A Question of virginity???

[OldMercsRule]

Hi Guys, I own five inline 6s. Three are late 60s and one a late 70s and the last one is a early 80s. Love 'em all. Question: the three 60s motors, (silver blocks), have a wire tag on one of the studs that bolts the crank case to the cylinder side of the block. I have not carefully looked at the later models, (black blocks), so I don't know if Mercury followed the "wired nut" polocy later on. Does this mean they are virgins? I know that two of them are, I am just uncertian about the third engine since I just bought it. Thanks in advance for your help. JR

 

[Laddies]

Re: A Question of virginity???

That is a factory seal and went on till the early 70s I think

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Thanks Laddies, Sounds like my silver block models are in fact virgins. That would have been my guess, but now I know. Thanks again JR

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: A Question of virginity???

What exactly are you planning on doing with these motors and does your wife know!

Sorry, couldn't resist.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Whats the difference? Crankcase half's need to be matched, and If never apart, I would pull them down anyway and look them over anyway. Needles, pistons, all need a look over unless you get great compression on all holes, and want to take a chance

 

[JasonJ]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Thats where I would disagree. If a motor runs good, has good compression, and is not leaking or making bad noises I see no reason to tear the thing apart "just in case". I have seen people ruin good motors that way. Lets face it, most peoples shops are not hospital clean, and the risk of dirt and debris intrusion is too great.

There is a reason for the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it". I know my motor is "virgin", it is 37 years old, and runs perfectly. There is no way on earth I will tear that powerhead down until it needs it. I have had it off several times, have had the lower unit apart for re-sealing, but that powerhead will stay together as long as possible.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

My problem is I can't leave anything alone until I go through it. Had a lot of old Harley motors, Merc 6's, and Force that still work fine, AFTER I go through them, a LOT better. Ya learn the nuances over time. Not a production motor made that can't be made better.

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Hi Guys, The wife doesn't mind the fact that I prefer virgin inlines, if they weren't virgins one needs to ponder the quality of the previous work, (the factory guys are usually consistent). The only inline I had to rebuild, (a 1976 150 HP), had been worked on previously, and the previous lousy work was the reason for the failure that prompted the rebuild. If I can verify an origional uncracked motor that still runs good; and has even compression: I'm generally ready to purchase if the price is right. As to a tear down, I agree with JasonJ, I rarely fix something that isn't broken. All my running inlines have even compresion, fire up easily, and they don't make funky noises. Thirty to Fourty year old motors sometimes have wireing issues, sometimes fuel line issues, always can use a fresh impeller, fresh fuel filters, and new fuel pump diaphrams that I do fix prior to having the engine lay down somewhere out in a big puddle. As to the number of engines: I have an island; I run old Mercs on a number of different vintage boats; and I don't like to swim. JR

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

All depends on the motor (to buy) we are talking about and its surroundings. . All I need to do is walk into where the motor is sitting. Outside in the mud, it better be a collectible (believe it or not, I found a Merc KF7 complete with no spark on top LAYING OUT BY THE GARBAGE of a house in town!). I walk into some friends shops (and my own), and you can tell in a instant you are dealing with someone honest and know what there doing.. No definitive answer here. I look at a inline 6 crank as a work of art. Its the way I am. I have 4 boats and 10 motorcycles, nothing new (but one is a complete homemade 4000 hour of my time Dragbike), run fine, but on a lot of nice days, I'm in the shop, happiest deep into some motor weather it likes it or not. If we all here never dug into motors, just how would anybody get a good answer to a question when something DOES go wrong?

 

[Laddies]

Re: A Question of virginity???

James I'm with you if it is not broke don't tear it down, we repair alot of the older inlines and up here in fresh water there are alot still being used with proper care and good lubricants they last forever, the most common problem is poor winterization, oil squirted in the cyl and not fogged so the crank goes bad (were do you get a crank for a 40 year old motor) if you did it would cost more than the engine is worth, no matter how attached we are to them, so run them and enjoy your time with the best outboards ever built--Bob

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

I know where a lot of 4 and 6 Merc cranks are, and a damn good crank rebuilder in CT. Just sold a MK30 crank......

 

[Laddies]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Scaaty, I didn't mean there were not any cranks left, we have several and rebuild vintage race engines regularly, it's simply a matter of cost. Like any thing you do it is only money and how much you want to part with, I have rebuilt Kermath, Lycoming and Scripp engines from the early 20s for people out of Hacker, Garwood and Dodge boats. If you can't find the part you just have to make them or have them made no big deal, if the customer has the money and wants to part with it. It's just priorities and cash. I do stand behind the fact that tearing down a vintage engine that runs well, is in most cases a wast of money, but if it needs attention from being lose, weak or what ever, give it some care. Sorry if I upset you, it was not intentional--Bob

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Hi Guys, Clearly both of you are seasoned outboard mechanics that have a great deal of expertise, (the go to guys). I'm just a country hick from Seattle looking to have fun and stretch my dollars as far as possible and still get to my island in style. I have several sets of conventional tools for working on my various toys, but lack the specialized tools necessary to get real serious with many of those toys, so: I pick my battles. My brother is a commercial fisherman in Cordova, AK who does not like Mercs like I do, but he has a lot of experience putting his life on the line with various kickers, (OMC and Yamaha). He is convinced, (as am I), that a factory engine (regardless) will outlast a rebuild 9 out of 10 times. You two may be the types of pros that can rebuild a engine and make it better and more durable, (I know one of those folks here on the Northern part of the left coast that I have do my outboard [Merc} work when it is out of my comfort zone). If I knew who rebuilt a power head I would have a different opinion, but when you are buying old used motors: virgins rule! Thanks for all the help. JR

