1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

[tgp***]

Advise please,

I'm looking at a 1969 Sea Ray SRV 190 w/ a 120 Mercruiser I/O. Owner says has not been run in years. Is the motor junk, or is it possible to tell if the motor was winerized/stored properly.

The rest of the boat seems ok for its age and could be a nice project boat, I've always been an outboard guy, no background w/ I/O's, however.

I like the boat, but not sure its worth what they are asking if I'll be replacing or rebuilding the motor right off.

Suggegestions on what to look for will be appreciated.

Thanks in advance
Between Boats in Wisconsin
TGP***

 

[searay3]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

Old boat. Rule #1. Don't believe anything the PO tells you. Start the motor. If it can't be started, it can't be verified. He should really pay you to take it off his hands. Check the transom and floors, etc, for rot. You could do a compression check, but a cracked block may not be evident even running on muffs, so a sea trial is a given. Again, hard to do if it don't run. Project boats can be fun, they can also be bank breakers....

 

[ErieRon]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

1969...

That's an old boat! I agree with Searay3...

 

[zbnutcase]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

If you really like it, pay a GOOD marine tech to inspect it, otherwise I would avoid it. 'nutcase

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

I would assume the worst and hope for the best. I bought a 1984 boat with what I thought was a 1984 engine/outdrive. It ended up being a 1971 merc. 140hp with the 140 hp version of the 120hp you are talking about. I got 4 yrs of running out of the motor when it lost a timing gear, block was bad (already bored .030, looked like a pin hole starting to form in #4 cylinder). I also sucked water when it broke the timing gear becasue the exhaust flapper was broke. Then I cranked the engine and hydralic the cylinders.
I replaced with a brand new engine, cost about $2500. Then in 2008 my outdrive gears went out in the top of the outdrive. I replaced with a sei 106 complete unit for about $1300.
Just because it is old does not mean it is junk, but if the outdrive seals are orginal they are probably bad, I would not trust the timing gears on those old engins.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

I have same boat but it is a '74 with the merc 120HP 4cyl. It is a 28 MPH boat tops and cruises well at 22-25 MPH.

Pull spark plugs, shine light down and have a look. Rust? Pitts? Etc......

Also without a doubt the points under the distributor cap are going to be corroded. Don't even try for spark, just clean them for now. Oil the cyliners with like 2 pumps of the oil can and let the starter tunr the engine over a bit so you build up oil pressure. Do 15 sec intervals, like 4 times allowing the starter to cool down 45 sec.

Run engine on muffs with OUTDRIVE IN FULL DOWN postion. NOT UP!!!!!!!!!!!

Check for leaks on the block, and most importantly the manifold bottom. Often this cracked becuase people drain the block and not the manifold.

I would say go for it, and do not pay over $900 tops assuming the engine runs and does not leak. That will leave some room for the paperwork fees.

BTW, you will hear all kinds of stuff about these 4 bangers. I will say that timing gears is what diesels use and is the most durable design you can get, and rarly do they ever fail. Possible for sure but unlikely unless other problems like cam bearings or oil starvation are present.

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

BTW, how much are they asking?

 

[tgp***]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

Lots of good stuff out there. Thanks everyone.

Going back for a second look hopefully this weekend. I'll update when I return from my mission. I will be heavily arm'd with tools and a list of things to look for.

Its nice to know I have a sounding board. My wife thinks I'm nuts.

Between Boats in Wisconsin

Thanks again

 

[Fordiesel69]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

She's right. Anyone who wants to buy an old SRV 190 is nuts!

See my sig?

 

[jtybt]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

Not sure if the merc 120 is anything like the OMC 120 but doing a 're-power' for a friend, I found out there are no longer any exhaust manifolds available for the 120(OMC) so I had to drop in a 4.3.

 

[elkhunter338]

Re: 1969 mercriser 120 is it trash??

The timing gear that broke on my 140 was not due to bad bearings. I pulled the cam shaft and no spun bearings. The gear broke under normal use at 2800 rpms because I heard the engine change noise which must have been when it skip a tooth and the timing changed then all of a sudden the engine shut off about 5-10 seconds later. The timing gear that broke was a composite gear not a steel. There was one steel gear and one composite gear. The engine prior to that burnt no oil and ran good oil pressure. The gear just broke.
Sound like an usual thing for these 4 cylinders