Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

[mercuk]

Hi all,
Just a quick one concerning all the small engined kiekhaefer's of around the mid 60's. Basicly for some reason the inlet side of the engine block and all the ones I have get hot. I mean like real hot after 5mins of running in a tub of water I can't put my hand on the inlet side of the block. Bizarly enough, the impeller is new, the exhaust cover stays nice and cool and there is a nice steady stream out off the pisser.

Do they all seem to get pretty hot on that side or is the a water coolant passage blocked inside the channels?!!
Anyone with experience with the older kiekhaefers please, please let me know if this is normal I do I have to start thinking about getting apart to clean out water ways.

Many thanks in advance guys.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Hey bud as you probably know (cause youve given me advise on it) I have a '77 4.5hp, and when I run it in a bucket (cause it wont take muffs) it seems to get a LOT hotter than when it is out on the water. But, I can touch it for a few seconds. Did you just change the impeller? Do these motors have a flush valve like mine does? If it does try that and see if you still get water flow.

 

[mercuk]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Thanks for the reply. I also seen elsewhere that the older motors do tend to run a bit hotter. But I suppose I can touch the manifold side of the block for a few seconds before it gets hot...

The Flush is not a valve as such but just by-passes the main cooling channels within the engine to flush salt/crap out etc. On my one it is bunged up with crap but it shouldn't make that much difference anyways as long as I have a good tattle tell coming from the engine.

Its just bizare becasue I know the latter Mercury's I have i.e late 70's mid eighties dont seem to suffer from this issue at all....

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Well one thing to consider, you will save yourself a lot of time and headache if you just bit the bullet and got an infrared surface thermometer. I got one for just under $30 at radio shack. That way you will KNOW what the temp is. I have a sweet little 2cyl. 4hp Johnson that had an issue cooling just the bottom cylinder. The average idiot wouldn't have paid attention to it cause the tattle tale was flowing(which in this motor, is just water out of exhaust tubes), but the water outlet at the bottom of the block was clogged and didnt allow adequate flow down there. Anyways I had to take some covers/head apart, clean the channels and change gaskets, she reads 145.6 on the thermometer now at idle in both cylinders......

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

The Flush is not a valve as such but just by-passes the main cooling channels within the engine to flush salt/crap out etc.

And I call it a valve because all a valve does essentially is open and close flow, just like a water spigot, but in this case it is a screw.

 

[solracmd]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Hi All, I just picked up a 1970's Mercury 6hp twin and was hoping you could help me diagnose its overall operating condition. I checked spark, compression, fuel and everything was doing good. The engine looks like it was well kept (other than paint flaking off). I got it started with relatively low effort and was tryin to confirm if it is cooling fine. My main question revolving operation is centered around cooling. How can I tell if the impeller is not functioning and/or if channels are clogged. Unfortunately, i am not that familiar with outboards. I see the exhaust hole (pisser) and was not sure if should expect to see water coming out .... sorry for the basic questions .... just trying to learn .... thanks in advance

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Water should be coming out of that hole. If not, and thie impeller is new, many times the input line (behind the exhaust cover) comes loose from the block. And BTW, you should start your own thread from now on.

 

[solracmd]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Pete,

Thanks for the quick reply. Since the topic you guys were discussing was so close to mine I figured it was ok to add on. I will start a new thread. I am really excited to use this engine and just tryin to take every precaution on its use and maintenance. PS. Water was coming out of the exhaust tail just not that much when idiling... did not know if that was normal ..... also, possibly gonna pull that flush valve/screw out and see if water comes out smoothly based on what you guys were discussing.

 

[sutor623]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

If you are flowing water, then cool. I have noticed better water flow after an impeller change. I change all of my impellers every spring, it is a 10-20 dollar part and a forty five minute procedure that can save you BIG in the end.

 

[solracmd]

Re: Mid 60's Mercury/kiekhaefer small engines- 6hp,9.8hp

Appreciate the feedback Pete ... I will be covering further questions and notes on my new thread .... specifically on oil and impeller change .... yes, I am definitely a greenhorn with this stuff