Old Mercury 50 HP Help

csvencer

csvencer

Senior Member
Anyone have info on this vintage Merc? Looking at a old McKee, 1982, and assume it is the same age. Don't know much about the old Merc's, is this worth saving or turn it into a reef? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks.

-Svence
 

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It ain't got a brass prop, so it ain't that old.
Any amount of corrosion on it?
I'm not a fan of Merc's, but it don't look too bad.
 
From what I remember they used the same pistons and a few other parts in their straight 6 engines, say 150 horse or so and were reputed to be very good engines. Or at least preferred by Merc enthusiasts.

I'd play with it and see if you can get it operational.
 
Unfortunately it's been sitting for about three years now so carbs are gunked and starter is shot so I don't think she is going to be up and running before the sale. Pretty much banking on it being scrap without hearing it run so I don't get screwed down the line. The boat looks like a pretty sweet deal, just what I have been looking for, a little creek runner, nothing special.

-Svence
 
put a et of brushes in the starter, check compresion, if its good, keep going. if its bad, make a yard ornament out of it. BTW, thats one of the smoothest running small motors ever, it will probably idle better then most with one dead cylinder
 
So if it checks out in decent shape I should go for it? Sounds like a little cash to clean her up and it would be worth it. Thanks.

-Svence
 
And does anyone know about that trim setup? Looks like the pump is inside the boat and the dash has a three button tilt/trim setup...

-Svence
 
I know the trim system and motor pretty well. I agree if the motor has compression the rest can be done to make the motor 100% on the cheap. The old inline 4 50hp is about as tough as a cut nail. The trim pump inside the boat looks factory. It is the same pump that the I/O's use. The hydraulic cylinders are mounted outboard of the clamp bracket. If you start to tinker with the hydraulic hoses be real careful threading the stainless fitting back into the aluminum housing. The three buttons were the same as most all the Merc controls. Down, Trim and Tilt as I recall. With that setup you only need a up and down type switch. The trim pump motor has a brush card and is easy to refurbish if the windings are still good. Had one on the back of a flatbottom boat. Not a ball of fire in the hp dept. but it would absolutely scream and was silky smooth. The good ole' days
 
Great little motors, electrical system can be a pain in the ***.. The trim setup sounds about right for that era, should have 2 rams, one on either side of the motor if i remember correctly.
 
That is one of the best Mercs made and I have been accused of not being a Mercury fan. But I will admit to owning a bunch of them. The inline 4 cylinder like that one was what I sought out for a tiller motor for my gutted 17' Whaler pickup truck. The motor became the classic "50" in 1986 and actaully had a 40 horspower rating due to the change to prop rated hp. My motor is a 1996 40hp rating but will outrun the porky mercaha 2002 Mercury four stroke 50hp it replaced. Idles just as smooth in my opinon and isn't terrible on gas.

Brian
 

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I had a 1987 Merc 50 on a Bass Tracker one time, it was a great running little motor, easy starting, easy on fuel, quiet for a 2 stroke.....I loved it.
 
Anyone familiar with these enough to help me find a carb rebuild kit? It is an 1982 (serial 5951267) with a tillotson carb. Cannot find any other info on it and it seems like there are 50 different carbs for that year.

-Svence
 
Well found a rebuild kit and will start tearing them apart. Now my only problem is I don't know how they go back on.... When I bought the boat the carbs were off and I can't figure out the linkage system for the choke. Anyone have an idea or pic on one rigged up? I can't seem to get everything to line up from the electric choke to the linkage.

-Svence
 
Had one on a smaller boat years ago EXACTLY like that...very dependable and strong little motor. I agree with "brushes in starter, check compression, go from there"
 
My Dad had a 1972 Mercury 80 h.p. which looks exactly like that motor but with red instead of blue trim. Merc did not change those 4 and 6 cylinder motors for quite a while. It was a great motor for about 6 years but then starting having electrical issues. Dad was frequently changing "power packs." He was a PITA with Mercury though, and somehow kept getting Mercury to replace them at no charge.
 
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