Damaged Horizontal Fin on Outboard Motor - General Question (newbie)

[kaempfe]

I apologize ahead of time if I am posting in the wrong forum. I was trying to find a way to ask a large audience for advice rather than just asking questions about my specific Mercury motor.

In dropping the lower unit on my Mercury outboard, I accidently chipped off a small section of the smaller fin on the lower unit on the front (opposite side) of the prop.

Can I use the motor as is? What kind of performance issue will I experience? I have a quote on welding it but some people told me it was more risk than it was worth

See photos attached.

Thank you
Scott

 

[cribber]

Re: Damaged Horizontal Fin on Outboard Motor - General Question (newbie)

You should be okay as long as it didn't crack the gear housing. Otherwise it might pull to one side a little more than normal. I'd still see if it can be welded back together from an aesthetics view.

 

[oops!]

Re: Damaged Horizontal Fin on Outboard Motor - General Question (newbie)

a good alum welder can fix that with out taking the lower apart......usually they find a way to keep the temp down while welding that or they will melt the seals ....you should be ok there.

unless there is another crack in the lower unit......you can run it like that indefinitely with minimum loss of performance

 

[kaempfe]

Re: Damaged Horizontal Fin on Outboard Motor - General Question (newbie)

Thanks.

I know oops said that a good welder could do it without taking the lower unit apart but do you think they could do it without dropping the lower unit, again. It is not that big a deal. Just more of a question.

Thanks!

 

[5150abf]

Re: Damaged Horizontal Fin on Outboard Motor - General Question (newbie)

I am an aluminum tig welder and yes I could weld that without taking the lower off again provided that you have the other peice, there is alot of metal there and if done right it shouldn't melt any seals.

It is actually better not to drain them as the oil makes a really good heatsink and you weld cast at a very low temp anyhow.

Make sure all the paint is off of it and sand the facing edges before welding and don't cool it after you are done, just let it cool on it's own.

Make sure you disconnect all batteries before it is welded, I welded a new skeg on my engine and smoked the ground wire from the motor to the key switch because I didn't, if they are disconnected you won't have a probelm.

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: Damaged Horizontal Fin on Outboard Motor - General Question (newbie)

That break (as long as it does not have any extending cracks to the gear case as mentioned above)is not going to harm your performance. Yes it can be welded easily ......... I suggest you wait out the season and put that on your list for off season maintenance