1941 Mercury KB3 “Paint Scheme” ?
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Bill, the link that Dale posted shows a KB3 with rewind, and sadly, cowlings
that I don’t have.Dale, it looks it will end up another “dull” outboard…… dull silver that is!
Thanks for the link!
I knew I should have looked it up before I opened my big mouth (so-to-speak!) Well, that is good to know! I hadn’t realized they were that sexy, pre-war.
Long live American manufacturing!
Just a side note…. The Wizard branded motors were ( all ??? ) painted gold color.
greenthumbs , comment , please
Joe B
Joe, I hadn’t thought about the possibility of it being
a Wizard tank, but I guess it wouldn’t have been
“red” anyway.Prepare to be boarded!
I dug up the little AOMCI Mercury book. Yup, there it was, KB3 with cast transom brackets, recoil and shrouds. The funny thing is, though, it says it should have a float type, “automotive” carb. There’s always something, with The Dark Side.
Long live American manufacturing!
Some PreWar Mercs were wrong ,but, still right because factory altered product on the fly. KB=1A reverted to steel tank. The late KB-1A had a cast iron rope plate. The golden color paint used on tank might be explained by restriction on aluminum both as metal parts and in paint pigment. By mid 1941 Mr. Kiekhaefer was explaining to Mercury dealers how the restrictions ahd forced revision to product line and prospects for 1942 were not good; He urged dealers to stock up while they could. The golden Mercury KB-1A is not unique, but, not common either. PostWar; Wizards were painted a much different shade of gold…on that no one seems to agree on. It has been my experience that each Old Merc has a story to tell to those who will listen.
Louis
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If convenient , could you take and post photos of front area of lower half of fuel tan and also of area where cowl (carburetor cover) fastens to cylinder, That could give some more information about your KB-3 Thanks Louis
If convenient , could you take and post photos of front area of lower half of fuel tan and also of area where cowl (carburetor cover) fastens to cylinder, That could give some more information about your KB-3 Thanks Louis
Louis, I’ll try to remember to take a better photo of the front, lower gas tank area.
Here’s the powerhead though, and what I presume to be a cowl mount on
one side.On a side note, I was gifted a KB1A Mercury today, and in looking at the model list,
it looks like it’s also a 1941, but it the Tillotson carb, and no rewind…… no cowls either,
but at this point, not sure it’s suppose to have them.
Confused at this point what the differences are suppose to be in the 3.2 hp Models in 1941.
Prepare to be boarded!
Louis, Here’s the gas tank……
Prepare to be boarded!
KB-1A was the Standard model,,, no frills
KB-3 was the Deluxe model rewind, cowl, spark plug cover and the rubber wedge between tank and spark plug cover,
Early in 1941 production there was a KB-1 single with poppet valve, KB-1A had carburetor with cam on magneto plate linking spark advance to throttle opening. KB-1, KB-1A were intended to have the PreWar pattern cast aluminum fuel tanks. By mid summer 1941, restrictions on use of aluminum led to KB-1 model being dropped and KB-A to change to a new pattern stamped steel fuel tank,
KB-2 Streamline model has steel sheet metal cowling is uncommon and even more so if all the sheet metal is present.
Your KB-3 has the correct 4 stud fuel tanl and has the hex mounting studs SO I believe it had the extras when it left the factory. A possible explanation for the RED paint is to make it stand our…LOTS outboards were stolen and Mercury provided stolen motors lists to its dealers in hopes that all motors brought in for service would have its serial numbers would be checked, It is not uncommon to see a deep scratch on an ID plate obscuring the serial numbers. Boat livery might also give their outboards a stand out color to keep the customer honest. It appears that front mounting studs have non original spacers or fasteners. The standard of workmanship outside factory varied…missing, butchered or wrong fasteners indicate low level of skill by mechanic .
What would I do with your KB-1A and KB-3? My usual method is to tear down, clean, evaluate condition of parts, prime, paint and assemble what you have and keep looking for cown, spark plug cover and the rubber wedge. Correct fasteners may not be available, but, there is not much easier than replacing fasteners. I do things this way, because there is not much more depressing that a grungy down on its luck Little Merc. Likewise, a freshly painted and assembled Little Merc is a very compelling reason to find the parts and finish the job. About 80% of job is tear down and cleaning, prime and paint. The rest is FUN. Louis
Louis, thanks for your “in depth” synopsis of these little Mercs.
I’m saving it to my Merc files for reference.I’m not sure what the “rubber wedge” is that you refer to.
Will see if any such thing appears in parts manuals.I do have a plug cover that fits. Whether or not it’s correct
as it came off of a stripped down parts motor, no ID tag,
but it had the reed valve block as opposed to my poppet valve
motor with no reeds.I’ll be on the look-out for cowls, but presume they’re
not many around.
Thanks!Prepare to be boarded!
The rubber wedge fills the space between bottom of tank and top of spark plug cover. I believe they are being reproduced.
KB-1 was entry level Special, KB-1A was Standard and KB-3 Was top of line Deluxe. KB-3 had two screw transom clamp while the Special and Standard models had the single screw fabricated steel transom clamp.
Photos show 1940 and a 1941 single powerhead
Front view of KB-3
Top and front view of a KB-1A with a mixed tan… top of rewind KB-3 and bottom from a KB-1A which does not have the chin because it las a rope start without cowl. Possibly factory mix, but, I picked it up as parts.
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