'73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

[WA-Newb]

I am still waiting on my inernal wire harness to get here but in the mean time figured I should look into the carb kits for this motor since I will most likely need them.

My serial number shows it as a 1973 and the only parts website I have found that lists out the WMK versions on the carbs shows the carbs my motor has..WMK-14 belong to a 150 hp and not a 115 hp. The other sites I have looked at don't even say the WMK stuff so I guess I don;t know what I am looking at yet..they say something like serial group 1 or serial group 2...not sure what that's all about.

Anyway does anyone know about the differences between the WMK-10, WMK-11, WMK-12 etc. Carbs?

Looks like the carb kit is the same on many of those versions but I want to know if these are not stock carbs and anything else I can figure out.

I was watching a nice Youtube video on rebuilding these carbs but his were the WMK-10 versions and they had little fuel lines on them which mine do not have.

Thank you.

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

The cross reference chart I have found shows the following.

My motor:
1970-1988 115 HP (6 cyl.)
Should have these carbs: WMK-3, WMK-10, WMK-15, WMK-18, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 41, 41-1A, 41-1B, 41-3A, 41-3B

But my Carbs are WMK-14 which is said to belong to the following motors:
1973-1978 150 HP

I just wish I could find WHAT is different in these and why the WMK-10 has the small fuel line / tube on top of the carb going from one side to the other.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

The cross reference chart I have found shows the following.

My motor:
1970-1988 115 HP (6 cyl.)
Should have these carbs: WMK-3, WMK-10, WMK-15, WMK-18, 26, 28, 32, 36, 40, 41, 41-1A, 41-1B, 41-3A, 41-3B

But my Carbs are WMK-14 which is said to belong to the following motors:
1973-1978 150 HP

I just wish I could find WHAT is different in these and why the WMK-10 has the small fuel line / tube on top of the carb going from one side to the other.

That small tube was for fuel economy and MANY people (including myself on previous inlines) have blocked it off. The carb kits come with TONS of parts and gaskets to fit the various models.

Being a 1973 I would not doubt someone changed the carbs. Just get a kit and you will see. No need to worry about the little hose

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

The 150hp carbs are special...bigger jets and maybe a bigger throat than the other carbs. Maybe somebody put them on because they thought they would gain some power? (not true though) I don't think the carbs had that economizer tube in 1973...my 73 1500 carbs do not have them.

FWIW, I just pulled a set of WMK 18-3 carbs off a 76 115...I'm 99% sure they were original.

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

Thanks for the info...I am thinking bigger jets equals worse gas mileage too...lol

What I am hoping I can get help with now is if there is stuff I can clean while the carbs are still on the motor?

I was looking for the drain screw to see if there was any fuel left in the carbs but can't even find that on these carbs.

Since this motor is an absolute unknown (and I am totally poor) I would like to try and do whatever I can to the carbs without spending the $60+ on carb kits...if it seems to run once I get the harness and the carbs cleaned I will feel better spending the money if needed.

I have the cages off now..the starter off and am staring at the carbs wondering what I can take off and clean / check for gummed up stuff caused by it sitting for six years. I have no idea if this was drained and stored properly so maybe it will be better than I am anticipating...the previous owner said he "maintained" it religiously...but he also said it just needed a battery to fire up....LOL guess he forgot to mention the wire harness that USED TO BE..but is no longer there.

So any advice on jets, bowls, pins and holes to clean out while carbs are still attached?

If it weren't for the gaskets and the few hard to get to carb bolts I would just take it off to easily access everything...but gaskets cost and I am worried about tearing into it any farther yet until I hear it try to start at least.

Thanks.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

Gaskets should be real cheap for those carbs...maybe $5 a kit. Remove the carbs from the motor and disassemble. Check the floats. Originals were foam, and would disolve. Replacements are hard plastic, and can crack. Clean the carbs real well, replace all the gaskets and any bad floats. Try to reuse the inlet needles and seats, if you can. That is cheapest solution.

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

Thank you, I have done some price checking but would like a little help before I order stuff

Is this what I will need as the minimum?

3 Carb body gaskets & 3 Float Bowl Gaskets (Are both of these in this kit?) $6.99 ea. ($21.00)
Carburetor Gasket Kit - Sierra - iboats
note: The kit for my WMK-14 is out of stock..sigh. So this is just to know if this is the type of gasket kit I need.

3 Floats $8.99 ea. ($27.00)
Carburetor Float - Sierra - iboats

So that would be $15.98 per carb...times 3 is $48 plus shipping.
Even cheap parts add up on these things..lol

For reference: I can get a kit for $15.99 ea. ($48.00) but am not sure what is all here.
Carburetor Kit - Sierra - iboats

QUESTION: I see the individual gaskets for WMK-10 and WMK-14 are calling for different part numbers, one is in stock and one out of stock. BUT when it comes to the KITS the part numbers are the same.
Do they put in BOTH gaskets for this kit to save on shelf space or something?...anyone know this one?

