My First Mercury

[eburka2]

I just got my first mercury for $450, the guy said it was an early 80's but i didn't believe him. It is a 50hp. It ran great, just no choke, have to use starting fluid every time. But anyway, I was wondering if someone could tell me the year of my new MERC'----3575776-----<br />I also encountered a problem and was wondering what to do about it. I am a student and on a tight budget, but I know my way around a tool box and have messed with several Evinrudes and One Yamaha, just never dealt with the lower units. SO, I drained the lower unit oil and first water came out, and then light brown sludge... I am hoping it is just the seals for drain screws because i scrapped them with a screw driver and they disinigrated. I am going to TRY to change the water pump and impeller, but the trick will be getting the lower unit off.<br /><br />Well, Any suggestions??

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: My First Mercury

Well, my 73 Merc 500 50 hp has a 34***XX serial number, so yours is probably 74 or later. Get the Seloc manual for your motor...you can find it on ebay for less than $20. It'll help you through everything you want to do to this motor. If you can't wait, run a search on "lower unit" in this forum and you'll get plenty of instructions on how to drop your lower unit and rebuild the pump and replace the impeller. Not a hard job at all...just takes some patience. Good luck.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: My First Mercury

Can't complain for $450.00 <br />It should be called a "500" and it's a 1973.<br /> http://www.marineparts.com/partspages/techhelp/TECH15.HTM <br />4 cylinder 2xcarbs<br />This is a good post to follow.. but don't be discouraged by it.. He won't really shoot it.<br /> http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=008642 <br />The water in the L/U is a problem. Hope it's just your fill/drain washers, but if you can find a trustworthy OB mechanic, he can pressure test it to see whether it needs new seals.<br />The choke solonoid should be located above the carbs and you should hear an audible click when you press the black button or push key in (depends on controller) To test soloniod, run a 12v wire to the "live" side (Don't short anything) and see if it clicks. On these Mercs, the choke is ESSENTIAL for cold start.

 

[bubbakat]

Re: My First Mercury

500 (50,0) 3478003 - 3816307 1973 4 cyl<br /><br />