Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

[Superjetjim]

Hi I have purchased my first boat today (Picton 185GTS 1993) with a Mercury 150BHP out board - I'm guessing the outboard is older than the boat, S/N is 5678278 and its V6 non oil injection.

Anything to look out for on this motor - any known weaknesses?

After this picture was taken I have polished the leg and got the shine back like the cowl.

Be gentle - hope I've not bought a rubbish model! We had it running on the hose and also in a large plastic container with no issues (appreciate this isnt under full load though) check FWD/rev engaged OK and it did....

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

At Max Rules...it comes back as a 1981 if I'm reading his chart correctly

http://www.maxrules.com/Merc_model_files/115-150.html

Somehow though...those decals on the cowl look newer than that to me.

They have the decals here...
http://www.nymarine.ca/mercdeclist.html

But; I don't see any that match yours exactly.

Good Luck, Chuck

 

[achris]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

All the Merc V6s are solid. As with all machines, keep a good maintenance program going and it shouldn't give you any major trouble.

Those decals look 'home made' to me.... They look closest to 1986/87 series.

Chris.........

 

[CVX20SPRINT]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

I've got an 81 and my decals are blue/silver.

 

[Superjetjim]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

Thanks very much everyone, I had another look at the control box/selector this morning and its got a blue/silver label on it - seems to match whats being said here.

That link to the graphics was very useful - the current ones look a little tired, think I'll get some made form the 89 - 93 colour scheme, buddy has a graphics company and with that JPEG he can create some easily.

I may look to fit a later control box (the current one looks a bit shabby) - would one of the more modern ones fit straight on or would I need a wiring loom adapter? Do all the newer Mercury control boxes have PTT switches or just some?

Really excited about my first boat, moved away from Jetski's now the family is expanding, lots to learn about outboards..

 

[Superjetjim]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

Sorry - a couple more questions:

1) What type of spark plugs does she need?
2) What make of gearbox oil should I use
3) What fuel/oil ratio? - I assume 50:1?

Thanks once more for all the help!

James

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

Look up the year of the motor on a spark plug app chart. It likely takes gapless plugs.

50::1 is the correct oil/gas mix. Some motors had oil injection, however, I think that model is too old for that.

Use any marine gear oil made for mechanical shift motors.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

Look up the year of the motor on a spark plug app chart. It likely takes gapless plugs.

50::1 is the correct oil/gas mix. Some motors had oil injection, however, I think that model is too old for that.

Use any marine gear oil made for mechanical shift motors.

A v6 merc outboard should have high performance lube in the LU. I use Mercury's.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: Newbie - 150 Mercury anyone help ageing this motor please?

John, That motor was made before synthetic and Hi Performance gear oil was invented.

I use the synthetic stuff in the newer gearcases (say '95 and newer). Older motors get whatever std marine gear oil is available.