mercury KE-5 motors?

[jbjennings]

I'm curious......I like the looks of the old mercury KF-5's 5-hp and I'm slightly considering buying one. Are they reliable motors? How about changing water pumps and cleaning carbs? Are the parts still available? Do you have to have special tools like on the automatic tranny mercs? How about prices on ignition parts if they are available? Or, is one of these basically for a merc collector that knows what he's doing like most mercs are?
Thanks for the info.,
JBJ

 

[Laddies]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

I guess I have never ran into a KE-5 the KF-5 engines were great runnig little motors, today the problem with them is like some of the early Johnsons they used a sping shift for netrual and they have been NLA since the 50s most every thing else is available here. http://www.eastcoastmarineservice.com/contents.html

 

[Laddies]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

Sorry I missed the update JB I am a very slow typer--Bob

 

[jbjennings]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

Laddies,
So it's a no-reverse, but has the neutral selector shift? Is this neutral spring an item that goes out a lot, or is it just a matter of when it goes out it has no more neutral but still runs in forward fine? What does a fellow do--can he make his own spring? If I can pick your brain a little further, does it require special tools for the water pump?
thanks Laddies, I highly value your opinion on Mercurys!
JBJ

 

[Laddies]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

To answer your question, the spring is a drive spring and to release the spring for neutral small lever is moved by a cable that is attached to the top lever on the starter housing, you push a button on the front of the housing and raise the lever which causes the small lever at the the spring housing to engage the end of the spring and the shaft rotation unwinds the spring to release it for neutral. As far as needing special tools for the pump you do not it disassembles differantly but I could PM you the pages out of a manual if you need them.

 

[Chinewalker]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

THe KF5 does NOT have neutral clutch. That was a feature of it's next incarnation, the Mark 5. The KF5 is a direct drive motor, impeller on the propshaft.

The KF5 is a great little runner. VERY peppy for a little guy. Will plain off a 12-foot tin can without a problem. They even used them for racing back in the day - getting over 25mph on a 9-foot utility hull!

Once the basics have been done (igntion, carb, waterpump) you should expect decent reliability for a 50+ year old motor.

- Scott

 

[Laddies]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

My mistake they are listed in the same parts book but one is a neutral shift and the other a direct drive engine I should of checked further--Bob

 

[jbjennings]

Re: mercury KE-5 motors?

Alright, you talked me into it, may have to make an offer on the little rascal.
Thanks for the info,
JBJ