1974 Mercury 650 - tune-up question

[fishysmell]

I've searched the forums and can't really find what I need. I am doing a minor tune-up on my 65hp mercury (serial#4048369, 3-cyl). I popped off the distributor cap and found that it had a bit too much grease and it's all over the inside of the inside of the cap. Is this a problem? Can I and should I clean it? What product should I use if I do? Can I submerse it or should I just spot clean it? There is a little pitting on the points and some carbon build up on the all the metal inside the cap. Should I try cleaning it, too?

When I have done tune ups on cars and such, I always replaced the cap and rotor, but when I look for replacements for this cap and rotor I find a $500+ price tag. So, not being a Rockefeller, I decided to try and clean them since they still look decent with no cracks, etc.

Maybe I'm over-thinking this....
All help is greatly appreciated

 

[Laddies]

Re: 1974 Mercury 650 - tune-up question

The cap will clean up good with hot water and dish soap and a brush

 

[fishysmell]

Re: 1974 Mercury 650 - tune-up question

Thank you much, Laddies. Will do.

 

[emckelvy]

Re: 1974 Mercury 650 - tune-up question

Maybe you could run it thru the dishwasher, that would clean it up real nice!!

I've had good luck using carb cleaner or similar degreasing agent to flush all the gunk out of the cap. You can do this in place without removing the wires from the cap.

A paint brush or other soft-bristled brush can be used to loosen up the 'tough stuff' that the spray won't touch.

HTH..........ed

 

[Laddies]

Re: 1974 Mercury 650 - tune-up question

Ed, thanks for the good advice. At one of the earliest Mercury Training Schools, I attended back in the 60s the question came up about cleaning caps as they were quite expensive even at that time. Carbon tetrachloride was discussed as a good cleaner for ign. parts but even then was about to be banned from the market, someone mentioned use of petroleum products to clean them and the Mercury Service Rep said, in factory tests that any petroleum products leave a residue and really did not clean the sticky acid residue that well. Mercury Marine recommended at that time the use of hot water, detergent and a brush, you do not have to remove the cap to put it in the dish washer as it is shaped like a cup if you turn it over (check sometime) pour in the detergent and hot water then clean it with a brush. Is not that hard to do and only takes a minute more than the spray can trick, I have done it for almost 50 years and never had a problem with it. I don't care if you fancy yourself a genius and use the spray can approach, is carb cleaner flammable and is there not open sparks in there? Just quit trying to belittle other info that is posted here.

 

[emckelvy]

Re: 1974 Mercury 650 - tune-up question

Laddies, I certainly appreciate the input. But Please don't think I was trying to belittle anyone with the dishwasher comment.

A good friend of mine used to wash his Small Block Chevy parts in the dishwasher, the automatic dishwasher detergent does a fantastic job of cutting grease! Of course his spouse hardly appreciated that!

Far as the flammability of any type of spray cleaner, yeah, that would be a concern, but carb cleaner and similar ilk evaporates so fast that I'd expect any explosive vapors would be well-dissipated by the time you reassembled. Maybe the way I've done it in the past, blowing the cap out with compressed air after "juicing" it with solvent, has served me well !

I've also used lacquer thinner in the past, this works well and I expect won't leave an oily residue, judging from how it'll suck the oils out of your skin!

Of course, water and soap are a lot less toxic, and more environmentally friendly. Ever try Simple Green, I'd imagine that might do a good job for this, eh?

You'd just have to make sure the cap was nice and dry on the inside before reassembling.

And Dude, I have Never "fancied" myself "a genius". Just a product of the Skool of Hard Knocks!

So Please don't take my feeble attempts at humor as a slam. Just trying to help. We all need to get along here!

V/R,
ed