80 hp Mercury.

[MTboatguy]

Well I have a guy wanting to trade a 80hp Mercury motor, he sent me some pictures, claims it is a 1968 said he does not seem to be able to find the serial number on it. My question is, none of the serial number charts I have or have looked up show a 1968 80hp. They show up to 1961, which I know this is not, it has the black hood with the red stripe around it and the thunderbolt ignition badge on the front of the hood, it has power tilt tubes on it. Every thing I can find says they didn't start back up with the 80hp again until 1969, which by the looks of it, it could be, looks about the same as my Model 110, just a lot bigger. I know there are black ones out there that have 800 on the side of them and this one has 80hp on the side of it. Did they even make a 1968?

 

[MTboatguy]

Here is the pics he sent along.

 

[GA_Boater]

4 cylinder 80's were made from 1969 to 1983 and 3 cylinders from '87 to '89.

I would make sure the motor isn't locked, looks like she's been in the weather for a long time.

Unless my eyes deceive me;



Another place to get the serial number on many of the older Mercs is and below is an 80 HP;

 

[MTboatguy]

Thanks GA, Yup it has been sitting for 3 years in the weather of NW Montana, which this last 3 years has not been nice, I will make sure and check it out to make sure it is not locked up. If I had to rebuild it, then the value goes way down, he wants to trade one of my AR-15's for it, I have over 30 of them, so it is really not that big of a deal, I can rebuild it. It comes with the controls and if I want to bump up my trade value by a hundred bucks he said he would also let me tow off the boat(oh boy) and the trailer (not excited!). I would like to have the motor, it has been 3 years since it has run, but again it has sat in the weather year around for 3 years.

 

[Chris1956]

That looks to be an early 70s model. If does not have power trim. It also looks to be pretty weathered.

It will likely need a new engine wiring harness ($100), the boat harness could be bad ($$),the control cables could be seized ($100), carb rebuild parts ($30)and possibly ign parts ($200-$400 or more), if it has good compression.


Unless you could check it over and can do all the work yourself, I would pass.

 

[jimmbo]

Looks like a 1970 or 71. I’m betting on 1971.

 

[MTboatguy]

Thanks Chris,

I will check it before I make a move and fortunately, I have a shop and the knowledge to rebuilt and do new harnesses for it, so that is not a problem. Most of the work I have done for my buddy at the RV shop the last 12 years since I "retired" (LOL) has been electrical.

It does only have the power tilt, I don't see any indications of trim on it, but I have emailed him to see it in person and will take a battery and a compression check gauge with me,.,.

Thanks for the input guys.

 

[Chris1956]

No, it has manual tilt. Those are shock absorbers you see in the picture. Power trim/tilt uses the same two hydraulic cylinders, which are connected by 4 hydraulic cylinders to a trim pump/reservoir in the boat.

That motor will lock down in neutral and reverse. To tilt it, you need to put it into forward and muscle it up against the resistance of the shocks.

 

[MTboatguy]

No, it has manual tilt. Those are shock absorbers you see in the picture. Power trim/tilt uses the same two hydraulic cylinders, which are connected by 4 hydraulic cylinders to a trim pump/reservoir in the boat.

That motor will lock down in neutral and reverse. To tilt it, you need to put it into forward and muscle it up against the resistance of the shocks.

Thanks Chris,

Anyway it ended up being a no go, so I guess it will continue to sit in his field rotting away, he got real demanding today and finally gave me a price of $400 for the motor and then wanted one of my Colt 1911 .45's if he did a trade, which I have 4 that I got while I was in the service and they are worth way more than a boat motor that has been sitting in the weather for several years.

So I will keep looking, I have a motor now, just wanted a bit more horsepower, might not happen till next boating season.

But you guys answered some questions and that help a lot in case I run into another one.

Thanks.