No compression 71 thunderbolt 135hp

71'Thunderbolt

Recruit
Joined
Aug 22, 2007
Messages
4
Hey everyone.. i am a little new to the whole outboard scene. I know my stuff when it comes to engines and such things and need some help.
I have a 1971 1350 mercury straight 6 135 hp, starts and runs great... but the problem is that when i give it full throttle it boggs down and wont go any faster. I have done some research and found that cleaning out the carbs would most likely fix that problem so i went to go do a compression test to see what i was working with... now the top #1 had like 130, #2 had 120 . #3 had 0...!!!!!... #4 had like 130..#5 had about 130... #6 had 135

now i read some more fourms and got some de-carb and sprayed it in the #3 cylinder and set it over night... went out the next mornin and nothin.... the needle goes up to about like 5.... so i put some straight weight oil in it and the compression went to about 60 the first time and the second time 90....

i also tried to tap the top of the piston with a wooden dowel to break/shock the "stuck" ring free.. and stll nothing... so i ran the engine and put the whole can of de-carb in it... and tried it again and still like 0 compression...

i also filled the other pistons up with the decarb with spark plugs out, and cranked it over to see what it would do and i got about 10+psi out of each cylinder except #3
so i need some help because this is just killing me and i dont want to take the entire engine apart for 1 piston... so please give some advice... i tried to give as much info as possible to narrow down the possibilities... thanks for reading...!

O .... and also... is there a themostat on my engine because i have read that they might get stuck and the engine can overheat?... so... any advice would mean a great deal.. thanks!
 

Clams Canino

Commander
Joined
Jan 10, 2004
Messages
2,179
Re: No compression 71 thunderbolt 135hp

No thermostat on those. Just make sure the waterpump impeller is new every other season.

-W
 

saltfisher

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Aug 22, 2007
Messages
111
Re: No compression 71 thunderbolt 135hp

how much do they cost? Easy to install?
 

AMD Rules

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Sep 23, 2004
Messages
1,707
Re: No compression 71 thunderbolt 135hp

Shine a small flashlight into #3 spark plug hole and inspect the piston for signs of damage. Compare it to one of the others, with high readings. You might consider taking off the side inspection covers (under the fuel pumps on the starboard side) to get a closer look at the condition of the pistons/rings/cylinders. Saves taking the whole motor apart, for now.

Zero compression on #3 is likely indicative of a piston that has suffered damage from advanced timing, and subsequent detontation damage.
 
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