Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

I have a 1976 Mercury Model 1150 115 HP. Serial number is: 4571131, I believe. When I bought the motor, I was told there was a power pack problem. After browsing these forums, I have read there are two types of these motors, one with a powerpack, and one with a cap and rotor. I believe im 100% positive the model I have is a cap and rotor, SOMEONE please correct me if im wrong. Anyways, I brought it home and spun it over. Nothing happened. I took the cowling off and was looking at the motor and discovered a crack in what appears to be the cover on top of the fuel pump. (dougrussell.com calls it COVER:FUEL INLET). Does anyone know what to do from here. I think im gonna take some JB WELD and put over the crack and carry it to the local lake tommorrow and try to crank it. If nothing happens i guess I will have to carry it to a boatshop.
Also, the guy I bought it from said it was running then when I got there he said it didn't run. If he thought this motor had a powerpack, then he may not have noticed the fuel problem.
ALL Help would greatly be appreciated to help restore this beauty. Thanks

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

yankees_man_20 said:

I have a 1976 Mercury Model 1150 115 HP. Serial number is: 4571131, I believe. When I bought the motor, I was told there was a power pack problem. After browsing these forums, I have read there are two types of these motors, one with a powerpack, and one with a cap and rotor. I believe im 100% positive the model I have is a cap and rotor, SOMEONE please correct me if im wrong. Anyways, I brought it home and spun it over. Nothing happened. I took the cowling off and was looking at the motor and discovered a crack in what appears to be the cover on top of the fuel pump. (dougrussell.com calls it COVER:FUEL INLET). Does anyone know what to do from here. I think im gonna take some JB WELD and put over the crack and carry it to the local lake tommorrow and try to crank it. If nothing happens i guess I will have to carry it to a boatshop.
Also, the guy I bought it from said it was running then when I got there he said it didn't run. If he thought this motor had a powerpack, then he may not have noticed the fuel problem.
ALL Help would greatly be appreciated to help restore this beauty. Thanks

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1977 Mercury 115hp Inline 6 per s/n 4571131

Your motor has the older version thunderbolt ignition, with a distributer.



That leaking fuel pump cover will cause it to have a lack of fuel. Check for spark, fix that fuel pump leak, and check compression.... hopefully you'll be all set.

Good luck.

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

Just like AMD's picture shows, you have a switchbox (powerpack). New one is about $400. Look on ebay or locally for a used if you can.

I have the same motor and had to replace my switchbox.

To test it I was told to:

The test you need is the switchbox test. It does not go in to detail here. But it is in the wiring diagram. You disconnect the trigger wires and then you put a jumper wire from the Brown to the white terminal on the box. Then you arc the black wire to ground it should spark every time. If the switchbox is good. That will mean the trigger is bad. You need to double check and make sure what wires to jump per to your switchbox #. I cant hardly read it on my monitor. It is blurry.
Go here and see if you can see what wires to jump. I think you have 332-2986 Fig B.
http://www.outboardparts.com/mercury/troubleshooting/printguide.htm

do you have 12V to the red terminal on the switch box?

do you have 12v at the white terminal when the key is turned on?

MERCURY BATTERY-POWERED CDI SWITCHBOX TEST
FOR DISTRIBUTOR MODELS


This test is for the 332-2986 switchbox used from 1967-1978 on all the
inlines.

This test assumes your coil is good (most all are).


Disconnect the mercury switch (kill switch)

DISCONNECT BATTERY

1. Turn off ignion
2. Disconnect all 3 wires on the distributor side of the switchbox.
3. Remove the HV lead from the coil to the center cap (remember it unscrews
from cap)
4. Reconnect that HV center lead to the COIL side only.
5. Position that HV lead about about 3/8" from ground (block, shrouds etc)
and find a way to hold it there.
6. Jumper the brown and white terminals on the dist. side of the switchbox
together.

Hope that helps

Eric

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

ill sell you a whole running motor for 400$ 1975 merch 115hp if you live near chattanooge,tn

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

YM, You should replace that plastic fuel pump cover, if it is cracked. It is common to many models and won't be hard to get. A dealer will likely have one in stock.

The motor you have is also very common, although a bit old. The dissy parts are getting scarse, but used parts are available. I have a blown '77 Merc 1500, which is a twin of yours, save the block. let me know if you need some used parts.

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

Any luck yet? Just wondering if you found the problem?
Don't worry if not you have plenty of help here at iboats.
Welcome, Tim

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

Well, I havent made it any further. The next day, the starter went out so I have one on the way. It should be here on April 17-18. I will let you no the progress, and hopefully if I need more help people will answer my call.
Thanks, Trey

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

yankees_man_20 said:

Well, I havent made it any further. The next day, the starter went out so I have one on the way. It should be here on April 17-18. I will let you no the progress, and hopefully if I need more help people will answer my call.
Thanks, Trey

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Don't Worry you will get all the help you will ever need here. A lot of good and smart people will be glad to help you on this site.
Good luck again. TM

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

We're still watching.....

Just be sure to reply to this thread so we can follow along.

Good luck.

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

I put the new starter, wiring harness, and fuel pump cover on it. It seems to run pretty good. When I first start the motor, it doesn't want to start on the first crank. I took some ether and sprayed it into the #1 plug and it will fire right up. If you wait about 2-3 hrs and try again, it will start without ether.

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

These motors (I have one too) may require a lot of choking and cranking to get going. Especially on cool mornings.


If you must prime it, use a oil squirt can filled with the same 50:1 fuel mix you have in the tank.

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

Thank you, it was very cool yesterday. After letting it run for a while then trying again made me think of this, although I wanted to be sure.

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

Hey Guy i have a mercury 1974 150 hp with and same electrical problem, becouse i but a book and i have same picture what you showing here. and i feger it out that is a switch box, if you have any qustions write me on yahoo rumov606@yahoo.com

Re: Desperate Help Needed with a 1976 Mercury

jims3000 said:

ill sell you a whole running motor for 400$ 1975 merch 115hp if you live near chattanooge,tn Is this motor still available?
respond please to BJTNT@Juno.com

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