I bought this old 1988 17' open bow last summer cheap just to have a little fun with the family a few weekends a year. The interior was nice and overall in decent shape. I could see a lot of maintenance needed to be done but I enjoy learning new things and doing repairs and am half way mechanically inclined (I've overhauled wet sleeve tractor engines that are still running for example) so I bought it. We used it a few times last summer and put in a new water pump at that time but the real project started last fall. I'll list all I did and why. Many of the parts I found NOS Merxury parts on ebay but for things like the bellows I got new. Dont want 15 year old rubber parts.
1. Harmonic balancer....rubber deteriorated on old one to point it wobbled enough to rub on timing cover. Got a GM labeled part for about $80 instead of the Mercury price of I think over $200. Also new water pump pulley. NOS....old one got bent somehow and it wobbled. New one nice and straight.
2. Thermostat. Motor never warmed up a bit last year. Today went right to 140 and sat there. Also put in new temp sending unit but probably didnt need that. When first put cover on thermostat (using new bolts) the one hole stripped out in the thermostat housing. Found very OLD NOS on ebay for cheap. Could have drilled and tapped but new one cheap enough to not bother.
3. Adjusted valves per manual. Now a lot quieter.
4. New correct AC spark plugs. Had two different types in it before. Also new Mercruiser spark plug wires NOS.
5. New gimbal bearing...mercury sealed one.
6. New bellows and used adhesive on all as supposed to.
7. New trim sensor and limit switch. Had to bend a wrench to get to the one bolt where those wires go through the transom. What a pain. I bought the new retainer with only one bolt in it when it went back together. Much easier.
8. New shift cable from the engine to the outdrive and also put the updated seal and bushing on the upper shift shaft.
9. New universal joints. Got them from NAPA using the part numbers in the sticky here at iboats. I also had some gear oil in the bellows and found a groove worn in the yoke on the upper housing. Found a NOS Sierra on ebay and put in a new oring and seal. I pressure tested and the outdrive held 15 pounds for 30 min with me turning the shaft and shift shaft. I then deflated to 10 psi and walked away. Was still at 10psi 36 hours later.
10. New fuel level sender (old one leaked) and replaced all gas hoses including the fill hose and vent hose with marine rated hose.
11. Installed a new exhaust flapper to replace the entirely missing one.
12. Replaced the up solenoid for the trim. Had to push the button 10 times occasionally to get it to work. It would click but not activate.
13. Installed the remote control correctly. They didnt have a big enough hole drilled so the handle couldn't slide all the way on to the shaft. The neutral lock never worked and the handle was loose. Is now all correct.
I also installed a NOS magnesium anode kit that I paid $35 for and replaced the continuity kit. All the old wires were broken. I realize that for my kind of boating in fresh water neither is probably needed.
Did a few more things too like install a new swim platform and put new repair seals on the trailer axle. I put new lights and wires on the trailer last summer. I took a video of it running on the muffs today. First time running since September. As you can see the wiring is kind of a rats nest yet. I havent touched it. Everything works ok. Also please ignore the fact that the battery is not secured and covered. This was just a check in the driveway. Need to clean the greasy fingerprints off the vinyl yet and get the rest of the trim installed. Hope nothing leaks bad when I put it in the water.
I changed the oil today and filled it with 25-40 Mercury oil. Theres more I know should be done I suppose like acetone testing the manifold. However I'm now tired and broke and just want to drive across the lake. Thank goodness for information from iboats and the mercury #6manual. I'd hate to see the bill for this if done at the shop!
1. Harmonic balancer....rubber deteriorated on old one to point it wobbled enough to rub on timing cover. Got a GM labeled part for about $80 instead of the Mercury price of I think over $200. Also new water pump pulley. NOS....old one got bent somehow and it wobbled. New one nice and straight.
2. Thermostat. Motor never warmed up a bit last year. Today went right to 140 and sat there. Also put in new temp sending unit but probably didnt need that. When first put cover on thermostat (using new bolts) the one hole stripped out in the thermostat housing. Found very OLD NOS on ebay for cheap. Could have drilled and tapped but new one cheap enough to not bother.
3. Adjusted valves per manual. Now a lot quieter.
4. New correct AC spark plugs. Had two different types in it before. Also new Mercruiser spark plug wires NOS.
5. New gimbal bearing...mercury sealed one.
6. New bellows and used adhesive on all as supposed to.
7. New trim sensor and limit switch. Had to bend a wrench to get to the one bolt where those wires go through the transom. What a pain. I bought the new retainer with only one bolt in it when it went back together. Much easier.
8. New shift cable from the engine to the outdrive and also put the updated seal and bushing on the upper shift shaft.
9. New universal joints. Got them from NAPA using the part numbers in the sticky here at iboats. I also had some gear oil in the bellows and found a groove worn in the yoke on the upper housing. Found a NOS Sierra on ebay and put in a new oring and seal. I pressure tested and the outdrive held 15 pounds for 30 min with me turning the shaft and shift shaft. I then deflated to 10 psi and walked away. Was still at 10psi 36 hours later.
10. New fuel level sender (old one leaked) and replaced all gas hoses including the fill hose and vent hose with marine rated hose.
11. Installed a new exhaust flapper to replace the entirely missing one.
12. Replaced the up solenoid for the trim. Had to push the button 10 times occasionally to get it to work. It would click but not activate.
13. Installed the remote control correctly. They didnt have a big enough hole drilled so the handle couldn't slide all the way on to the shaft. The neutral lock never worked and the handle was loose. Is now all correct.
I also installed a NOS magnesium anode kit that I paid $35 for and replaced the continuity kit. All the old wires were broken. I realize that for my kind of boating in fresh water neither is probably needed.
Did a few more things too like install a new swim platform and put new repair seals on the trailer axle. I put new lights and wires on the trailer last summer. I took a video of it running on the muffs today. First time running since September. As you can see the wiring is kind of a rats nest yet. I havent touched it. Everything works ok. Also please ignore the fact that the battery is not secured and covered. This was just a check in the driveway. Need to clean the greasy fingerprints off the vinyl yet and get the rest of the trim installed. Hope nothing leaks bad when I put it in the water.
I changed the oil today and filled it with 25-40 Mercury oil. Theres more I know should be done I suppose like acetone testing the manifold. However I'm now tired and broke and just want to drive across the lake. Thank goodness for information from iboats and the mercury #6manual. I'd hate to see the bill for this if done at the shop!
