Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Texasmark

Supreme Mariner
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Dec 20, 2005
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Boy Son gets this used Merc. Decide to do the things you do when you don't know and a couple of other things. (The impeller has already been done.)

One of the things you do is to replace the thermostats (2 ea, V6). The other thing was to replace the lower unit lube and since the screws for that were stripped (where the stupid tapered edge flat blade screwdriver fits) I had ordered new screws. (Tapered flat blade screwdrivers, rather than blades with tip sides parallel to the slots in the screws is another king size (!@#$%^&*) of mine.....how can you expect to extract a screw, especially a stubborn screw, when the removal device is wedge shaped. :devil: :devil: :devil: ). Would like to have a one on one chat with the ME moron that passed that off on humanity.

The parts arrive today after pushing 3 weeks from time of order. The screws have sealing washers in the bag with the screws......geez someone at Merc.com replacement parts is using their head......naw, with all the other screw ups he must be sick!

Next comes the thermostat. No, the brilliant genius that thought this up chose to not include the gasket with this.....so they come separate as a separate line item with the appropriate charge. Now, who in their right mind is going to change a stat without changing the seal also? :| :| :| Really getting my case by now.

So I remove the stats from the bags to install the separate washers and notice that one of the stats is severely distorted.... like smashed; obvious that it got smashed somewhere between mfgr and arrival in the box that the dealer sent it to me in as there was no damage in my shipping carton.

Close examination of the plastic bag that the stat came in clearly shows cuts in the plastic where the stat was smashed somewhere along the line and cut the bag when it was smashed.

Now, why didn't the parts guy catch this; we are only in our 3rd week waiting for these stupid parts. Now we are still broken down.

So I call the clerk and tell him what I found. He said, no problem, I'll order you another one and ship it to you.......:devil: :devil: :devil:....what's that going to take another 3 weeks, and who's going to pay for it? So the question is, why didn't you catch it prior to shipping it to me??????

In conclusion he asks me to return the damaged stat to him. :devil: :devil: :devil: . The stupid stat is $10.40. To ship it will cost a min of $6.00 plus I have to drive to town to go to the post office..................
 

rodbolt

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Sep 1, 2003
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

dude.
settle down.
thats why baccardi is in "bidness"
the rubber seals get shipped with the kit if you order the part from napa.
the jonny/rude kits fit the merc V6 only they come with the seal.
as far as the drain and vent screws? here again NAPA has a 25 dollar solution. hand impact driver.
dunno who the ell invented it but I will place them on a pedastle with the guy that figgured out oxy/acetylyne.
 

Paul Moir

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Nov 5, 2002
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

... I will place them on a pedestal with the guy that figured out oxy/acetylene

I try to shy away from a "ya me too" type post, but that guy deserves special mention. What other tool does such useful and incomparable work all while smashing it with a 3 lb hammer?
That guy must be right up there in tool heaven. EZout fella is down in tool hell. :D
 

Deimus

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Sep 20, 2006
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132
Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

you must have bought the cheep easy outs. mine work great>:devil:
 

rodbolt

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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

easy outs are only good to generate wealth, mostly mine when I have to weld a stick to them so I can get them out after some idiot decided to use one on an already stuck fastener. they usually just wedge it in tighter and drill the hole off center.
so the guy who invented easy outs I reserve a speacial place for as he has bought many a pair of new shoes and countless bales of hay for my beast.

most fasteners will give up if you use starfish like patience and a good hand impact with a good dose of smoke.
 

Texasmark

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Dec 20, 2005
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Yeah, guys, it feels better to vent now and then. This is a great place............lots of understanding folks........well, some that do and some that don't. :%

I totally agree on the impact drive hammered device. Other than a Beryllium Copper screwdriver I had many years ago, I have not seen any "screwdrivers" with properly shaped heads for the flat blade, but this one came with 2 and the larger one would fit the OB's screws perfectly.

The other nice thing about the driver is that (mine anyway) it's nice and fat, with knurls, so you can use it for a regular screwdriver and really get a grip on things.

