I think I've been had...

[SeaKaye12]

On Sunday I struck up a conversation with an older fellow at the dock.<br /><br />We got to talking about outboards. This fellow seemed to have a lot of knowledge. One would tend to believe him due to the factual manner in which he spoke.<br /><br />He told me that at one point back in the 70's or 80's...Mercury made a change in their lower unit design.<br /><br />He went on to say that these Mercury engines...when "shifted" into reverse...would actually shut down momentarily...and would automatically re-start with reverse rotation.<br /><br />The engine would run backwards and would therefore power the boat backwards. <br /><br />He went on to describe how the ignition linkages worked to acheive this.<br /><br />I don't claim to know very much about Mercury engines...but I read a lot and I certainly don't remember ever seeing anything like that.<br /><br />Personally; I think the old gent has an overly active imagination...but I wasn't going to call him on it because he did seem to know what he was talking about...and because he was my "elder" <br /><br />Respect your elders.<br /><br />Still; I think I've been had. Maybe like the rookie plumber being asked to fetch the left handed monkey wrench?<br /><br />I dunno...but he was fun to talk to. Anyone here care to shed more light on Mercury motors that run Clockwise and Counter-Clockwise? <br /><br />Thanks, Chuck

 

[chuckz]

Re: I think I've been had...

The engine was nick named "dock buster" Do a search and you'll find out the old guy was telling you the truth.

 

[Boomyal]

Re: I think I've been had...

Isn't that nice, SeaKaye12, to be able to retain faith in your fellow man? Not everyone is a phsycopathic scammer.

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: I think I've been had...

So **THAT"S** what's meant by the Dockbuster...<br /><br />I have indeed seen reference to that term here...but I didn't know what it meant. What time-frame were the "Dockbusters" made...and what horsepower were they available in?<br /><br />Ya learn something every day!<br /><br />Thanks for the replies, Chuck

 

[CATransplant]

Re: I think I've been had...

Do a search on iboats for "dockbuster" and you'll find the threads. Funny idea that reversing method, but it makes a sort of sense. two-stroke motors run just fine in reverse.

 

[BillP]

Re: I think I've been had...

I remember mercs having to be shut down for reverse in the 60s but don't remember them automatically restarting. I think the operatior had to restart. Merc did a few weird things back then...my uncle had one in the 60s (35hp or 40hp?)with electric start and no generator.

 

[timmathis]

Re: I think I've been had...

See there you done right by not calling that old man crazy. That is what is wrong with about 1/2 of young people now. They wont listen to thier elders. Tim

 

[bigbrownbuku]

Re: I think I've been had...

old johnrudes had a device under the flywheel to PREVENT them from running backwards.

 

[SeaHorse]

Re: I think I've been had...

I had a 70 hp dockbuster on a 14' Steury. You brought the handle back to the middle and the motor would quit then you pulled it back more and pressed the starter button on the top of the handle and hoped it would start backwards. Since there was no charging system, it rarely started, so you just plowed into the dock, hence the name "dockbuster." Water skiing with these was great fun unless you were the skiier of course. <br />The system was half fast so it was dropped after a year or two. <br />New snowmobiles, such as the Ski Doo's, have a great system for reverse which works seamlessly and flawlessly. You press the button and the motor goes from forward rotation to reverse rotation. When you accelerate again, the sled goes backwards. Another button push and she goes forward again. <br />This modern scheme wouldn't work for outboards because they don't have a clutch that allows for neutral.

 

[05GlastronSX]

Re: I think I've been had...

thats pretty interesting...ive never heard of that before. i remember when my dad used to have my grandfathers old 1964 dorsette w/ a 50 merc that he bought new in 1964, and i think i remember you having to restart the engine to get it to go in reverse. also, sea horse you do make a good point w/ ski doos and polaris' electic reverse only too bad outboards cant have them like you said. it only ways a few ounces compared to the 40 pounds of chains and gears of a conventional reverse system.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: I think I've been had...

Okay, before the foggy memories and heresay get too far out of hand here, a little clarification...<br /><br />The "Dockbusters" were only made from 1957 (Mark 75) into the early 1960s. They were exclusively 6-cylinder models and are easily identified by the starter motors - there are TWO bendix gears on them! There were years with BOTH Full Gearshift and Direct-Reversing models availables towards the end, so you could conceivably have a Merc 700 (70hp) or Merc 800 (80hp) with either/or. If memory serves, 1964 was the first year where all models were available with full gearshift.<br /><br />Carl Kiekhaefer, founder of Mercury, had it in his head that the larger motors would tear up a conventional gearshift arrangement, so he went with the DR idea. His chief engineer, Charlie Strang, designed the full gearshift unit for the big motors behind Carl's back. The gradual phasing in of the FGS motors in the early 1960s showed Carl's apprehensiveness regarding the idea.<br /><br />- Scott