Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

[eggs712]

Last week, I acquired a Mercury 650 that came free with a boat I purchased (no title for this motor). It wasn't locked up, so I thought maybe I could get her running again. It has been sitting outdoors but under a cover for the past year with the cowling off, and consequentially it has leaves and spider webs all over the motor. The wiring is toasted as well. I'm unsure of what year the motor is, as the serial number on the mount bracket has been removed, and the motor is too dirty at the moment to find the serial on the block. All I know is that the last year for this type of motor was 1971.

After freeing up the locked down starter with some force and Liquid Wrench, t5oday I got to check compression with my piece of junk Harbor Freight gauge. Keeping in mind that the HF gauge shows only 1/2 of what compression actually is (I know this from using it on several good motors), the numbers were:
#1: 58
#2: 63
#3: 63
#4: 63

I don't have anything to stick this motor on, so I'm hoping I can sell it off for some profit. I know that I'll at least have to put a new wiring harness in it, and I can probably check spark this weekend with some jumper wires. Do y'all think that this motor is even worth restoring? I don't wanna pour money into something that I likely won't make profit on. I also have no idea if these are good motors.

 

[racerone]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

They are an excellent running motor if in good shape.----Those even compression values are a good sign.----Check for spark and see if you can get it to fire up.----------Does not need the lower unit on it to test run it.----Value depends on your local , and if the buyer can do his own work.----In many areas shops do not work on these motors.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Last week, I acquired a Mercury 650 that came free with a boat I purchased (no title for this motor). It wasn't locked up, so I thought maybe I could get her running again. It has been sitting outdoors but under a cover for the past year with the cowling off, and consequentially it has leaves and spider webs all over the motor. The wiring is toasted as well. I'm unsure of what year the motor is, as the serial number on the mount bracket has been removed, and the motor is too dirty at the moment to find the serial on the block. All I know is that the last year for this type of motor was 1971.

After freeing up the locked down starter with some force and Liquid Wrench, t5oday I got to check compression with my piece of junk Harbor Freight gauge. Keeping in mind that the HF gauge shows only 1/2 of what compression actually is (I know this from using it on several good motors), the numbers were:
#1: 58
#2: 63
#3: 63
#4: 63

I don't have anything to stick this motor on, so I'm hoping I can sell it off for some profit. I know that I'll at least have to put a new wiring harness in it, and I can probably check spark this weekend with some jumper wires. Do y'all think that this motor is even worth restoring? I don't wanna pour money into something that I likely won't make profit on. I also have no idea if these are good motors.

Was the serial # on the mount bracket removed? It is possible the lower part of the motor (from basically the mount bracket down) is from 1 motor & the power head is from another. There should be a serial number also located on the powerhead, maybe on 1 of the heads to confirm it's a 650.

Is Texas a title state for motors? WV isn't but if you want to, you 'can' list the motor's serial # @boat title, but if you do, legally the title is void when you take the motor off w/out changing the serial #, as it's on the boat's legal title as a part of the boat. So I don't add the motor serial # to the boat title.

Ohio has a separate title for Outboards?

Here has lots of parts for vintage Mercury OB's

Vintage parts are expensive. Unless you have access to cheap parts, and don't mind working basically for free. Profitable? Hmmmm, maybe if you find someone who NEEDS this year of motor for a restoration project.

Free'd & not locked up,w/ even compression numbers, if you bought it cheap, it's worth more now then when you bought it. But not a great deal. More then the scrap recycle value anyway.

Just as an example, the rotor & shaft for the distributor are @$283+/-.

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Yep, the serial number on the bracket is gone. I'll check on the block for the power head serial number this weekend when I have the time.

Yes, Texas requires a separate title for outboards. However, I've never heard of a game warden checking for a motor title. State law only requires boat registration to be carried on board, so maybe one could get away with not having a titled outboard. I also just read on the TPWD website that as of 1994, all outboards have to be titled, so it's possible that this motor may have never been titled at all. It also may have come from a state requiring no titles. TPWD's site lets you check for free the serial number of an outboard or boat hull to see title info and if it's been reported stolen or not, so I'll run the serial number through their site when I get it.

Thanks for the link. The cheapest wiring harness I've found for this motor is a new CDI one for $130 on ebay. If spark tests good and it'll run, then I think I should be able to make some money and only have to install a new wiring harness. I think it would sell for a few hundred dollars in good condition, but if the ignition system has problems, I'll just part it out because those parts are so darn expensive as mentioned. Also, there is a local shop here that works on old motors, and those guys are great.

Any opinions on my thoughts?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

My Merc has the serial number where I drew the rectangle. Maybe your's too?

http://

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

My Merc has the serial number where I drew the rectangle. Maybe your's too?

http://

I'll bet you're right on that; that'll be the first place I check, thanks!

Does anyone know about boat title laws in Texas? This motor may be good for only parts if I can't figure something about the title.

 

[jbcurt00]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

I think you will have a difficult time obtaining a title in your name at this point:
TPWD: Boat Ownership – Buying and Selling a Boat in Texas

Googled title outboard motor texas

Wasn't hard to find:

Effective January 1, 1994, all motorboats and all outboard motors must be titled. Also sailboats 14 feet and over in length must be titled.

