Question for the Merc heads

[LonneyB]

I have a 1969 Merc 650 thunderbolt 4 cyl serial# 2606990 ...so i know its a 1969 ..and when i do the research it says :
1969 Merc 650's were only produced as Merc 650E (Electric Starting, Short Shaft, with Alternator) and Merc 650EL (Electric Starting, Long Shaft, with Alternator).


How do i know whether it a long or short shaft ....i cant see a part number that says 650 E or 650 EL....and also would a 1971 mercontrol box work ?

thanx in advance
Lonney B

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

I have a 1969 Merc 650 thunderbolt 4 cyl serial# 2606990 ...so i know its a 1969 ..and when i do the research it says :
1969 Merc 650's were only produced as Merc 650E (Electric Starting, Short Shaft, with Alternator) and Merc 650EL (Electric Starting, Long Shaft, with Alternator).


How do i know whether it a long or short shaft ....i cant see a part number that says 650 E or 650 EL....and also would a 1971 mercontrol box work ?

thanx in advance
Lonney B

Lonney, if the distance from the top of the transom clamp to the top of the anti cavitation plate is close to 15 inches it is a short shaft, if it is close to 20 inches it is a long shaft..
I think the 71 control is the same, I would have to check my wiring diagrams. If the pin configuration on the male plug on the engine is the same as the female plug on the control box then it will work.

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Ok cool thanx for the reply ...but 1 question ...whats the anti cavitation plate?hahaha i am new to this ...and i dont recall that phrase yet...sorry

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Ok cool thanx for the reply ...but 1 question ...whats the anti cavitation plate?hahaha i am new to this ...and i dont recall that phrase yet...sorry

Its the flat part of the lower end that sits above the prop, technically its an anti ventilation plate but most folks just call it a cavitation plate.

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

hers a shot of mine with a measuring tape ...i would say its a longshaft ...so i have a 1969 Merc 650 EL Thunderbolt

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Yup, definitely a long shaft, a pic is worth 1000 words.

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Thanx a Million Daveswaves.....Could i bug you 1 more time?.....i want to install a speedometer,Tachometer and voltage Guages ....i would say these are the only guages i COULD install that would work....now the boat is neked ...the only thing she has is a pressure gauge ...for what i dont know ....but the mercontrol has the wires for a tach and something else coming out the front....the speedometer i have NO hookups ...i heard my buddy say that out boards use a Vaccum...so i will need the whole kit ...do most speedometers come with the vaccum tube ? and the Volt gauge i would just run to the battery?

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Here is a tach from Merc/quicksilver ...it goes to 6000 rpm....is this for a v6 or could i use it for an outboard....the only reason i ask is because any of the outboard specific tach go to 7000 ...i just dont know if there is a reason ?:redface:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180104592828&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT#ebayphotohosting

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

and here is the kit for the Speedometer...$300.00 bucks is a bit more than i wanted to spend...is this necessary or are there cheaper versions that are just as good?

http://www.bargaincan.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=254


Thanx again for all the help ...i feel like a 39 year old kid again ...this boat is really exciting me!.....

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

and here is the kit for the Speedometer...$300.00 bucks is a bit more than i wanted to spend...is this necessary or are there cheaper versions that are just as good?

http://www.bargaincan.com/shop/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=254


Thanx again for all the help ...i feel like a 39 year old kid again ...this boat is really exciting me!.....

Ouch, thats too much. You can add a speedo with a PITOT tube for a lot less and if you look on ebay for used /take out gauges you can do much better. The tach you showed on your other post will work.

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Thanx a Million Daveswaves.....Could i bug you 1 more time?.....i want to install a speedometer,Tachometer and voltage Guages ....i would say these are the only guages i COULD install that would work....now the boat is neked ...the only thing she has is a pressure gauge ...for what i dont know ....but the mercontrol has the wires for a tach and something else coming out the front....the speedometer i have NO hookups ...i heard my buddy say that out boards use a Vaccum...so i will need the whole kit ...do most speedometers come with the vaccum tube ? and the Volt gauge i would just run to the battery?

On your merccontrol there will be 3 wires one is ground, one is 12v source the other is the tach signal. Your voltage gauge can hook up to the one with 12v on it. The tach wire obviously goes to the tachometer that you ultimately get and will drive just about any aftermarket tach. The pressure gauge was hooked in line with the cooling water Pee hose to make sure you always had adequate cooling, it would show for example if the waterpump was getting weak.
No vacuum needed, anywhere

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

it seems someone must have added another wire ...i have a braided black wire with 3 wires in it ...i assume this is the 12v, tach and ground i dont know which is which hahaha we have a black ,brown and white i would assume black=12v white=ground and brown =tach?.......

Then we have a grey wire with 2 wires in it a black and a red...any thoughts?

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

Ouch, thats too much. You can add a speedo with a PITOT tube for a lot less and if you look on ebay for used /take out gauges you can do much better. The tach you showed on your other post will work.

Ok on the Speedo and that tach matches the pressure gauge the only gauge that was in the boat!...i just thought maybe i need the 7000 rpm one....Thanx again bro ...your answering alot of probably ez questions ...but for me its not so ez...hahaha i am learning and searching alot...

 

[LonneyB]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

UPDATE*** The dude i got it off of says the grey wire with 2 wires coming out the black and red are for the Gauge lights....make any sense?...would you just piggy back from one gauge to the next?

 

[daveswaves]

Re: Question for the Merc heads

it seems someone must have added another wire ...i have a braided black wire with 3 wires in it ...i assume this is the 12v, tach and ground i dont know which is which hahaha we have a black ,brown and white i would assume black=12v white=ground and brown =tach?.......

Then we have a grey wire with 2 wires in it a black and a red...any thoughts?

The black wire is -12V or ground, the white wire is +12V when your key switch is on and the brown wire is the tach wire. The other two wires have been added by someone and are not part of the original set up. I would suggest that you trace them back into the control box and remove them to prevent shorting .