Recent content by dOb

  1. dOb

    '75 Johnson motor lift bolts

    Last week when I pulled my boat out of the lake I looked down and saw a broken bolt. I checked my motor and sure enough one of the bolts that hold the motor up for transport had broken off. Half of the bolt is still in the mount. I managed to thread the half-bolt in far enough to get home...
  2. dOb

    manual dogs - when to use?

    My last motor was a "74 Mercury 50HP. When you shift to reverse, the dogs would automatically clamp to stop the motor from swinging out and then relese when you shift to drive. Now I have a "79 Johnson 85hp seahorse. The dogs are engaged with a handle on the port side of the motor. It...
  3. dOb

    Running battery cables

    I've done some reading but didn't find anything conclusive. Only a couple of things that raised more questions. I have a 16' deckboat with center console and 85 hp johnson motor. I will be running the battery cable from the console, under the deck through 3" PVC and connected to posts under...
  4. dOb

    Cable size?

    I am in the process of rebuilding a 1979 deck boat with an 85 hp Johnson. It has a center console. I have decided to put the battery under the console for better weight distribution. The cables will run approx 12’ feet to the stern attached to power posts. From there I will attach the...
  5. dOb

    Adding a new tachometer to an older Johnson

    I have a 1979 Johnson 85 hp Seahorse. I?m in the process of rebuilding the boat that it lives on. I?ll be adding a Tachometer to the instrument panel. Question: when I wire in the new tachometer (an after market marine tach) can I just set the pulse switch and wire it in and I?m good to go...
  6. dOb

    The inevitable 1979 16? DeckCraft restoration!

    I’m back! I never thought I’d be doing another restoration. But here I am. This past Sunday I brought home a 1979 16’ Deckcraft deck boat. She’s a little rough, but the hull is in good shape, so I’m already one step ahead of my last project. I just sold my completely restored Tri-hull. I...
  7. dOb

    too much throttle kills motor...

    ... Unless I increase very slowly. 1974 Mercury 500 (50 hp) Thunderbolt ignition Yesterday I went out with my kids. Boat in the water, new battery and plugs, starts fine. Warmed up waiting for other boats at the dock. We slowly left the dock. When we ere out in open water, I opened up to...
  8. dOb

    Sanding to remove waxed resin

    OK, I have a question. Last summer I finished my full restore. Transom, stringers, deck, foam and repairs, the full deal. For the last coat of resin on the deck, I added surfacing wax. Now I want to go back and make a couple of small changes. A pylon mount and maybe rearranging the seats...
  9. dOb

    Kill Switch 1974 Mercury 50HP Thunderbolt Ignition

    OK, I've read and read about this and thought I had it figured out. But I don't. I have a universal Kill switch. Four terminals on the back, two "C" and two "M". From what I read, I thought that I should cut into the the "White" wire behind the ignition leading to the motor and connect the...
  10. dOb

    Noise insulatiuon

    I have a 1974 50hp Mercury. I've done some work on it and it runs well but at top speed is very loud. I was wondering if there is a method for insulating the wrap around cowling to reduce the noise. It has the original thin layer of insulation covered in plastic. But that was 1974, and I'm...
  11. dOb

    From the lake to the gulf

    I just recently finished my restore of a 1974 15' trihull. This summer I'll be taking it down to the gulf coast to do some fishing with family. I've read that I should grease up all exposed parts, and flush it with fresh water when I'm done. Is there anything else I should be aware of when...
  12. dOb

    Steam? Exhaust? Normal?

    My motor is a 1974 Mercury 500 Thunderbolt 50hp. Last weekend I took my family out to cruise around the lake and look at ducks and whatnot. Anyway, we were out for about an hour and a half total. It was about 55 with sunshine and a little windier than I would have liked. About 20 minutes in...
  13. dOb

    New tach, old motor

    I?m not much for wiring and rewiring, so I have a plan to install a tach, let me know what you think. Here?s what I?ve got - 1974 50 hp Mercury 500 Thunderbolt with original Mercontrol. And a Mercury marine tachometer (2004) Here?s what I want to do ? Last summer I had installed a new sender...
  14. dOb

    1974 Merc. 50hp - Black oil from prop - Poor acceleration

    I had written in a few weeks ago about a problem I was having with my motor. I got some great advise, rebuilt my carbs, and rebuilt the fuel pump. After that I had three or four successful outings. Last week I had the boat out and everything was fine. I could accelerate with no hesitation...
  15. dOb

    Newb Carb questions!

    I?ve spent the last year or so on the resto forum rebuilding this old boat. Now I can start to work on the motor. It?s a 1974 Mercury 500 50hp. It will start on the muffs, but it isn?t very steady and it always had a really strong gas smell. The other day I discovered that gas was pouring...
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