Trying to get a top cowl off! Grrrrr.

[MTboatguy]

Okay, bought the service manual on the new to me 64 Merc 650 and I can't for the life of me figure out how to get this top cowl off this motor, it is the one with the wrap around band and when you take that off, you have a top cowl still firmly attached to the motor. All I can figure is it is a few bolts up underneath the cowl that I am missing or just not seeing. I figured the service manual would have something about it, but have been through the manual and not much mention of the engine body work.

I need to get it off, because I need to start checking stuff under the flywheel, motor has been sitting 8 years now and I tried to fire last evening and it would catch, then backfire through the prop hub, so I want to make sure the ignition components are okay as well as clean the carbs up and check them.

Thanks in advance if you have any information to throw my way.

 

[racerone]

Four nuts to take the cowl off.----Not much under there that needs to be looked at.---No ignition parts under the cowling or the flywheel at all !!-----So why does the cowl need to come off ?

 

[GA_Boater]

https://forums.iboats.com/forum/oth...-good-lifting-harness?p=10749104#post10749104

 

[MTboatguy]

Four nuts to take the cowl off.----Not much under there that needs to be looked at.---No ignition parts under the cowling or the flywheel at all !!-----So why does the cowl need to come off ?

I would like to be able to inspect everything I can a this motor has been sitting in storage for as long as it has, I know these older motors from Merc had a lot of problems with wires. That said, just basically to do the most complete inspection that I can, I would like to pop the carbs off and rebuild them. I would think that having the top hood off would give easier access to somethings.

Thanks for the info.

 

[racerone]

Just 4 nuts to remove in order to take that cowling off.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Once you get done enjoying taking it off, it is just as fun to put back on.

 

[MTboatguy]

Once you get done enjoying taking it off, it is just as fun to put back on.

It is off now, cleaned things up and inspected and repaired a couple of wires. It still won't start, it will turn over, has good spark, but it backfires through the prop, then it starts to slow down while cranking like it is catching on something, might run for about 5 seconds and dies when I release the key back to the run position. sTarting to think someone screwed up when they put the plug wires back on the plugs and crossed them up. Pulled all the plugs yesterday to check them, all seemed to be fine albeit I had t reset gap on a couple of them.

I am probably going to pick up a carb kit and rebuild the carbs on it. I don't believe it was put in storage with gas in it, but want to make sure, 8 years is a long time in storage and you never know what people do, no matter what they say.

Thanks guys.

 

[DeepCMark58A]

Take the starter off to work on the carbs, makes it a lot easier to access .