Twins ready to go!

[Mbrgr1]

I just got the 1971 twin 165 6cyl Merc outdirves ready to go for my Mark Twain. New seals and impellers. I got a donor boat with rebuilt 165 engine and outdrive, it's a shame, the 1966 Fiberform 18ft was a cool boat, but the floor is trashed.

Just celebrating some progress with you all. Thanks

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Twins ready to go!

congrats... I always thought twin 165's would be sweet.. I put one in my 5500 lb 26' carver and it was a HECK of an engine for it's size

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Nice job. Agree on the 165 being a great engine. Noticed the grease zerk on the CV joint on the starboard engine. Too bad that you have to pull the outdrive to lube them. I found out the hard way that you use OEM parts on that joint if you loose one or both of them.

I had a single engine on a Starcraft alum I restored and the vibration got progressively worse the farther you turned the helm to the side. Course that restoration was a real bear as the boat was over 20 years old when purchased and had sat partially submerged in a marina for years. Service was non-existent with the PO. I had to build back quite a few surfaces with JB weld to get a suitable surface for seals and that gymbal seal was one of them.

Mark

 

[southkogs]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Congrats - the Twain's gonna' be nice when you splash it.

 

[agallant80]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Thats nice. I wish I had twins on my boat.

 

[greenbush future]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Twins just always seem better for a # of reasons, my little Lone Star came with factory twins and it was the reason I choose it for restoration. I need to get off my butt and finish the project. Chasing my future wife kinda put that and bow hunting in the back seat. I plan to go through each 1957 Johnson 35 outboard this winter. Both run well, just updating a few items.
Those motors you have should push your boat well. will need more pictures as you splash!!

 

[haulnazz15]

Re: Twins ready to go!

She's gonna move pretty well with the 165's for sure. You don't see too many 'Twains with twins.

 

[southkogs]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Sweet! One small suggestion, put new v-belts on before installing. The way the front motor mount is set up changing the belt down the road is a PITA.

A note on that - Not that I disagree, BTW: Mine is an OMC 165, and the mount is indeed right through the middle of the belt. I broke a belt this year and had to fix it. Settled in for a looooooonnnnnng process as I'm rather mechanically challenged ...

10 minutes. If that.

I couldn't believe how fast I changed that belt. Dunno' how the Merc mounts up, but it wasn't as bad on the Stringer as I was worried about.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Add to that, keep the old belts OR extra new ones around each motor mount and ziptie in place... Then If you ever blow a belt on the water you can put the other one on with little to no tools needed

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Twins ready to go!

Twins ready to go! WoW!! What memories of 40+ years ago. Twins Becky and Brenda were always ready to go and go we did often!

 

[bajaunderground]

Re: Twins ready to go!

twins ready to go! Wow!! What memories of 40+ years ago. Twins becky and brenda were always ready to go and go we did often!

lol