Problem is, I don't know where mine is and for what it's worth the previous owner dinged up the screws on the lower unit, not us.....................but ala, all is not lost. That told me that he knew where the lower unit was and obviously kept it serviced. Good for him. :love:

So my inquisitive mind is at work again (I'm told it's good for the brain to keep it exercised). Anyone know why everybody makes screwdrivers with tapered heads? I mean if you take a piece of steel and smash it while it's cherry red, why can't you smash it in a parallel plate press, rather than one with tapered plates? Only one reason that I can see and that is that parallel edges makes for a thin tip that is subject to twisting which tendency is reduced by the wedge.......but that's not rocket science.....all you have to do is make the flat part shorter. When's the last time you saw a 1/4 -28 flathead screw with a 1/4" slot in it? The lower unit screws are a case in point. I'd bet those slots aren't 1/32" deep.

---------------------
Rodbolt. Ever see an impact screwdriver that fits on an air driven impact tool? I never have but I think that would be a superior product to this hammer thing we are talking about......if the driver had parallel edges. I don't really like the hammering operation and think just hammering torque (sideways, not down and sideways) would be better. But the hammer hootus is all that I have..............when I can find it.

Back to the stat packaging. Still think that people that make things could be more concerned about getting the product to the customer undamaged. Would just take a little effort and thought. Plus the lost time and effort due to replacement efforts would save them money in the long run.

Mark
 

WillyBWright

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Dec 29, 2003
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Regarding how Merc packages their parts, MARKETING makes those decisions. Few in marketing have any clue whatsoever as to what should be included for a proper REPAIR. You think that's bad, some rebuilt powerheads come with necessary gaskets, others do not. AND THERE'S NO WAY ON GOD'S GREEN EARTH TO KNOW UNTIL YOU GET THE STUPID THING!!! I have to include an entire powerhead gasket set into the estimate to cover my a$$ or get a reaming by the customer when the estimate is exceeded because some college boy doesn't know a monkey wrench from a screwdriver.

See? We all need to vent now and then too. ;)
 

Paul Moir

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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!


Robbies (square head drive to you) use slightly tapered sockets in the screws and a straight sided driver. Works very well in that application as you don't need magnets to hold a screw on the end of one. I'm not sure what you Yank's problem is with brain damaged fasteners. :D
 

tashasdaddy

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Nov 11, 2005
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

WBW, then they want to fight you when you don't need it and want to return it.
 

ted655

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Oct 21, 2003
Messages
252
Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

:/ mmmmmm. Does "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" apply?
I just bought a '87 Yamaha 115. Went to the guys house, ran the motor, got a fair idea of how it had been maintained by what I saw while there (everything in his LIFE, neat as a pin. Autos, yard, house, Boat stored inside and well cared for, etc.).
Maybe something will break, but till it does, I'm running it as is.
 

Texasmark

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Dec 20, 2005
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Paul, share your enthusiasm on half fast fastners. Problem is, I don't make the decisions as to which type to use.

Willie, it's ok. If no one else understands, I do. d:)

Mark
 

jontoronto27

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May 28, 2007
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Boo-freakin'-hoo I have an OMC Stringer! lol
 

Silvertip

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Sep 22, 2003
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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Hey Mark -- if you are serious about a flat blade screwdriver tip that can be attached to air impact tools, check your local Sears or NAPA store. You can buy all sorts of hex, phillips, and flat blade bits that are set into a 3/8 drive socket that fits on a 3/8 drive air ratchet or rattle wrench. If that doesn't get the job done, add a 3/8 to 1/2 adapter and put that on the rattle wrench. By the way, I know exactly where both of my hand impact drivers are -- because I too consider them almost as valuable as my right hand.
 

Texasmark

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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Thanks for the tip, Silver.....tip. Grin

Mark
 

mobyjaws

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May 20, 2007
Messages
84
Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Hey TexasMark, Brownells and other shooting sports companies offer some nice flat-ground drivers and bits. I'm not sure if they are big enough for your needs but it's possible. Just a thought. MJ
 

Texasmark

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Re: Sometimes You Just Wonder Where People's Heads Are!!!

Thanks Moby.
 
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