The well traveled 1979 Starcraft 18' V5 SS

Watermann

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,787
Thanks for taking a look at my recent torment. The dreaded old Merc electronics with bad wiring that on the surface didn't look so bad. I wish there would've been another way to determine what was wrong other than running the motor but seeing how well it ran all messed up has made me happy actually knowing that the old TOP will run so well so messed up. When I take her back out for another run with all new parts and wiring I know that this old motor will kick some serious bootah :heh:

Thinking that since the Merc will run 5800 RPMs with that 17" prop and for sure it had only 5 cylinders firing that things should get interesting and of course another prop will be on order with some more pitch to compensate..
 
Watermann

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,787
Alright, so I've now replaced everything fuel and electrical related on the old Merc, got tired of finding stuff hidden and wrapped up that was bad so out everything went. I got the Merc timing set at idle and WOT... then out to the door for a run on the muffs. I pumped fuel back up to the carbs and it literally turned over for 2 seconds before firing right off and never missed a beat. That sucker sounds like a top fuel dragster out the exhaust cone. The wiring looks like a nightmare but after I got into it the entire spaghetti feed on the starboard side all became simple to me and I have every last connection burned into my mind now as to where they go and what they do. I think I might have fallen in love with big brute :lol:

Only minor issue I'm having is getting the idle to drop, hopefully I can get that resolved at the launch when I adjust the carbs. I bought an inline fuel shut off petcock 3/8" diameter so I don't have to always unplug the motor fuel feed line to run it dry of fuel. This Merc loves to make a huge mess inside if you tilt the motor up with the carbs full so running it dry every time before trailering is the best way to handle that.

Test run after motor work caught on camera. :eyebrows:

 
BWR1953

BWR1953

Admiral
Joined
Jan 23, 2009
Messages
6,178
Watermann said:
Alright, so I've now replaced everything fuel and electrical related on the old Merc, got tired of finding stuff hidden and wrapped up that was bad so out everything went. I got the Merc timing set at idle and WOT... then out to the door for a run on the muffs. I pumped fuel back up to the carbs and it literally turned over for 2 seconds before firing right off and never missed a beat. That sucker sounds like a top fuel dragster out the exhaust cone. The wiring looks like a nightmare but after I got into it the entire spaghetti feed on the starboard side all became simple to me and I have every last connection burned into my mind now as to where they go and what they do. I think I might have fallen in love with big brute :lol:

Only minor issue I'm having is getting the idle to drop, hopefully I can get that resolved at the launch when I adjust the carbs. I bought an inline fuel shut off petcock 3/8" diameter so I don't have to always unplug the motor fuel feed line to run it dry of fuel. This Merc loves to make a huge mess inside if you tilt the motor up with the carbs full so running it dry every time before trailering is the best way to handle that.

Test run after motor work caught on camera. :eyebrows:

Click to expand...
Yeah buddy! Looks new and sounds awesome! :encouragement:

 
GA_Boater

GA_Boater

Honorary Moderator Emeritus
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May 24, 2011
Messages
49,038
I think all inline Mercs leak gas when tilted if you don't run the fuel out. The petcock is a nice idea, WM.

Have a good run on the water. :D
 
Watermann

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Jan 12, 2013
Messages
13,787
Had a design flaw in my livewell, without an open drain hole and only using the standpipe drain the livewell won't drain properly since the hatch is airtight. So I ordered some more livewell drain hose 1-1/8" diameter reinforced and thru the hull fitting. Unfortunately here at iboats you can only purchase it in 50' sections and I only needed 1/10th of that.

Ahem... Priority mail? I guess it would've been an okay delivery date if I lived in Alaska. :facepalm:

BTW That's a distribution warehouse not an online retailer name...

priority mail.jpg
 
GA_Boater

GA_Boater

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49,038
Did USPS miss your house? I probably did too, but not as bad as they did! :doh:

Robshose.PNG
 
P

pckeen

Commander
Joined
Jun 20, 2012
Messages
2,067
Very clean. Motor sounds as good as the boat looks. In fact, both look like new.
 
Watermann

Watermann

Starmada Splash of the Year 2014
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Jan 12, 2013
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13,787
Thanks fellas! So we hit the river at a nice sized double launch today so I could try and fine tune the carbs without worrying about others wanting in the water. The main thing with these Merc TOPs is getting them link n sync'd so they will hole shot and not fall flat on their face. We were the only ones there and when pulling out a guy was coming in to launch and said to me "hey you got a nice new boat there" my reply was "yeah thanks, it's a 1979." You should've seen his face. :lol:

Camera picked up a bunch of wind noise which makes things sound weird and noisy but here's a couple hole shots this morning. The Merc ran great for the 2 hours we spent testing it.

 
classiccat

classiccat

"Captain" + Starmada Splash Of The Year 2020
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Dec 20, 2010
Messages
3,412
Screamin' Baby! Sounds awesome through the entire throttle range. So.... I'm sure I'm not the only one wondering... Did you hit the big 5-0 with it!??? :madgrin:
 
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