Damage to Motor

Streaker · Jan 24, 2004

Hi, I have a 85hp Mercury Blueband Outboard. Yesterday I was towing the kids around on the ski biscut, when I heard this rather loud bang. It still drives forward and reverse, and the gear box appears to be ok, but there is a slight knocking sound and vibration. On taking the boat from the river, I noticed that the protection fin on the very bottom of the motor has been broken off. Also when I turn the s/s prop around by hand, I notice that there seems to be a buckle in the lower shaft, as the prop moves up towards the motor by about 2-3mm and down again, infact there are some score marks on the prop. Does this sound like I have bent the shaft that goes to the prop? Can I replace the bottom leg easily? Also, does anyone know what year my motor is. It was manufactured by Mercury Australia. Serial Number: 8007866. Someone thought it was 1978. Any help would be much appreciated. Regards Darryl

andrewkafp · Jan 24, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Sounds like you may have hit a submerged log or something to shear off the fin. Also sounds like the prop is bent. Try another prop on the shaft and see if it runs true. Check L/U for water intrusion. That 8007* no is an Aussie S/N.. My 1981 is 8055*. Your's sounds like 1978. Does it have one or 2 tones of blue on the bands ? Does it have the "85" in red ? Does it have CDI (coils) or distributor? What state in Oz are you from ? Tradin answered your question correctly as he has a nice '78 http://www.iboats.com/cgi-bin/ubb/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=29;t=010066 Tradin's '78 http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/003902-big.JPG http://www.myfishingpictures.com/img/003903-big.JPG

Streaker · Jan 24, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Hi uNiCoRn Thanks for your reply. I live in Shepparton Victoria. I was skiing on the Murray River. To answer some of your questions. It has two blue stripes, both the same tone of colour. It has 85H.P. in white. It has distributors I think. See 3 pictures I just took. Pic 1 Pic 2 Pic 3 I notice Tradin's has Mercury written on the front in a square box, where mine has thunderbold Ignition and Mercury written in an oval box. If you think it may be a bent prop, why do I get a knocking sound when in gear and moving, but dont get the sound by spinning the prop manually? How would I go about replacing the fin? Can I get one made? I thought it may be cheaper to look up a wrecker. Also how do I go about checking the lower unit for water. I see there is a screw with flush written on the leg. Thanks for your help. This is my first boat and motor. Darryl

gregmas99 · Jan 24, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Well Darryl, That gearcase is stuffed, I aggree with Unicorn, you have hit a submerged log. Did the same thing to my 200 a couple of years back skiing the Murray at Echuca, fortunately I only damaged the casting not the shaft, picked up a second hand housing and rebuilt it myself. Even managed to get the insurance to pay up on the damage!! The gearcase is easy to get off, and you should be able to pick up a secondhand one at a reasonable price. If I recall rightly there is a guy who wrecks outboards in Echuca. If not you could try Golden Seal in Mordialloc or Neon Marine in Clayton, there is also a crowd over in Ringwood but I cant remember there name, if your stuck I will look it up. (BTW UNICORN which part of Oz are you in?) Greg

Streaker · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Hi Greg, Yeah, me thinks I hit a stump too. I had been up and down that stretch of river for 5 days with no problems, then bam!!. Must have got a little bit too close to dem trees. DOH!! I will call those companies tomorrow when public holiday is finished. Can any one confirm the year of me motor. Its just that it looks totally different to Tradin's motor, and I wanted to be sure before the guy from the wreckers asks me. Do I just ask for the lower unit or gearcase???? Regards Darryl

gregmas99 · Jan 25, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

I would say yours might be a year or two older, somewhere between 75 and 78, just ask for a lower unit, they will probably want a core exchange, so you will have to tell them that the skeg is snapped off, but be sure to let them know its not seized.

andrewkafp · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Guys I am from Melbourne. The Aussie S/nos are hard to trace (Not listed) but I see that is earlier than Tradin's. Distributor means older than 1978. USA S/N 4141000 - 4357639 is 1975. There is a site called http://www.marineparts.com/ which has a serial group list and it lines up USA no's with Aust It says USA 4357640-4576236 lines up with Aust 8030090-8042699. 4357640 was the first 1976 motor so yours could well be 1975. To check for water.. loosen top screw. then loosen bottom screw and let some oil drain into a glass. If it is milky white or water comes out (sinks) It has water in it. Don't forget to top it up. BTW ..hang around here at iboats and you will become VERY conversant with OB's and boats. I have only owned one for 1 year.

Someone on here will pinpoint the year from your pics.Geargase does not look healthy.

Streaker · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Thanks uNiCoRn and Greg. I rang around all the Marine Wreckers and they told me for a second hand gearbox is between $800-950 and between $ 1500-1700 for a reco unit depending on which wrecker I was talking to, but none of them has one. I have managed to find one at M & H Marine in NSW. It is a fully recoonditioned gearbox with 4 months warranty for $800. And the local marine shop will fit it for $80. This was a lot more than I first thought it would cost me, but pricing around, I think I am getting a bargin. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Regards Darryl

andrewkafp · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Sorry to hear that your L/U is dead.

The Murray has probably killed quite a few motors at low level. OB parts are not cheap

but considering that a propellor alone can cost $300 -$ 400 AUD and a switchbox for a 4 cyl Merc is nearly $400 AUD. $800 for a Reco unit is cheap. Some positives.. 1. It will have a greased shaft for easy removal next time.2 It won't leak water into the L/U (Seal replacement is app $400) 3. It will have a new waterpump. 5. It will have a straight fin and no corrosion.

BTW 85 hp (850)4 Cyl was made from 1963-1977 Look here http://www.marinshopen.se/ It's in Swedish, but follow the make and HP .

Streaker · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Thanks for all your help uNiCoRn I ordered it and will be here Thursday. Fingers crossed all goes well. Many Thanks Darryl

gregmas99 · Jan 26, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Good news on finding one, you might want to try Outboard Parts Recovery. 29A Metropolitan Ave. NUNAWADING VIC 3131. Tel 03 9878 6222 Fax 03 9878 6113 They were the ones I couldn't remember the other night. However I would say that $800 for the reco unit is pretty good, I paid about $200 for a bare casting when I did mine plus the new pump and seal kit etc. And its got a warranty which is a bonus. If you wanted to save a few bucks you could fit it yourself if your handy with a spanner, its not hard, should take you less than an hour, however you will need a set of tube sockets. Greg

andrewkafp · Jan 27, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Outboars Parts recovery.. That's Rod.. He actually works from The Basin and has a good repution as a Merc repairer.

jim dozier · Jan 28, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

I for one am concerned about the people you are towing over submerged logs

Hooty · Jan 28, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Yeah. What if it wasn't a log. What if it was of of those Australian Crockagators or somethin'. c/6 Hooty

andrewkafp · Jan 28, 2004

Re: Damage to Motor

Crikey Maaate... We "LOVE" our crocs here...

Damage to Motor

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