How serious might this be?

[Ralphy]

This is a 1975 50 HP 500 serial #414371. Im considering buying this motor but am not familiar with Merc's. Considering the following symptoms, any ideas on what might be wrong and how involved is the fix?<br /><br />"The lower unit needs new seals and the engine seems to be getting water into the lower two cylinders. I have replaced the upper and lower exhaust gaskets, rebuilt the carbs and re-worked the wiring. It starts but does not have any power and requires the spark advance lever in the up poition in order to keep the motor running. I have not messed with it for over a year."<br /><br />He also gave me Compression #'s of<br />#1-118 psi 2-115 psi 3-115 psi 4-115 psi.<br /><br />Thanx for any help/advice you can offer.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: How serious might this be?

I would not consider it unless very cheap. A 1975 "Salty" may have extreme corrosion which has penetrated the cylinder walls in which case she's toast.

 

[Yepblaze]

Re: How serious might this be?

Sorry if it's not pretty.............<br /><br />It's 30 years old.<br /><br />Sounds like a project, at best, that taken verbatim would drown you financially if you had to pay a shop for repairs. <br /><br />That is if you find a shop would take it on.<br /><br />If by leaking water in the cylinders he's referring to a leaky cylinder cover gasket dribbling around the spark plug,that's not a big deal. Unless you break off bolts during repairs.<br /><br />And if the lower unit is just drool from unburnt fuel oil mix and not actually water in the gearbox. That's not a big deal.<br /><br /><br />Then you still have to consider going through the carbs, replacing the waterpump impeller, the rebuilt crusty insulation falling off the wires, and weather there might have been another unmentioned issue (like ignition issues) that may have actually parked it.

 

[Ralphy]

Re: How serious might this be?

Thanx for the responses. It is quite cheap. A 14 ft Aquarius bass boat w/ trailer and aforementioned motor for $300, and I am definitely looking at it as a winter project. Dont know where the "salty" part came in. It is a strictly freshwater motor, not much ocean up here in central texas.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: How serious might this be?

If it is not a Saltwater motor (30 years of salt water is harsh), maybe you don't have as many problems as you think.Just going by what you wrote. "Water in the cylinders" and "Needs seals"<br />If it is more what Yepblaze said.. and it is cheap.. Perhaps worth considering.