115 mercury breakdown

[fishnowhuntlater]

i have an early 80s mercury 115 inline six with a pump.

was running about 3/4 last friday noticed i was starting to lose power and noticed the engine losing rpms..... throttled down a bit and looked back just in time for it to stop...... could not restart..... it would turn flywheel then hit a spot and stop........ pulled the cover you could turn flywheel manually till you hit that spot.......

i did notice that the motor was not pumping water so i am guessing that it overheated and i lost a cylinder.......

just a guess.... hoping that someone has some info for me.....

planning an buying another motor but am about a year out and dont want to be down a boat that long.....

how hard would it to be to rebuild..... cost for the kit.....

and what should i look for to confirm what the problem really is.....

[sng]

Those were good motors, they called them "Tower of Power"

I had one on my last boat and really liked it.

the problem you'll have is that depending on corrosion level, it might not be worth rebuilding, but be better off selling as parts then add extra lunch money and buy another running motor.

[budnate]

Originally Posted by sng

Those were good motors, they called them "Tower of Power"

I had one on my last boat and really liked it.

the problem you'll have is that depending on corrosion level, it might not be worth rebuilding, but be better off selling as parts then add extra lunch money and buy another running motor.

pull the plugs do a comp check, usually #1 ontop smokes from lack of water, to rebuild a 6 properly without cutting corners is about $2K.

I have a spare 115 stack 6 I am selling I will pm you.

[dubnvento]

I would first get a mechanic to tell you what you have for about $100 then at least you know what your dealing with.

[lightning]

I had a 1988 90 Merc that locked up on me. Trouble was the upper bearing in the lower unit went south. Maybe pull the lower and see if it rotates?

[fishnowhuntlater]

pulled the lower and it is smooth will not turn over with the key even with lower removed

[fishin"G"man]

I loved those old Towers of power... but to rebuild it? Frankly the rebuild is not worth the motors worth. You have to absolutely forget worth and just do it if that motor means that much to you. That you were looking at another motor... I'd say you have a tower of parts to sell.
Also think about the newer engines with better efficiency. When my 95 115 goes bang I'll cry because shes a sweet running engine but you can bet we'll step up to a newer motor. 4 strokers are awful nice and those 2 strokes are so dag gone quick and efficient it's mind boggling.
Sorry to hear of you disaster... If it was still pumping, I'd say look at an oil issue???? That compression test? If you can't turn it over those are hard to do. Look in the intake ports... they'll give you a good clue at least. Maybe even an idea if the powerhead is still OK or just a piston scarred.

[lightning]

Did you try to turn it with a ratchet on the flywheel nut with the spark plugs out? That would eliminate starter system troubles.

Originally Posted by fishnowhuntlater

pulled the lower and it is smooth will not turn over with the key even with lower removed

[fishnowhuntlater]

you can turn it with a ratchet but it is pretty rough and gives a clunk when it goes byt that hard spot.......


well sounds like to rebuild is not worth it.....Anyone want to buy one for parts.... what would it be worth for parts......

[NavyRick]

Sound like it threw a rod bearing......thats the roughness and hard spot on the turn over. Needle bearings blew apart and more than likely sucked through the intake port scarring piston, cylinder wall and head surface. Definitely $$$ to rebuild...but there are lots of used powerheads out there at a reasonable price. I have a parts motor with a good powerhead just looking for a decent offer...its taking up room on my stand