Thanks to All Who Helped

[TD_Maker]

Hello Everyone,
I would like to anounce the death of my 1987 Mercury 70HP Motor which was a fixer upper for me. After the motor sat for a few years, I spent countless hours rebuilding the old beast, but it was a labor of love.....gave me something to do away from the football field which kept my mind clear.

Last week I was successful at removing some frozen head bolts (manifold gasket replacement) to give me some new hope. The motor was missing "Popping" badly, and I posted a video of the motor running on you tube. Just as many of you suggested, it turned out to be a bad coil shorting out. I replaced the coil and it purred like a kitten. Timing was perfect, and the carbs were adjusted perfectly from the time I finally got her running. I decided.....after all this time..... I was finally going to put the boat in the water for a test run.

I launched the boat. I started the motor and she was peeing like race horse, and she was purring like a kitten. I checked the oil injection and the blue fluid was flowing strongly through the new clear tubing I had replaced after rebuilding the carbs. Water pressure was good. She went into gear smooth as silk. I idled out into the channel with no issues. I gave her some throttle and she sprang to life and immediately got my 17"McKee craft on top of the water and settled into a 3500 RPMs range with no issues at all. I was so happy. Lots of hard work went into this old girl, and I started thinking about the minor cosmetic issues I was going to start on next week. I cruised around for about a half hour just getting the feel (and smell of the old two stroke) and then it happened....no warning whatsoever. WHAM-BANG and the motor locked up. No horn warning, no nothing. A friend towed me in. When I loaded my boat, I opened the hood and saw a giant hole in the side of my block. Stick a fork in it....it's done.

I now have a new project of parting out this old motor. I started pulling parts off tonight. Anyway, thanks to everyone who helped me with this old motor. I certainly learned a lot about old Mercury Outboards. I still can't figure out why the old wiring rots away though! LOL

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

Sorry for the major loss. Sounds like you gave it a gallent try. I,m sunk at the feeling you have after the love, attention, and time, not to mention the money in trying to save the old girls life. May she rest in peace.(Hats off) May you find a replacement to live up to her. and may you both become the freinds that you once where with her. God bless HER Again I,m so sorry for your loss, Scincerely Maxz695

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

Thanks Maxz,
My wife says we are sick...I guess we are. However, it is sort of like a death. I rescued this motor and brought her back to life for one final ride. For just a short time, the Mercury felt almost new again. Imagine a beautiful little deer, walking in a dewey meadow, and he stops to get a cool drink of water....then BAM! Someone blows his f-ing head off. LOL. Thats how I felt after the old motor suddenly blew up on me. Bought me back to reality quickly! LOL. (Thanks to "My Cousin Vinny")

If any of you guys are looking for good parts, let me know by shooting me a note. About everything has been replaced or rebuilt over the last few months. I will be listing on EBay over the next week or so.

 

[tazrig]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

Sorry to hear about your '87 Merc. Thats really s**ks! At least you got in that one perfect last ride... Best of luck on your next project.

 

[Bosunsmate]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

hi a post mortem would be interesting

 

[Moody Blue]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

Thanks Maxz,
Imagine a beautiful little deer, walking in a dewey meadow, and he stops to get a cool drink of water....then BAM! Someone blows his f-ing head off. LOL.

That really is a kick in the you-know-what. Glad to hear you at least got one good run out of it after all that time and work. It's spirit (and parts) will live on in the running of other old Mercs.

Oh, and I know it's not appropriate to the situation but, that quote above - just too funny. Brought tears to my eyes.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

I may be pushing it here but is there any chance the block was not damage too badly and in an area where it would affect Mains. (Had to edit forgot oil injected) I may be weldable. The crank may or may not be damaged depending on where the rod broke. Just some info that may get you to take her down for and inspection and a possibility that she may have another breath in her yet. Heli Arch. I had my rear water jacket grinded and built up to even the corroded surface and the guy charged me 50 bucks. All iI had to do was bring it down level and smooth it out. Seals great now. If the bottom case is good this can be a do able repair with a replacement rod and a set of needle bearings.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

Hey Moody Blue maybe that donor engine block might be ni fair condition and compatible for parts swaping for his 70 oil injected motor. Maybe you guys are close. I kind of think you would want to keep it around in case you need it in the future though. Just a thought.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

I think someone posted to dump that autoblend ...what you have is usually the result of using one. Sorry for the loss....:violin:

 

[TD_Maker]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

Well.....I started tearing into the motor today to pull off some parts. One of the pistons came out in pieces. Literally chunks of piston were floating around, and the connecting rod went crazy and blew a big hole in the side of the block. I guess the crank shaft was ruined as well. Maxz695 mentioned perhaps Heli-Arching the hole. Unless Heli-Arch can patch a hole the size of a half-dollar, I don't think it will be possible. At this point, It is not worth saving any longer. Luckily, her exterior parts were all replaced, or rebuilt, and completely gone through, so maybe I can recoup SOME of the money I have sunk into this project.

It was weird, the engine ran normally until the very end. I guess this is what it feels like to have a sudden massive heart attack.

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Thanks to All Who Helped

I was hoping the piston might not have descintigrated. The cylinder sleeve is probaly trashed. You would be suprised how much you can build up with heli welding. The problem is expansion when heated. There lower part of the block doesn,t have near the amount of heat a cylinder head has. Normalizing the weld when finished will help the weld to become as of or close to the same (Maleculer structure?) as the original part being fxed in time. If the crank is gone the piston rod etc are trashed and the cylinder is bad then. It would be best to find a replacement short block. Also they can add a peice of aluminum cut to fit and weld it in the hole.