mlbinseattle
Petty Officer 2nd Class
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2015
- Messages
- 100
Okay, so I purchased an old 15' with a '76 Mercury 850. I figured it would need some attention. I could get it to start (took a while), but it ran bad. It would idle, but dump on me as soon as I put it in gear. After the initial crank, it would take a while to get it started, again.
To begin with, I installed a new set of plugs. After further inspection, it was also obvious the carb needles were shot as it would drip gas out the carbs after pumping the bulb. Floats were shot, also. Rebuilt the carbs and double checked everything. I also installed a new checkvalve kit with diaphragm. Got it going, again, and made an initial adjustment on the Idle Adjust Screws to smooth it out. Then, the impeller appeared to quit working (nothing out of the pee-hole). I waited a minute for it to begin "peeing" after I had started it, again, but nothing. It was obviously getting hot, so I shut it off. After that, it wouldn't crank, and it appears that the cylinders are not getting any gas mixture in the cylinders. The plugs are dry as a bone and so are the top of the pistons. I'm thinking that it got hot one too many times in it's 39 years and the reeds are now shot. (At one point, it was spitting gas back out of the top carb while attempting to crank, and I read that is one indication of bad reeds.)
1) I checked compression on the cylinders (105, 110, 110, 105). I "assumed" these were okay reading seeing everything is within 10%. However, I'd like to get another opinion on these compression readings.
2) I'm debating on whether to replace the reeds and impeller or just go ahead and do a rebuild (rings, bearings, reeds, impeller, and gaskets). If the compression is okay, then I'd like to just replace the reeds and be done with it. (I'm wanting to get this thing out on water before summer is over.)
Thoughts? And thanks in advance for any input.
To begin with, I installed a new set of plugs. After further inspection, it was also obvious the carb needles were shot as it would drip gas out the carbs after pumping the bulb. Floats were shot, also. Rebuilt the carbs and double checked everything. I also installed a new checkvalve kit with diaphragm. Got it going, again, and made an initial adjustment on the Idle Adjust Screws to smooth it out. Then, the impeller appeared to quit working (nothing out of the pee-hole). I waited a minute for it to begin "peeing" after I had started it, again, but nothing. It was obviously getting hot, so I shut it off. After that, it wouldn't crank, and it appears that the cylinders are not getting any gas mixture in the cylinders. The plugs are dry as a bone and so are the top of the pistons. I'm thinking that it got hot one too many times in it's 39 years and the reeds are now shot. (At one point, it was spitting gas back out of the top carb while attempting to crank, and I read that is one indication of bad reeds.)
1) I checked compression on the cylinders (105, 110, 110, 105). I "assumed" these were okay reading seeing everything is within 10%. However, I'd like to get another opinion on these compression readings.
2) I'm debating on whether to replace the reeds and impeller or just go ahead and do a rebuild (rings, bearings, reeds, impeller, and gaskets). If the compression is okay, then I'd like to just replace the reeds and be done with it. (I'm wanting to get this thing out on water before summer is over.)
Thoughts? And thanks in advance for any input.