Retro Mercury 20HP

Nasher · 05 February 2011, 16:57

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 · 05 February 2011, 17:22

Quote:

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 · 05 February 2011, 17:43

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 · 05 February 2011, 20:14

Quote:

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 · 05 February 2011, 20:53

Quote:

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 · 05 February 2011, 21:17

Wow, is that nearly as old as mine ?!

Nasher · 05 February 2011, 22:42

Quote:

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 · 05 February 2011, 22:58

Quote:

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 · 07 February 2011, 12:56

Quote:

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 · 07 February 2011, 14:14

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

T 15 · 07 February 2011, 14:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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

thanks for that.......never looked that close @ the detail, just use them for a "quick year backup" ........must have a closer look at me Merc 500 1976 ones,

the set must be a poor US copy or a way to get around the coyright ???

Nasher · 07 February 2011, 16:09

No worries.

I spent a few years travelling around the world passing new print jobs on presses for the tobacco industry, so I tend to notice stuff like that.

The Impellor came off with a little effort yesterday afternoon, so I'm now cleaning up and making a list of gaskets etc for the bottom end.

Nasher

Andy B · 15 February 2011, 22:19

well that was a short rebuild thread.......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercury-200-20...item33650c8859

T 15 · 16 February 2011, 08:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy B

well that was a short rebuild thread.......

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Mercury-200-20...item33650c8859

I have just put the ebay link onto a "classic speedboat" club site........( do I get 10%.........?? )

Nasher · 16 February 2011, 12:08

Yes, I've had to give up on it.

I’m really disappointed, and feel a little bit guilty having told AndyB I’d rebuild it.

Several reasons really.

But mainly I've decided it's just too heavy to lift over the side of the RIB on a regular basis to put it on and take it off the Transom of the smaller boat whilst they are both moored up alongside each other.
It’s inevitable that it will get a dunking sooner rather than later, especially if there is any sort of sea running.

Something slightly smaller and probably more modern will be a bit lighter to lift about, but I know it’s going to cost a lot more money.

It would be nice to think I’ll get my money back for it, but from the offers I’ve had so far I think I’m going to struggle.

Nasher.

Jizm · 19 February 2011, 17:10

Well it's fininshed, did it cover your expenses Nasher?

Andy B · 19 February 2011, 18:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jizm

Well it's fininshed, did it cover your expenses Nasher?

oh yes it did..... and £15 for the remote

mind you he did have to drive out to bandit country to pick it up so if you take the fuel into account

Jizm · 19 February 2011, 18:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy B

oh yes it did..... and £15 for the remote

mind you he did have to drive out to bandit country to pick it up so if you take the fuel into account

So it didn't then.....

Nasher · 19 February 2011, 19:06

I reckon I'm a few quid up, so will buy Andy a beer when I see him just to even it out a little

Presuming of course the guy that banged in a bid in the last few seconds contacts me and pays up when he arrives to collect it

Nasher

Andy B · 19 February 2011, 20:10

but this is ebay!
what could possibly go wrong