• All motorized boats, regardless of length;
• All sailboats 14 feet in length or longer or any sailboat with an auxiliary engine(s); and
• All internal combustion (gasoline/diesel powered) outboard motors must be titled.

Purchasing Used Vessels – DO NOT purchase a used boat or outboard motor without receiving a title signed on the front and back along with a bill of sale from the person(s) listed on the title or from their legally documented representative. If a legal representative signs the title for the recorded owner(s), you must obtain a copy of the documentation authorizing them to act on behalf of the owner(s).

BTW: They also publish a list of abandoned boats & motors that have applied for new bonded titles:
TPWD: Boat Ownership  Abandoned Boats/Outboard Motors

Once published, there is a 6month waiting period for a former, titled, owner to claim the property.

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Thank you for that info.

I had read TPWD's site a few times but I missed the part about the six month waiting period for abandoned boats and motors. Hopefully the six month thing will work for me, and I'll just be patient.

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Found the serial number where GA Boater suggested; it's 3154922, making the motor a '71 model.

In TPWD's database, the motor is registered to some guy in Houston, which is 9 hours away for me. I doubt I'll be able to get a hold of the title, so it looks like I have a bunch of spare parts now!

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Eggs - Is the motor rego current, by any chance? Mostly likely it's passed through a few peeps before it came to you.

 

[mr 88]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Those compression numbers seem real low to me,what does the book call for ? If they are low than I would piece it out,as you said. As far as a wiring harness goes I would try splicing new wiring into the old wiring when you cannot just replace the whole section if you go that route

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

GA- In Texas, outboards are titled, but not registered like the boats themselves. So I have no way of knowing the last time it was actually used on a boat. It managed to make it from Houston to Austin (where I bought the boat it came with), so I agree with you that it's probably gone through a few owners.

Mr88-Those numbers are so low because the gauge I have is a piece of junk from Harbor Freight; there's a reason they're so cheap! I have found from testing two other good motors that 60 psi on my gauge means about 120 psi in reality.

Also, so I can bypass a new harness by putting new wiring into the old quick-disconnect plug?

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

I didn't remember if OB motors were registered or just titled. I had IOs when I lived in TX. You could try contacting the title holder about applying for a lost title since it's still in the system. Maybe make him an offer he can't refuse. And a little cash for his time.

 

[hotrod53]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

I have a '77 Merc 500 and I went thru what you are going thru. I see that your motor has a distributor. When I rebuilt mine after sitting for13 years is a neighbors driveway with the prop popped out, I was told that if it was a Thunderbolt, which mine is, without a distributor, it was worth putting money into. If it had a distributor, not to bother. Now granted, that's someone's opinion.

You will probably find just about anything you need on Ebay too. I bought my complete lower unit, a coil, carb kits, Merc paint and primer, and fuel pumps kits there.

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

I didn't remember if OB motors were registered or just titled. I had IOs when I lived in TX. You could try contacting the title holder about applying for a lost title since it's still in the system. Maybe make him an offer he can't refuse. And a little cash for his time.

I like the Godfather idea ! But good idea, I can probably get a hold of him through a people search or maybe Facebook.

hotrod-Sounds like you put a lot into it! How do you like your 500? I have a '77 1500 that I finally got working right, and I love that motor. It had rotten wiring and fuel issues from sitting like yours must've had too. As good as the inline 6 is, I would think that the inline 4 650 would be great too.

 

[GA_Boater]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Just plug his name into Google. You might be surprised.

 

[hotrod53]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

eggs712, in the long run it was well worth it, the motor has run pretty flawlessly. I had an issue with old needle valves swelling with the ethanol in the fuel but changed them, my wiring is original but in its last few years, I insulated it in a few spots, I currently have a minor drip from the water jacket around plug hole #1 that I'll have to deal with this year. Other than that it has started right up, has plenty of torque, and is decent on fuel. With my 16' Sylvan and 1 or 2 fishermen in the boat it sets the water on fire, with the third man it starts to struggle.

 

[gm280]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

egg, I wouldn't give up so easily in trying to contact the original owner and maybe tracking down the line of other owners to get it legally registered yet. And one other thing. If I'm not mistaken, the flywheel has a threaded section to lift the O/B off the boat and onto a stand. There is a threaded fitting that allows you to thread in a hoisting hook in the center of the flywheel to move it around. Make a stand and set it on the stand to work on. The chain you have there could mark or even break the housing. Just a thought. I would certainly rebuild that engine. It is a good O/B in my opinion! JMHO!

 

[eggs712]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Sounds like a great motor!

I agree about not giving up; I'll do my best to get the title in my name.

And yes, I definitely need to build a stand! I lacked the wood to build a stand when I lifted the motor from my truck bed, so I had to leave it chained to the motor lift momentarily. I'll be building a stand this weekend. Also like you said, I need to invest in the hook eye to lift these motors. It would actually fit every Merc that I own!

 

[racerone]

Re: Mercury 650 Worth Refurbishing?

Water covers leaking around sparkplugs is fairly common.-----Not hard to replace that gasket except on a " salt motor " where bolts might break.