Re: I GIVE UP!! Can't find pee hole on 61 Mercury
On the Port side of the lower motor cowling (motor pan), underneath and outside, is a telltale hole drilled at an angle directly in the aluminum cowling.
Most times this'll be plugged up, since there's a convoluted passage at the bottom of the exhaust manifold cover where water is routed to the telltale.
You may be able to run a wire up the hole to see if it's just plugged at the end, if not the only way to fix is to pull the powerhead, remove the exhaust manifold cover and clean out the passages. Not a job for the faint-hearted, especially if it's been run in salt or alkali water!
If a fresh-water motor, you might stand a chance of getting the exhaust manifold cover bolts out without breaking most of them. A careful application of heat to any reluctant bolt will help.
An alternative would be to drill a hole at the top of the block, into the water passage, and thread for a 1/8"-NPT fitting to a telltale hose and a fitting mounted in the lower cowling. Or try drilling/tapping the cover over the spark plug holes (cyl. block water jacket cover). But it's a bit on the thin side to hold threads. Later motors have a nice 'boss' cast into the cover that can be drilled/tapped for a telltale hose. If you're looking to keep your motor original you may not want to drill holes in it.
One last thought, if I recall some motors were drilled from the factory at the top of the block, with a stainless slot-headed pipe plug in the hole. If you have one of these and can get it out, perfect place for a fitting.
Anyway, that's the Hot Scoop on the ol' Merc telltales. HTH.........ed
