suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

[EBENZER]

guys,
i was given a 87 merc 150 blackmax. Today since it was a nice day i decided to look at her really good. The compression in all 6 is dead on over 115 in each cylinder. To my suprise when i took carb cover off a nice little squirrel nest was stuck in the top carb throat. I pulled it out and vacuum it out good. When i took a flash light i couild still see some leaf particles past the carb throat,not bad but there.. i wish i had looked there first before turning her over but i didnt..She hasnt been runned only turned over to check compression. What do i need to do to make for sure she is clean past carb throat? Take off intake or what? you think she is screwed because of this? the inside looks nice and bright except for that dang squirrel crap..please help me out on this..thanks

 

[crem1]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

I would take the carbs off and soak it in solvent for a thorough cleaning

 

[EBENZER]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

thank..i plan on cleaning carbs anyway..i was thinking since i didnt know exactly how far the trash got in engine i should take intake off and inspect to make for sure since i did see a leaf past the carb blade (going into intake)..any chance anythng went further since engine wasnt running..

 

[j_martin]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

As long as the carbs are off, take the reed plate off and inspect them. It'd be a bummer to lose a steel reed just because a tree rat used it for a latrine.

From there you can see if it's shiny in the crankcase. Probably be OK. Grass and nutshells would probably go through and burn fine anyway.

my 02
John

 

[EBENZER]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

thanks J. ..most of the crap just looks like leaves.i did see one litle nutshell in there.. it would be hard for a nutshell to get past reed s anyway..wouldnt it?

 

[j_martin]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

thanks J. ..most of the crap just looks like leaves.i did see one litle nutshell in there.. it would be hard for a nutshell to get past reed s anyway..wouldnt it?

I'd be mostly concerned about corrosion starting a stress crack.

The local Johnson mechanic tells a story of an engine that drove him nuts for a month. Finally took the carbs off and looked at the reeds, and there was a petrified mouse head stuck in one of them. He still has the mouse head in a jar on the shelf.

 

[sschefer]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

Pull the intake, pull the reed blocks and clean them. It takes an hour and the gasket runs about $6.00. You have vertical reed blocks and everything accumulates at the bottom of them. You'll never be able to see what's in there unless you pull the intake.

Please don't let this happen to your engine.

Broken/Chipped Reed Example -

Scored and spun sleeve.

 

[EBENZER]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

yeah..thats what i thought ..just pull the intake and give her a good cleaning. yes you right i have vertical reeds..my concern was did me turning te engine over do any damage..once i got all the crap out it was still fairly clean past the carbs going into the reed area.So you are saying if there is anything in there it will be collected at the bottom of the reeds..thanks for help

 

[sschefer]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

yeah..thats what i thought ..just pull the intake and give her a good cleaning. yes you right i have vertical reeds..my concern was did me turning te engine over do any damage..once i got all the crap out it was still fairly clean past the carbs going into the reed area.So you are saying if there is anything in there it will be collected at the bottom of the reeds..thanks for help

It is possible, not sure how likely. I would just go ahead and remove the reed blocks and flush them with mineral spirits and then blow them out. I don't think you have to disassemble the reed blocks but you certainly do want to make sure there's no grit under the petals. Compressed air should clear anything out.
The important thing to remember is that the reed blocks don't just pass fuel they also pass lubricant and any dirt that enters the engine will shorten the life of bearings and such.
I have a certain level of paranoia when it comes to this since I've seen the results first hand. Maybe I go overboard but I don't think it's wasted effort in your case.

 

[EBENZER]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

yes..i get paranoid to..now i think ill just take intake off and give her a look. How can i tell if it did do any damage? if i take reed out where i can see inside good if there is no crap there should i be safe?.. what about taking head cover off and inspect cylinders..i just turn engine over enough to check compression..i hope she is ok..

 

[sschefer]

Re: suggestions on mercury 150 blackmax

yes..i get paranoid to..now i think ill just take intake off and give her a look. How can i tell if it did do any damage? if i take reed out where i can see inside good if there is no crap there should i be safe?.. what about taking head cover off and inspect cylinders..i just turn engine over enough to check compression..i hope she is ok..

You'll be able to see inside pretty well with just a flash light. The real threat is breaking a reed and once you get that checked you should be o.k. If you see anything horrible you would want to tear it down and give it a good cleaning but personally I don't think you will.