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Scaaty, I didn't mean there were not any cranks left, we have several and rebuild vintage race engines regularly, it's simply a matter of cost. Like any thing you do it is only money and how much you want to part with, I have rebuilt Kermath, Lycoming and Scripp engines from the early 20s for people out of Hacker, Garwood and Dodge boats. If you can't find the part you just have to make them or have them made no big deal, if the customer has the money and wants to part with it. It's just priorities and cash. I do stand behind the fact that tearing down a vintage engine that runs well, is in most cases a wast of money, but if it needs attention from being lose, weak or what ever, give it some care. Sorry if I upset you, it was not intentional--Bob

No biggie, and I know you know what you're doing. Like I said, theres no definitive answer to tearing into a motor. Some scream bloody murder when they take an original 63 split window and turn it into Pro-Stock. Some resto freaks will pour over a box of rusty parts at a swap for an hour, you don't even want to start talking to some of the speed freaks at Bonneville. You know where I'm heading here. I have a LOT of pix of the old Mercs that are Orig, Resto's, Virgins, and I've ALWAYS thought that there was never a better looking motor made (and never WILL be!). I have a friend with a shop lined with power towers, and as I had an XS150 at one time, and he has one in his shop, I always give it a pat on the wrap before I leave. You know where I'm coming from....I just like to take things apart. Room for us all. Be well..

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Hi Guys, Clearly both of you are seasoned outboard mechanics that have a great deal of expertise, (the go to guys). I'm just a country hick from Seattle looking to have fun and stretch my dollars as far as possible and still get to my island in style. I have several sets of conventional tools for working on my various toys, but lack the specialized tools necessary to get real serious with many of those toys, so: I pick my battles. My brother is a commercial fisherman in Cordova, AK who does not like Mercs like I do, but he has a lot of experience putting his life on the line with various kickers, (OMC and Yamaha). He is convinced, (as am I), that a factory engine (regardless) will outlast a rebuild 9 out of 10 times. You two may be the types of pros that can rebuild a engine and make it better and more durable, (I know one of those folks here on the Northern part of the left coast that I have do my outboard [Merc} work when it is out of my comfort zone). If I knew who rebuilt a power head I would have a different opinion, but when you are buying old used motors: virgins rule! Thanks for all the help. JR

Where are you at in PS? You need Merc work, my Guru's in Shelton. I'm out by the water (duh..where else!) by Steamboat Island. I can put ya in touch with people if ya need something. Guy in Bonney Lake sells lots of Merc stuff on ebay too. Robby

 

[Laddies]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Scaaty, wish I was going to Wendover with you, after active duty I got stuck in the reserves and spent a month at Toole Army Depot at the other end of the flats but it was at a dry time of year and the water table was down so they weren't runnig at Bonneville so I missed it story of my life:'( We run D stock runabout and once in a while fill out a mod class to help the guys out, we've got 3 44XS engines and several 55Hs, A + B engines and are think about break some of the old stuff thats been in storage out and going Vintage racing next summer as it's starting to catch on around here. Good Lock at the flats if your running Be safe. To win you must finish first--Bob

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Getting older (not really almost 57), and have a friend out where I live that I meet when I saw a chute on the back of something in the garage. Hes nuts! Was a Bonny freak, now building those new ugly choppers. They have all motorcycles now on Labor day, and another friend bugging me to go some year. Retired early, so its a money thing (what AINT a money thing?). Did a 7000 mile road trip in August, and rode the back side of TGSL.233/30. One desolate road. Goes around to the north to east out of Nevada.
Everything getting to expensive, but still catch the NHRA Nitro cars, and have an a old HS girlfriend that lives in Chandle AZ.. I gotta make it down there someday for the Nitro boats. Those guys are REALLY nuts.

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

The minute I sent this, the power went out for 3 hours. Had a nice windstorm, but guess tomorrow will be a worse one!
I just pulled the generator out, and the power came back on. Figures! I'm leaving it out though until the next storm passes!

Hi Guys, Clearly both of you are seasoned outboard mechanics that have a great deal of expertise, (the go to guys). I'm just a country hick from Seattle looking to have fun and stretch my dollars as far as possible and still get to my island in style. I have several sets of conventional tools for working on my various toys, but lack the specialized tools necessary to get real serious with many of those toys, so: I pick my battles. My brother is a commercial fisherman in Cordova, AK who does not like Mercs like I do, but he has a lot of experience putting his life on the line with various kickers, (OMC and Yamaha). He is convinced, (as am I), that a factory engine (regardless) will outlast a rebuild 9 out of 10 times. You two may be the types of pros that can rebuild a engine and make it better and more durable, (I know one of those folks here on the Northern part of the left coast that I have do my outboard [Merc} work when it is out of my comfort zone). If I knew who rebuilt a power head I would have a different opinion, but when you are buying old used motors: virgins rule! Thanks for all the help. JR

Where are you at in PS? You need Merc work, my Guru's in Shelton. I'm out by the water (duh..where else!) by Steamboat Island. I can put ya in touch with people if ya need something. Guy in Bonney Lake sells lots of Merc stuff on ebay too. Robby

 

[OldMercsRule]

Re: A Question of virginity???

Hi SCAATY, Live in Bothell, own a small business in Bellevue. The shop I use is in Mukilteo, a little pricey but very good. Would love to hook into an old style late 60s early 70s power trim for one of my Merc 1000s, (I have one for the other one off my dead 1250). Come to think of it, I wouldn't mind a PT unit for my 1979 115 (if I could find one at the right price). I play with my boats to the North of Seattle. Thanks JR

 

[Scaaty]

Re: A Question of virginity???

I'll ask ask around about PT's. Batten down the hatches, we're in a for a big windstorm over night. I'm planning on no power for a few days.