

Downrigger

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Feb 15, 2006
Messages
42
Re: 1998 Mercury 175XL

studlymandingo said:
Keep the pressure gauge. You can tee into the head, you won't be getting much pressure there until you have some throttle going.

Otherwise, go back to the Force and I will give you 50 bucks for the Merc!8)

I'll tell you what. I took every part I could off that Force engine and netted almost $800 for the various parts on eBay. Not bad and it paid for almost 30% of what I gave for the Merc.

Obviously someone out there needs a lot of parts for Force 150's, which doesn't surprise me at all considering that motor left me stranded on the ocean 3 times in 2 years:%:|

Larry8)
 
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