Mercury intake weed protections

[SkaterRace]

I have a 1977 Mercury 850 that is missing the screens that you use as a weed guard. This caused me to get weeds in there last spring which resulted in a slew of issues, one of which being that the motor overheated and needed/needs repair. I want something that I can put on the outside and keep weeds out, I know they make screens that go on the inside but I do not feel I can take it apart and put it back together myself and would rather bolt or weld something on the outside. Ideas? If no ideas, where can I get the part I need to put it on the inside?

 

[Chris1956]

The original gearcase on your motor would have had cast aluminum holes that act as an intake grid. Do you not have those?

If you have a rectangular hole instead of drilled holes, you have some sort of replacement gearcase and need to find something that fits. I would start with Mercruiser Alpha 1 intake gratings and see if they can be made to fit. They have two screws that install from the outside, holding the pair together.

 

[jimmbo]

If the case is original, there were no screens inside. Anything that could pass through the inlets holes was considered small enough to make it through the entire cooling system

 

[Bondo]

and would rather bolt or weld something on the outside.

Ayuh,.... That sounds like more problems, rather than less,....

The original has worked for 40 years, fix it the way it was built originally,...

 

[SkaterRace]

The original gearcase on your motor would have had cast aluminum holes that act as an intake grid. Do you not have those?

If you have a rectangular hole instead of drilled holes, you have some sort of replacement gearcase and need to find something that fits. I would start with Mercruiser Alpha 1 intake gratings and see if they can be made to fit. They have two screws that install from the outside, holding the pair together.

I have the holes in mine yes but they are clearly too big to do much as per my issue last year. I was thinking something like a steel mesh?

 

[SkaterRace]

If the case is original, there were no screens inside. Anything that could pass through the inlets holes was considered small enough to make it through the entire cooling system

That seems crazy to me after watching my motor overheat from a weed. I solved the issue with a wire into those holes and everyone I have talked to said it is rare that happens. But I feel as if anything that can go wrong will.