engine year

[JeffM]

OK, total new guy to boating. Just bought a 1975 Glastron GT150 with 115hp Mercury. Seeing that all the brochures I've seen on the net on the old GT150 say that its spec'd for only 90hp, I'm going to guess the 115hp isn't stock. All in all the engine starts and runs well but it does have a few minor problems. Before I started describing the problems I figured I should probably find the year of the motor. Its a tall 6 cyl 2 stroke with the blue stripes on the sides. I figured if anyone knew a website that had pictures of old Mercs I'd be able to identify it. I didn't think of writing down any serial numbers, but I can get it next weekend. Anyway, if you know of a website that has pictures of engines please share.<br />Cheers!<br /><br />PS, when I can get the engine to idle properly, this little boat is a rocket! 45+MPH! Not bad for $1300.00

 

[Walter]

Re: engine year

Jeff... Your Glastron/Merc combo sounds like a really nice set up. Remember the James Bond flick "Live and Let Die"? They beat the heck out of a few Glastrons in that movie... They are GREAT boats!!<br /><br />I could come close to guessing what year your Merc is if I saw it... The first year Merc used the blue stripes was 1972 with only minor changes in graphics in '73, '74. I think in '75 they added more color and the stripes made a downward turn at the back. However, all that being what it may...the only true way to tell what year it was mfg. is by the model & serial number. Heck, for all I know it may be a 1976 150 hp with 1972 115 hp graphics.<br /><br />Walt

 

[JeffM]

Re: engine year

Wow, this website is awesome! I already found some solutions to the problems I'm experiencing. I have a feeling I'm dealing with a 1976 or 1977 1150 engine just from some other descriptions I've found. So one of the problems was stalling at slow speeds and neutral. Sometimes (especially after the first firing of the day) the engine idles beautifully at 1000rpm in neutral. Other times (when warm) engine will stall at neutral unless I lift up the idle control thingy (proper term please) to speed up the engine. Even with idle thing fully opened it lopes and will only go up to 2000 rpm. Its pretty tough to get a skier out of the water when you have to increase throttle and decrease idle at the same time (it seems throttle won't go forward with idle in forward position). Once throttle is forward however the engine runs nicely. Some posts I read mentioned that I should update the fuel pump.<br /><br />The other thing I've noticed is that when I squeeze the priming bulb, gas will leak out the carbs. Is this normal? Its making a mess of my lake and I always come back to the cottage smelling like gas.<br />Thanks again.<br /><br />I really love this boat though (the orange crush i call it). Once I get bored of talking about it, I'll let you know what a piece of crap my 90 Bayliner with the 2.3 OMC is. Anybody got a nice wooden paddle and a life jacket they want to trade for it?

 

[JeffM]

Re: engine year

Thanks Walter! One more dumb question. Any idea where I'd start to look for the serial number? As I said, I'm completely addicted to this boating thing (just bought a cottage on a lake this year) but very, very new.<br /><br />Oh, and the great thing about this boat is that the hull is in mint condition! I had to re-do all the electronics (markers, bilge, stereo etc.) but that stuff I can deal with. The engine looks incredibly clean, in fact I had a marine mechanic give it a once over (not enough to find my problems though) and he said it was in great shape. I didn't think of asking him what the year was though, I was too excited to get it on to my lake! I think I'll take it back out and have him go over it. I figured at the price I paid for it, I could put another $700 into the motor and end up with an A1 ski boat for $2000 all in.

 

[Walter]

Re: engine year

There should be an ID plate mounted on the transom bracket. If you don't see one, then look for evidence of one being there previously. Not to scare you, but sometimes the reason it's missing is because thieves remove them so the motor can't be traced. However, I've been told to look for the serial number stamped on the engine block freeze plugs.<br /><br />If you are taking your engine back to a Merc dealer...he should be able to ID everything about it for you. Just remember to ask!!<br /><br />Walt

 

[JeffM]

Re: engine year

Cool, thanks again Walter. I'll look for that ID plate. Any idea about the problem I described above? Am I on the right tract with changing the fuel pump? Also that gas coming out of the carb when I squeeze the primer bulb bothers me. Is that in fact normal? As i said, I am going to take it in to my marina, but if there's any way to avoid it I'd be very happy. Seeing that the engine runs I guess I should feel lucky after reading some of the problems coming up on this board. Maybe I shouldn't talk so soon...

 

[Walter]

Re: engine year

An expert on the inline six Merc I ain't... so I'd rather leave those questions to ODDD1, Fone_Man, Chinewalker, JB, or one of the many other Merc specialists in here... From my experience though...it sure seems that gas should not be running out of the carbs when fully primed. I'd tend to think there's a float stuck or something along those lines. However, I don't think anyone will be able to fully assist in diagnosing your problems until they know exactly what year and model your Merc actually is. Get that info and we can go from there!<br /><br />Walt