Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

NJCinMN

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Jun 4, 2008
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86
Had a 1969 Merc 1000 but #2 piston melted. Considering repairing myself but found a pretty decent deal on 1972 1150 with tilt/trim (Merc 1000 was manual and was considering looking for power tnt before melt down). Know my way around the Merc 1000 pretty well, any thoughts, advice, or issues to be aware of with the '72 1150?
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
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Mar 25, 2004
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27,036
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

That motor is a standard design, except the battery-distributor ignition was phased out in 1978.

Note: The rotor inside the distributor cap is non removeable from the shaft. The trigger is non removeable from the dustributor body. Each of the replacement parts for these is $200+.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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May 19, 2004
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27,468
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

If you know your way around the 1000, then the 1150 will not trouble you... Basically the same engine. Bigger carbs and power ported pistons are the main differences.

Chris........
 

horsefly38425

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Mar 8, 2003
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204
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

The 72/115 's are bad A__S motors if it's in fair shape BUy it
 

daveswaves

Ensign
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Mar 22, 2002
Messages
901
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

If you know your way around the 1000, then the 1150 will not trouble you... Basically the same engine. Bigger carbs and power ported pistons are the main differences.

Chris........

Actually Chris, his 72 will have non power ported pistons.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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May 19, 2004
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27,468
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

Actually Chris, his 72 will have non power ported pistons.

That's right, it's the 150 that has power ported pistons. The 115 had the scalloped transfer port...

C.......
 

NJCinMN

Petty Officer 3rd Class
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Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

Well...I took the plunge and bought it. Good price, included decent prop, controls with trim buttons in throttle, and t-n-t pump. According to serial tag turned out to be a 1971. Great shape and got it mounted this weekend. Only thing I found wrong is that lower swivel bushing has about a 1/16th to 1/8th inch play but can't imagine that to be a major concern. All tunning is spot on...of course haven't had it running out on the lake yet, which is always different for some reason, fingers crossed.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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27,468
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

...Only thing I found wrong is that lower swivel bushing has about a 1/16th to 1/8th inch play but can't imagine that to be a major concern. ....

That's normal... They are even like that new...
 

Jacket4life

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 22, 2010
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382
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

Lucky guy. That's the motor I am looking for. Lot of these engine guys claim that motor has the best power-to-weight ratio ever in an OB motor.
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
Joined
May 19, 2004
Messages
27,468
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

Lucky guy. That's the motor I am looking for. Lot of these engine guys claim that motor has the best power-to-weight ratio ever in an OB motor.

That's a 115hp he's got. The engine with the best power to weight ratio is the same engine but configured for 150hp...

If I could find a good one (150hp) I would rebuild it with the ADI (late 115hp) ignition system. THAT would be a great engine. :D

Chris.......
 

Jacket4life

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Apr 22, 2010
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382
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

How would I know one if I saw one? Is it badged differently? Or are you saying ppl modified them? I'm confused (happens to me a lot!):D
 

achris

More fish than mountain goat
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27,468
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

The Merc 1150 is a 115hp, a Merc 1500 is the 150hp....
 

72searay190

Cadet
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Mar 21, 2009
Messages
9
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

I have a 1976 Mercury 1500. I fogged it last time I ran it and put it in the barn because I was going to replace the floor of the boat - stripped the interior of the boat and wound up unemployed... 14 years later, I am financially ready to tackle that unfinished project. Um, 14 years is a LONG TIME. Do you think I will have any problems starting the engine again? What precautions would you do / take before trying to fire it up... I thought of pulling the carbs off and going thru them again, Definitely change the impeller (again)... anything else?
 

arsenalpsu

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Dec 1, 2008
Messages
290
Re: Looking at buying 1972 Mercury 1150-Thoughts?

that should be a new thred my friend....

and a note on the 140 hp, "In late 1979 mercury did away with the distributor ignition and went with the modern ADI ignition. In 1982 they re-rated the powerheads to "propshaft HP" as opposed to earlier "crankshaft HP". The old 115 was called a "90" and the 140 became the "115"." this is thanks to clams....http://members.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewUserPage&userid=clams_canino

SO depending on what year you get, you're looking for the 140 or after 1979 a 115.
 
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