vintage mercury question

[Lostfisher]

i have an opprotunity to get an old merc 5 I am not sure on the year but I know it is old. I am guessing 1950's-40's. I think the shifter might be in the front of the motor, how would I know. I know mercury made some with the shifter in the front and they are collectable, but I have never seen one.

 

[Lostfisher]

Re: vintage mercury question

I forgot to add it is a Mark 5

 

[aganser]

Re: vintage mercury question

Mark 5 motors were made in the early - mid '50's. They used a neutral clutch with a lever on the top handle that popped up. You spin it around to reverse the boat.

Make sure you check the lower unit for any cracks. They had weak seals and water would get into the lower unit and freeze.

You can also get more info here:

The Antique Outboard Club Website: http://www.aomci.org/

Or John's Old Mercury Q&A Website: http://www.pfs-ware.com/phpBB3/

Good uck!

Bob

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: vintage mercury question

To add a bit more to Bob's good comments, the Mark 5 (and it's similar sibling the KF5 Super 5) were probably, pound for pound, the strongest 5hp motors ever made. On light hulls in class JU (Junion Utility) racing trim, some of them were nudging the far side of 25mph!

 

[aganser]

Re: vintage mercury question

Cool picture Scott, I forgot about that.

Also I bought Peter Hunn's book "The Golden Age of the Racing Outboard", Low and behold right on the cover is a line of J class boats with KF5 or Mark 5 motors on them.

I tried a KF5 for the 1st time this past summer. Sweet motor!

 

[Lostfisher]

Re: vintage mercury question

I checked her out today it is hard to pull her and the lever for highering and lowering the speed is stuck

 

[aganser]

Re: vintage mercury question

Hard for me to evaluate without seeing myself but it might be worth saving if you can get it at a good price. They aren't rare motors but one that is complete (including the lower cowls) and looks decent is a good find.

At minimum it may well need coils, an impeller and a carb rebuild kit (all available) but you're looking at +/- $150.00 for all that.

Maybe you can post a picture and ask questions either at the Antique Outboard "Ask a Member" site: http://www.aomci.org/cgi-bin/yabb2/YaBB.pl?board=askamember

or John's Old Mercury Q&A board:http://www.pfs-ware.com/phpBB3/index.php?sid=4f5a5a653aba9ef39d4a494ddeb3ac54

These guys know way more than I do.

Bob

 

[Lostfisher]

Re: vintage mercury question

I was mistaken it is a super 5 not a mark 5. thanks for the sites. Im learning slowly but surely. I am also a member of aomci. But the guy that got me addicted to collecting mottors is a johnson/evinrude guy. here is an image

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: vintage mercury question

If it turns over, but is hard to turn over, it may just be dried out inside. Some light oil in the carburetor with the motor on its back may help. Remove the spark plugs and pull the motor through a few times to work it in. If it sounds noisy when pulling over it may have bearing issues - not the end of the world. Most internal bearings are still available and a partial rebuild of bearings and seals on the crankshaft might get it ready for another 60+ years... Also, as mentioned previously, lots of this style motor had bad lower units, so finding a good powerhead isn't hard. A Mark 5 short block will fit on the KF5.