7.5 hp Installation of Saddle, Bushings

[gayle23]

I bought a 1980 7.5 hp mercury via craigslist. A previous owner obviously had been working on the engine. The 4 bushings which hold the saddle in place had been removed. I have the bushings and the e-clips. When I install the bushings, they will stay within the holes of the saddle, but do not want to stay attached to the body of the motor itself, in fact, the saddle actually flops around. It looks like there was once glue on the the motor-side of the bushings. Should I attach that end of the bushings with a marine glue? If not, I don't really understand how the saddle stays in place. I am confused.

Thanks much for your help.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: 7.5 hp Installation of Saddle, Bushings

Do you have good, new bushings? Not sure how they can stay in the saddle holes and not stay in the detents in the exhaust housing. If the bushings don't reach the exhaust housing then you have the old ones that are sheared off. You need new ones - they're deeper and seat in the detents in the housing. The bushings are a one-piece made up of two parts - a metal and rubber combination. They will shear where the metal meets the rubber. If your bushings lack one or the other parts, they're shot...