HELP ! My Mercury thunderbolt serial number doesn't register

[Kimberly80]

Hey y'all,
I recently purchased a project boat off cl for $200. Its a 1967 sports craft adventurer . The outboard is a merc ss Kiekhaefer mercury thunderbolt 95 hp. serial number on the transom clamp reads 2111705 but when I cross reference the number I come up with nothing... I'd like to know what I'm dealing with as fas as , knowing whats the year for parts, wiring diagrams .
Please help

 

[emckelvy]

Looks like your 950 is a 1967 model.

I have found the below-listed site to be really good for looking-up parts, very clear diagrams and parts listings, plus wherever available, they post actual pictures of the parts:

Mod EDIT: web link removed

Just remove the spaces after you copy & paste into the address bar. iBoats parses some competitors' web addresses.

Mod EDIT: please dont post links to websites that are competitiors of iboats, our gracious FREE host.

Once you know what part numbers you need, check the iBoats parts section as they do have some quite good deals on the various parts that they do carry. Other things you may find on eBay, etc. Once you know parts numbers, it's so easy to search around. Some parts are NLA and eBay may be one of the few resources available.

BTW your "SS" model should have the early form of Merc's C-D electronic ignition, which on this model was fired by a "breakerless" distributor with a replaceable trigger assy. So, if you have spark issues, it'll be quite easy to troubleshoot.

One good tip on that system is that the red terminal on the switchbox (Stbd) side has power on it all the time. The white terminal next to the red (same side) is switched, so in order to get spark, both red and white terminals must have +12VDC on them to ground, with the key in the "ON" position.

If you have spark, the best things to do to resurrect your engine would be to renew the impeller; replace fuel pump diaphragms; and clean the carbs. Plus anything else you find such as hoses & wires which are deteriorated.

The 90-cubic-inch Tower of Power is an excellent runner, with a smooth idle, and will push a smaller boat very nicely.

Congrats on your find, that's a great deal for a classic Merc on a classic boat!

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

 

[Kimberly80]

jbcurt00 Thanks for the fast reply, but they deleted the "link". Once I get my hands on some diagrams I can better understand how the ingtion system works . Most of the motor is complete , but I'm missing the box where the six spark plug boots hook up too. All the wiring insulation is rotted away.

If I start with a compression test and all my cylinders check out to be good , would it be worth while to start my "electrical scavenger hunt"? Or op for another power plant .

Thanks for the help

 

[jbcurt00]

Emckelvy posted that its a 1967 950 Merc.

I removed the link info.

On my phone, but w the year and model, you should be able to find the diagrams you're looking for.

This post will bump your topic back to the top, so perhaps you'll get more replies.

Service and parts manuals are invaluable for working with, on or running vintage outboards.

Please note that posting links to iboats competitors isn't permitted, as noted in my edit of Emckelvy's post. I dont think its unreasonable given the free forum, free usage and free help. Thank you

 

[GA_Boater]

jbcurt00 Thanks for the fast reply, but they deleted the "link". Once I get my hands on some diagrams I can better understand how the ingtion system works . Most of the motor is complete , but I'm missing the box where the six spark plug boots hook up too. All the wiring insulation is rotted away.

If I start with a compression test and all my cylinders check out to be good , would it be worth while to start my "electrical scavenger hunt"? Or op for another power plant .

Thanks for the help

The spark plug wires plug into a distributor cap, not a box. Here is a pic;



Replacement harnesses aren't available from Mercury anymore, but CDI makes new ones. iboats carries them - http://www.iboats.com/Boat-Parts-Acc...cdi%20414-2770

CDI makes replacement switch boxes, too. It looks more like a marine coil and the high tension wire (#29 in the pic) plugs into the center of the distributor cap. iboats also carries the switch box - http://www.iboats.com/Mercury-Marin...0117799--session_id.919831022--view_id.335708

Hope this helps some.

 

[Kimberly80]

Thank ga , that was a big help ,
I noticed that the distributor was inverted and in sync with the flywheel through the means of a timming belt . So this ignition system is easy for me to understand. Lol,

I'm new to the whole marine engine "thing" but had help my dad in his garage, before his passing .

I done a compression test this moring and I got 127psi +\- 5 between cylinders . But, I was wondering is there a way I could test the shifting ability ?

With all my plugs out I can spin the impeller , I can shift into neutral and reverse then back to neutral then I try forward and the impeller makes a clicking sound when i turn it . Is that normal? Safty? I'd like to keep this boat all original , but before I drop a lot of cash on used parts i'd at least like knowing its not a lost cause .

Thanks,
Kimmy

 

[60sboater]

That's propeller...impeller is the main component of the water pump in the L/U. FWD clicks CW and will not turn CCW.

 

[emckelvy]

Last edited by jbcurt00; Yesterday, 05:27 AM. Reason: We dont come to your place of business and post banners and hand out pamphlets for your company's competition.

EXCUSE ME! I AM NOT associated with ANY business and I resent the rude implication. I have been posting here for years and am just simply trying to give back with some slight amount of knowledge accumulated over the years.

Correct me if I'm mistaken, but iboats does not have any parts breakdowns for all makes & models, available on their web pages. Please provide links if you do.

How can you expect folks to look up parts for their outboard if they don't have access to parts diagrams!

In fact, you are diminishing your business by not providing that sort of info; haven't you figured out that if someone knows the part number, they just might look it up on your site and buy the part from you??

Your "application charts" are not always adequate when finding parts, it's important to have a diagram to look at.

And please, spare me your altruism, you are in business to sell parts and these forums which you "gracious"ly host obviously facilitate that goal.

You really shouldn't cr*p all over folks who are just here trying to help. There's a lot of information out there on the web, and if you can't or won't provide it here to help folks in need, you shouldn't restrict access to it.

There, I've spoken my piece, you can do what you will with it.

 

[Kimberly80]

Well said jb, I'm just going to do what I always do, and just figure out my problems on my own .