Retro Mercury 20HP

[Nasher]

Just thought I’d introduce you all to the Merc 20 I purchased from AndyB a few weeks ago.
Despite promising Mrs Nasher I wouldn’t touch it until I’d finished the new family bathroom, I managed to have a quick play today

The Smaller Nashers want to upgrade their 2.8M SIB this year to something slightly bigger, and currently have their eye on a Bombard Aerotec 380, so if anyone knows of one at the usual Nasher type price, ie cheap, please let me know.
They want a small RIB really, but I want to be still able to roll their boat up in the bow of ‘The Nashers Revenge’ to transport it round to the beach before blowing it up from the electric pump in the console.

Anyway, back to the Merc, which is earmarked for their bigger SIB.

It was an absolute bargain from Andy, so thanks very much.
It has loads of compression, and selects forward and reverse, but I’ve not tried starting it yet as it needs some work.

Cosmetically it will be subjected to a full make over on the outside, but under the hood it’s in exceptional clean condition.

One thing is for sure, I’ll be restoring and using the spare set of much earlier ‘Thunderbolt’ Red in colour bodywork that came with it, as we all think it looks much better than the Blueband stuff.

From what I read, and what I was told, the drive shafts on these engines have a habit of rusting themselves into the crankshaft, making the bottom end impossible to remove to change the impellor, and that if I could get the bottom end off the engine was worth saving, if not it would only be good for parts.
Despite the shaft itself being very rusty, some previous owner had obviously had later removal in mind when he greased the splines, and the bottom end came off that easily that it would have broken my toe had I not caught it when I did.

The water pump is obviously in need of a new impellor, gaskets etc, but the housing and base plate are in good condition to re-use. Currently the impellor is stuck firmly to the shaft, but I’ll give it a spray of release agent occasionally and try again in a few days.

Looks like I’ll be flushing, cleaning and painting for a while, but it looks like it will be worth it.

Nasher

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Currently the impellor is stuck firmly to the shaft,

Dremel it off carefully-you won't get it off with release agent.It's a brass insert in the middle of the impeller so it's posible to cut it 95% of the way through then split it by levering the cut open.

[Nasher]

Good idea Nos, will give it a go.

I'm going to be looking for some small parts such as the rubber moulding that blanks off the hole where control cables pass through if used with remotes.

Nasher.

[Andy B]

Originally Posted by Nasher

It was an absolute bargain from Andy, so thanks very much.

One mans trip hazard is another mans treasure
Im glad it's going to get what it deserves,
If I had left it any longer I think it would have gone to waste
It dose look good in thoughs red band covers
look faward to seeing the progress nasher......

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by Nasher

Good idea Nos, will give it a go.

I'm going to be looking for some small parts such as the rubber moulding that blanks off the hole where control cables pass through if used with remotes.

Nasher.

You should find the bits you need at Duncan Walker outboards-0118 9478641. They hold a lot of Blueband stuff and I've bought parts for an identical engine from them.They do mail order too.

[Shaz]

Wow, is that nearly as old as mine ?!

[Nasher]

Originally Posted by Shaz

Wow, is that nearly as old as mine ?!

The serial number has given me a date for it of 1980/81, but that makes it nice and simple to maintain.

Certainly older than yourself Shaz, but not sure about your engine

Nasher.

[Shaz]

Originally Posted by Nasher

The serial number has given me a date for it of 1980/81, but that makes it nice and simple to maintain.

Certainly older than yourself Shaz, but not sure about your engine

Nasher.

That would make it about the same age as me!

[T 15]

Originally Posted by Nasher

The serial number has given me a date for it of 1980/81, but that makes it nice and simple to maintain.

Certainly older than yourself Shaz, but not sure about your engine

Nasher.

ur blue decals on the wrap look 1979 see attached, 1980/81 also attached. ( unless my decal list is incorrect......hope not, or ur's maybe 1979 build 1980/81 year )


my sevice manuals dont cover ur year ( I have manuals: Merc all models 1975 > 1978; Clymer 3.9hp>135hp 1964 > 1971; Merc all models 1966 > 1974, others for larger engines & other years ) if u need any info/pages from the above send me a pm

great to see these older engines in use.......

[Nasher]

T 15

Hi.

The decals on my engine are definitely different to the set you have posted above.

Firstly the Vignette in the background is in a different place, for example in the top bar in your image the Black turns to Blue much sooner, and the other way round on the lower bar. Also, the ‘Mercury’ text on my decals is taller within the band, but probably about the same width, almost as if the font in yours has been squashed in height.

That said, I’m not looking for it to be an exact match, and would rather restore the Red Thunderbolt ones anyway.

Nasher