Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

[Smig]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

I recommend having two, the factory service manual and one of the aftermarket ones - take a look here on iboats for aftermarket and at oldmercs.com for factory. I actually found both of mine on ebay.

I also have parts lists, but only because I found them for a good deal. Most of the parts can be found on the web sites mentioned earlier in the thread.

You can also look on themarinedoctor.com, there are a few videos there. I am sure there are some others out there also, so search around and you will find a lot.

Smig

 

[tmcalavy]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

Smig's right...check the auction site for a Merc factory service manual, or the www.oldmercs.com site. I still have the factory manual for my 73...why? I don't know...guess I'm hoping to come across another one someday. Invaluable reference for stuff the Seloc manuals don't cover too well.

 

[gonelong]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

OK, got the impeller repair kit and managed to get everything pulled apart and the new impeller/gaskets installed. I have some pics I'll post with a write-up next week (along with pics/write-up of bleeder hose/connector). It turned into a 3 hour job or so, but much of that was cleaning out the upper housing. We could have had it done in 2 hours easy. I could do it again by myself in less than an hour if I had to do it again today.

The old impellers was in pretty bad shape. It had melted a bit and I had to clean out the upper housing as it had melted onto the metal. The upper and lower housing seemed fine, so I think I am good to go. This took about an hour as I had to soak it a bit, chip a bit away, soak it some more. I'd have put a new one in, but no one has one in stock at the moment. I'll probably get a new one and install it in a few weeks.

The only thing left to do is put back the lower unit oil. Of course, I have no idea how to do that either! Ha Ha. I am assuming I don't need anything outside of a funnel to do so. I am also assuming I can put it in either the draing plug or vent screw hole depending on how I have the motor situated. I'll do some seaching here and refer to my manual.

If I would need any kind of special tool or hose, please let me know and I'll be able to stop by the place on my way home tonight and pick somethign up. I might anyway as I am thinking of putting in new oil anyway.

Thanks for all your help so far!

GL

 

[pepinfish]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

hey..u want to take all three plugs out to fill your lower unit at least my 850 merc has three plugs..anyways after you get plugs out you want to fill from the bottom plug hole i use quart jugs with a palstic nipple that you screw onto top of quart jug..most hardware stores will have the nipple for a dime..you fill it from the bottom till the fluid comes out the second plug hole showing no air pockets coming out of second hole then quickly put your finger over second hole and then remove quart container on bottom hole and install bottom screw..make sure you keep filling till all air pockets are clearly gone coming out of hole #2..
good luck..

 

[pepinfish]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

hey.. i should have said that you want the motor level in vertical position when you fill the lower unit..and the reason for making sure all the air pockets are out is to make sure that unit is full..also when air pockets stop keep squezzing jug till u get your finger over second hole then pull jug out..you dont want vacume to suck fluid back out..
good luck

 

[gonelong]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

Wow, events are conspiring against me. I know it'll only take about 15 mintues (if that) to fill the lower unit up with oil, but it'll probably be a few days before I get to do so.

Thanks for the info, I'll keep everyone posted.

GL

 

[gonelong]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

Ok, I ended up getting a pump and lower unit oil and had a chance to put it in on Saturday. I attempted to fire up the motor but couldn't get it started ... therefore I couldn't test the tell-tale.

Before messing with the lower unit it started first try, very easily. Of course it was 70 degrees then and only about 30 on Saturday.

I'll try again later this week when it'll be in the 50's.

GL

 

[gonelong]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

OK, I put the muffs on today and fired old Vivian up (the boat is a VIP which was made in Vivian, LA, so the boats name is now Vivian).

The motor started on the first try, turned on the water to the muffs ... and nothing. I am not sure how much water to put through the muffs.

I went ahead and put trimming wire up the pee-hole, about 12" worth. No obstructions. For kicks I started it up and put the motor in gear. Engages both frontwards and backwards. I felt the water jacket(?) and it was warm (not hot) to the touch after 20-30 seconds of running.

No idea how to proceed.

GL

 

[gonelong]

Re: Need help identifiying part for 1977 Mercury 500 50 HP

Ok, today I submersed the lower unit in the water (in a trash can). I can feel warm air coming out of the pee-hole, but absolutely no water. The water jacket (I think) is the peice that is getting warm when running, but only the bottom half of it ... the top half remains pretty cool.

The warm air doesn't stop coming out of the pee-hole until I shut the engine off. Since air is being forced out of the pee-hole I have made the following assumptions:
1. The impeller is spinning, forcing air out of the pee hole.
2. The water intakes are below water, so this must mean the water is not even getting to the impeller?

I don't see how that is possible?

I'll be looking in the manual tomorrow to see if I missed something, but right now I am stumped. If anyone has any advice, I'd appreciate it.

GL