On behalf of my brother ,,,,

smeghead · Dec 7, 2004

Hi all, I'm normally in the Mercury outboards forum, but I have a special request or three on behalf of my brother, who is not internet savvy... He has just bought an 18-footer with a mercruiser bolted inside. the serial number is 5262259, and the HP is apparently 120HP. He needs to know: 1/ The year of construction on the motor 2/ The tension on the head bolts I don't know; these backyard mechanics !! Any help is appreciated ... so I can get him off my back !! Smeg Head

Don S · Dec 7, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

I can't tell you exactly what year it is, but it falls in Mercruisers serial number range for the 1979 to 1982 IL4 GM 120hp engine. Don't have a head bolt torque, but in reality, he needs a service manual if he plans to do a rebuild or valve job on any engine. There is more to it than just head bolt torque. The Mercruiser manual is #3 PN 90-95693.

smeghead · Dec 7, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Hi Don, Thanks for the reply. All I know is that he had to replace the head gasket, as it had a bubble in it. The head is currently being checked for any warping and cracking; that's as far as I think he has taken it. He had some cooling issues previously, and a post in the Mercury Outboards forum had a similar thing, with a faulty head gasket. Sure enough, when it was removed, there were what looked like blade marks across the gasket - not big enough to make the motor lumpy, but enough to ruin the constant volume laws under pressure. That's why he is only after the torque settings for the head bolts. Regards, Smeg Head

Peter J Fraser · Dec 7, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Should put out a call for ACHRIS in Perth WA. He may be able to assist you. Regards Peter

lakelivin · Dec 8, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

I've got this friend that has a really embarrasing problem..... Just kidding, someone in a previous post linked the following site which supposedly has online Merc service manuals (in pdf format, I'm guessing). Might be worth browsing that site to see if you can get the info you need. http://www.boatfix.com/merc/mainmenu.pdf

smeghead · Dec 9, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Thanks LakeLivin, I had a look, but the pdf's are just the contents pages of the manuals. No actual information. I would imagine the publishers of the manuals would have a bit to say in that area. Personally, I don't know why he didn't buy a boat with a nasty big outboard on it ... the way things should be.

tommays · Dec 9, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

smeg if you click in the correct places you can read the full manual on line or save a copy of any section on your computer to read off line tommays

lakelivin · Dec 9, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

smeg, if you're like me with a dial up connection note that it might take long enough for the pdf pages to load that it looks like theres no info for awhile. one of the downsides to living out here in the sticks for me (I can't even get 56k due to telephone equipment between my house and the nearest servers. Best I really get is around 20k).

Fishermark · Dec 9, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

The head bolts are torqued to 93 ft lbs (retorque in 20 Hrs). Start in the middle, go about a third of the torque, work on around in a spiral.

smeghead · Dec 9, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Hi Fishermark, Thanks for the figures. He went to the State Library today, and found the information. It turned out the head *needed* to be machined, as it was out by a full 10 thou ! Thanks again, Smeghead.

smeghead · Dec 10, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

UPDATE: That didn't solve his problem - still overheating. So far, he has changed the water impeller, back-flushed the water intake lines, replaced the head gasket, and had the head machined, with no joy, and less cash. My suggestion all along has been "Give it to a mechanic, and pay the money. At least then, you'll be on the water, soon." If anyone has any thoughts as to what it may be, please, feel free. His boat's not going anywhere ... Thanks, Smeghead.

Don S · Dec 10, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Check the exhaust elbow/riser. When (Not if) they get plugged up they block all water flow and they should be replaced. Trying to clean them usually ends up costing you an engine. They plug up from rust as the inside of the water passages flakes off and plugs the outlet. If you try to clean it, you usually end up with a hole in the web between the exhaust and the water passage and water gets into the engine when it's shut off.

smeghead · Dec 10, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Thanks, Don. I have passed that information on to my brother .. let's see what he does with it. Smeghead

achris · Dec 23, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Hi Smeg Head, Just got home and a friend told me of a call for help. Well, here I am. Those elbows on the older 120hp units only last about 2-4 years at best. The other thing to worry about is the water pocket cover in the drive unit. Real easy to check if that's the problem, real pain to fix if it is. Hope that helps. Cook me a kipper, I'll be back for breakfast! Chris.................. P.S. Why would you want a stinking, smelly, fuel gussling 2 stoke cluttering up the back of a perfectly good boat?

Dunaruna · Dec 23, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Chris (achris). Could you shoot me an e-mail? aldek@nex(remove).net.au Aldo

smeghead · Dec 23, 2004

Re: On behalf of my brother ,,,,

Hi Chris, Welcome back. In answer to your P.S. ... why?Because it's there, and I just spent a s**tload fixing the stoopid thing. ---------- It looks like the elbow *is* the problem with my brother's boat. He is currently on a mine site up north, "accumulating supplies", so we won't know properly until next week, when he gets back. He said it was all clogged up with rust flakes .. I think. I was into a bronze whaler when he was telling me, so I wasn't paying a great deal of attention. Will keep you all posted, though. Thanks & have a tops Christmas !! Smeg Head "The world loves a basterd !"

On behalf of my brother ,,,,

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