Tell me about this motor!

[davejohnson]

Hi from Georgia, y'all. My 2nd post. This site is awesome. Just browsing here I got so many tips from you people. I'm gonna be in here very often.<br /><br />OK: the antique wooden boat I bought on impulse this summer has a 1978 Mercury 900 (ser# 5034807) inline 6 tower. Long story, but it has sat in a slip, unstarted, for at least three years, possibly more. But it runs, and I'm determined to keep it up. I've done many of the rookie-with-a-shop-manual stuff, and feel pretty good about my ability to maintain this thing.<br /><br />I was hoping to just get a vibe from you veterans about this motor. Is it regarded as solid? Is it a troublemaker? Is there anything particular I should watch for/be careful with? Parts hard to come by?<br /><br />You input (and encouragement) is greatly appreciated. I look forward to your responses. Thank you. -- Dave --

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Tell me about this motor!

The '78 T.O.P is a common and popular motor and has no issues or problems that are unique to the HP or no of cylinders. If not started for a while, it will likely need a new water pump impeller and perhaps a good carb clean. Make sure you use fresh 50:1 fuel mix and put a set of plugs in it. Most likely, the best T.O.P person here would be Clams Canino, who specilises in them. I have found searching through posts on iboats is very helpful as problems are solved and communicated.

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Tell me about this motor!

If anything it's one of the more reliable towers because it makes less hp per cubic inch than the other 99ci blocks. Just make sure it's cleaned out and set up right the 1st time and it will live on (and on, and on). Also, if it ever blows up - the 115 , 140, and 150 powerheads will bolt on replace the 90 with no extra effort.<br /><br />-W

 

[davejohnson]

Re: Tell me about this motor!

Thanks very much for responding.

 

[andrewkafp]

Re: Tell me about this motor!

Speak of the devil... <br />and the Ruditapes philippinarum appears

 

[Clams Canino]

Re: Tell me about this motor!

Heh... It's been a "struggle" to say the least to move from NH to SC and then ramp everything back up to where it was all at.<br /><br />The Lake here is down a few FEET, my dock is on solid ground, and I have not had time to finish my own boat in favor of doing paid work. I've not set foot on a ski or a tube all season. And it's Labor Day. (sigh)<br /><br />Also, I'm on a dialup here and using HTML boards is balky. So if I'm "missing" it's not that I don't really love the community here.. it's that I'm just too busy / tired / annoyed to fight with my web-connection. Further, the phone lines have yet to reach the shop building, so my only internet access is from the house. In NH with cable modem I was connected all day - every day WHILE I worked on stuff - it made a big difference. hehe<br /><br />-W