Which Service Manual

[Sailor77.7]

Here is a question for those that have rebuilt a mercury engine and have used the service manuals. I am looking at getting one of the following manuals, and would like to know which is the better manual for my particular engine.

A - Seloc All 3 and 4 cylinder models 1965 thru 1989 $30.95

or

B - 90-68647 Mercury Outboards 1966 thru 1974 $50.00

My engine is: 1969 Mercury Thunderbolt 800, 4 cylinder, 2 cycle, 80HP.


I appreciate your help in this. I am going to rebuild my engine with some upgrades and the replacement of all corroded hardware. I need the best service manual for the job. What are your recommendations?

Thanks in advance for your advice.

sincerely,

sailor77.7

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Which Service Manual

No doubt about it...the Merc factory manuals are best.

 

[renny1]

Re: Which Service Manual

i own the clymer and the seloc but dont find the seloc as informative as the clymer

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: Which Service Manual

Factory manual!!!

 

[hkeiner]

Re: Which Service Manual

I have all three manuals, Mercury, Clymer, and Seloc, for my motor. This might seem crazy but I find that each manual often has something extra to offer that the others might not have. For any given section or task, one manual might have better or more photos/diagrams while another might have better or more detailed text descriptions of the task. Whenever I do something new or complicated, I am glad that I have all three manuals to refer to so that I have the best chance to well understand what is involved. The Mercury manual, in my experience, doesn't always explain or cover subjects as well as the other manuals do (athough it usually does). If you are commited to only one manual, then of course the Mercury manual is the best choice.

 

[Sailor77.7]

Re: Which Service Manual

Thanks to all of you who have answered the question for me. I thought it would be better to get the manuafacture one but was not sure about the seloc. Just wanted to make sure.

Vr,

sailor77.7

 

[gss036]

Re: Which Service Manual

You can always check out a Clymer or Sealoc from the local library, but not the OEM. The OEM takes for granted beginning level skills and is more directed to the skilled/trained Merc tech.

 

[jebeebe]

Re: Which Service Manual

I found that to be true about taking for granted. I think the oem manual is the best though. I have a clymer and it covers too many different engines and you have to guess which schematic is for your engine. The 60 and 70 is the same except the 70 also has a different one.(2 different).................................Jerry

 

[AMD Rules]

Re: Which Service Manual

That particular Mercury manual covers a lot of motors as well, but in my opinion is a superior manual to the aftermarket varieties. Other than the occasional mention of a speciifc Merc tool part number, I wouldn't say they are written in an overly technical manner or more suited for a factory mechanic.