a couple of mercury dinosaurs

[mred 2436]

hi ya folks! i just came into possesion of a couple of mercury outboards. i am not a mercury fan, so i do not know squat about them,and these are antiques!<br />one is a kiekhaefer mercury model mark 10, serial no. 1064894. is this a 1948 engine?<br />the other is a kiekhaefer mercury model mark 30 turbo four, serial no. 1023831....1938?<br />i am interested in the mark 30, to use, and possibly, to keep as a collecters item,as this motor is in extremely excellent condition!<br /><br />any and all info y'all could give me on these would be appreciated. i don't want to invest any time in them, unless i feel they are going to be worth it. both these motors ran before they were put into storage. they have been kept clean and mouse free for fourty years!

 

[JB]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

Hey! Watch that "dinosaur" stuff, Mred! <br /><br />Neither of those engines is as old as JB, and we all know he is a youngster.

 

[mred 2436]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

i'm laffing my butt off JB !!do ya know anything about these "fine pieces of art" ??

 

[JB]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

Like you, Mred, I am no Mercspert, but I do remember my 75 year old fishing buddy getting a brand new green '48 Merc 5hp to push our home-made jon around with.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

Hi Mred,<br /> Your motors are indeed classics of the best kind, although I'd choose the Mark 30 over the Mark 10 for general use. Both of your motors check in in the 1957/1958 era. Mercury numbered their serials sequentially, so the 1064894 is the 1064894th Mercury made, and so forth. However, they were very picky about letting serial number information get out to the public, and were known to "skip" blocks of number to make it seem like there were more being built than there actually were. You'd have to understand their founder, Elmer Carl Kiekhaefer to know why. <br /><br />Back to the motors. Get yourself a manual - the 1965 and prior Mercury manual is still available through Grubb's Marine at www.oldmercs.com. It'll be the best $40.00 you can spend on your motors. The Mark 10 has an automatic transmission which when it worked, worked wonderfully, but made simple tasks, like changing a water pump impeller, very difficult. The Mark 30 had a powerhouse of a powerhead that loves to rev, but it's mated to the 20hp lower unit and there were some longevity issues there. It works fine, but won't take a ton of abuse. If it has a bronze prop on it, save it for show and find yourself an aluminum wheel for go. Prop it to spin about 5500 at WOT and you'll be good to go.<br /><br />Fuel pump kits, water pump impellers, carb kits, ignition components, timing belt, etc. are all available still. Working on the Mark 30 magneto might require a colorful vocabulary, as it's a bear to remove from the tower - but not impossible.<br /><br />Have fun!<br />- Scott

 

[mred 2436]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

chinewalker : thanks fer the reply! yes, it does have the bronze prop. however, i don't have any extras at this time. i believe the ten is going to end up on a boat i'm getting ready to sell, and the buyer can figger out what he wants to do with it!!<br /> do ya happen to know what the gas/oil ratio might be. i'm thinking it would be 50 to 1, but i have encountered older motors at 32 to 1 or even 16 to 1.<br /> i may end up putting the 30 on a 14' run about! WEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!!

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

www.oldmercs.com or you could just give em to me, i have been trying and collecting old mercs for some time now.......

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

24:1 would be a good bet on the mix...

 

[mred 2436]

Re: a couple of mercury dinosaurs

thanks rick...that would probably be as good a guess as any.<br /><br />phatmanmike....are ya serious??? mebbe we could work out a trade!!!