1974 85hp mercury possibly froze?

scoppler

Recruit
Joined
Apr 16, 2014
Messages
1
Hello guys. I just got a 1974 85 hp mercury outboard. Has been sitting and not ran since1996. Took out the plugs on the lower unit and got around 6oz of rusty water. No gear oil. Have not tried to start it yet. I can't spin the prop in nutral. Thinking it may be froze up...any suggestions???
 

oldman570

Lieutenant Commander
Joined
Mar 25, 2011
Messages
1,615
Re: 1974 85hp mercury possibly froze?

If you cannot spin the prop with the motor in neutral then it is time to drop the LU and do some work on it. Water setting in the LU can rust and pit all the bearings and gears and this may be why you cannot turn the prop. If you do not have a manual for the motor, now is the time to buy one. You will need it to work on the LU and doing some reading before hand is advisable. Special tools to set the gears are needed on most of the older motors. Dropping the LU will also tell if the power head is the cause of the prop not spinning. JMO
Oldman570
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 28, 2013
Messages
35,927
Re: 1974 85hp mercury possibly froze?

Powerhead has nothing to do with prop spinning in nuetral or not spinning.
 
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