Just for a note:
Optional - Needles and Seats $6.99 ea.
Needle & Seat - Sierra - iboats

 

[Chris1956]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

OK, The Carb Kit has the inlet needle and seat. Didn't look to have the float, but there was one piece that might have been the float. Of course it could have been the cylinder-shaped fuel filter from the non-backdraft carbs. No way I could really tell.

I would have never thought that the gasket kit would be different between an 1150 and a 1500, except for the models without the backdraft carb. I had an '77 1500 and a '73 850. The 1500 had backdraft carbs, the 850 did not. The carbs seemed to share gaskets and floats, as well as a lot of other parts.

 

[turtles11756]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

the serial # is the one stamped on the block ? i have an inline six with no serial # on the block the serial # on the id plate under steering arm says it's a year that 150hp was not available but the carbs are all wmk-14 which are for 150hp. i believe it's a replacement block 150hp. but it says 115 hp on the cowling decals. who knows the price was right

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

turtles...so I just went out and looked and did indeed find a serial on the block that shows it's for a 150hp...and with my carbs being wmk-14's...I am "thinking" now it's a 150 not a 115 like the decals say.
I don't really know what I am doing so still trying to figure this out.

My head has a stamp of: 852-5264
I did just find a post on another forum that said this:

5264 is 1974 model, in 1974 there was a 115 or 150

if any have a j stamp then its a 150xs.
if bridge between exhaust ports are 1/8 in. then its a 150 or 140.
if bridge is 1/4 in. or more, its a 115.

Either way I still need to make sure I order the right parts / gaskets for my carbs if I get to that point and they do appear to be different from the 115 to 150 in some manner.

 

[carholme]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

Why don't you just post the s/n?

Gerry

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

Just order the 18-7021 as it has every gasket to fit the WMK series carbs no matter the series # and it comes with needle and seat. You WILL have parts left over from this kit....
Amazon.com: 18-7021 carb kit

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

Gerry..guess I just thought it was a 1972 or 73 115 so I din;t care...but now I guess I should find out for sure.
Here's the numbers I have so far...my "terms" for the parts are the best I can figure...lol

The serial number on the tilt tube area (metal plate) is 3752543
The number on my head is: 852-5264
Number on intake is: 848-5262
The back thing where the plugs are (guess it's a cover): 1023-5068
Transfer port number: 62301
And Carbs again: WMK-14

Faztbullet...will I know what parts to use etc.? Since the different carbs call for different parts individually I am hoping it will be super obvious but have no idea.

On another note..I just got done taking stuff apart again to access the carbs better, I left the starter on and don't want to mess with the distributor. Now is the time when I really want to "hopefully" pull some jets or needles off these and clean them out without pulling the carbs...just to get fuel to the cylinders and see if it will run at all.

Is this possible? I don't want to "blindly" just unscrew things since that could lead to worse problems...but I would think some of the brass screws could be taken out exposing clogged orifices...just don't know which ones (if any).

I am getting gas to the carbs since gas pours out of each when I have throttle open and prime the bulb hard.

So can I safely remove any thing to clean them? I am very hesitant to take the carbs off and spend more money since this may be a parts motor after all of this...plus I have no idea how to adjust carbs and all that good stuff.

Thanks.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

I am very hesitant to take the carbs off and spend more money since this may be a parts motor after all of this.

Before you spend another dime run a compression test and a spark check. Compression on that engine as it has high dome pistons if original will be in the 125 -140 psi range , under 125psi it needs work. Also check spark as if trigger is dead that $250 plus just to make it spark!!!

will I know what parts to use etc.? Since the different carbs call for different parts individually I am hoping it will be super obvious but have no idea

Yes and yes....

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

I am sooo tired..will update this after a nap..but YES..I got her running and she sounded good
That was a battle! and much work to do still.

 

[WA-Newb]

Re: '73 Merc Tower of Power - 115 - Need Help on Carb Kit# - I have WMK-14

So I decided to just go for it on the carbs and took out the bottom jets and the idles jets...sprayed everything with carb cleaner and then blew out with compressed air. Reassembled it all and had no luck starting it again...but then I tried the pre-mix in the cylinders and it fired up and seemed to idle good (well sounded good to me).

Still cannot get it to start without doing the pre-mix spray into cylinders but at least now I "think" it's worth spending some money on.

BUT...before I do I have a couple NEW issues I need to investigate and will start a new thread for these.

Thank you for all the help and this will be reflected back on when I get the carb kits.