Best source of info for Mercruiser "0" drives (60/80/90 hp)

[amuller]

I’m working on two of these and wondering that the best discussion forums and parts sources are. Any suggestions?

Boatinfo has a manual from 1973 and many vendors do show the online parts listings (almost everything NLA of course) but I still have some questions….

I find the main obstacle to working on these to be the way they have been packaged by the boat builders. Access is just not very good–it’s like working under the dash of a car. With a removable cover going all the way back to the transom, things would be much easier. The stern drives themselves, and the Renault engines, are pretty straightforward.

Thanks.

Alan

[Mumbles]

Iboats and Marine Engine both have good forums on Mercruisers.

You just have to register first before you can get in on the action.

http://forums.iboats.com/forum/engine-r … -outdrives

[billw]

Is the manual you’re using a copy from the OEM Mercruiser manual? I will check, but I think it is Mercruiser factory manual #1. It is kind of vague with regard to the Renault end of it, as I recall; but the ‘Cruiser end is okay. Maybe what you need is period-correct Renault car manual, too? If you can’t find manual #1, I probably can copy info from mine.

Long live American manufacturing!

[amuller]

quote BillW:

Is the manual you’re using a copy from the OEM Mercruiser manual? I will check, but I think it is Mercruiser factory manual #1. It is kind of vague with regard to the Renault end of it, as I recall; but the ‘Cruiser end is okay. Maybe what you need is period-correct Renault car manual, too? If you can’t find manual #1, I probably can copy info from mine.

It is copywrite 1988 Brunswick Corp. Don’t know if that is #1. http://boatinfo.no/lib/mercruiser/manua … r1.html#/0 How do I tell? Unlike some of the Boatinfo documents it is a clear scan, but I would like to find a PDF of it for easier access and printing. I actually once owned a Renault 16, which had basically the same engine as the 80 and 90 hp drives. 60 hp uses an engine similar to the Renault 10. Not bad engines, really, but I doubt if the mix of iron and aluminum would work out well in salt water.

[billw]

I looked at the boatinfo website manual. It’s the same as mine; although mine is a hard cover binder. In mine, the latest revision seems to be about 1973. although the website manual is copy written 1988, if you look at the pages pertinent to your engine, they, too, have the last revisions in the early 70’s anyway, same as mine. (The little numbers down on the bottom of each page, like "570", means that page was last revised in May, 1970.)

I was looking through the manual. What a piece of cool mechanical history you have! Hydraulic shift in the bell housing! Tillotson MD carbs that look like they came off my 16 hp Scott Atwater, except they have an accelerator pump! (On the 60, at least.) Water pump right on the top cover of the outdrive! The whole engine just hangs in space, with no front mount! An outboard-type alternator that wouldn’t show up again until the 470 type ‘Cruisers!

The only ones I ever saw were twins, in one boat, that were being removed and junked, to repower with an OMC stringer drive. As I recall, way back in about 1975, those engines were already dead from salt water damage and water intrusion, just like you speculated…..

Long live American manufacturing!

[amuller]

quote BillW:

I looked at the boatinfo website manual. It’s the same as mine; although mine is a hard cover binder. In mine, the latest revision seems to be about 1973. although the website manual is copy written 1988, if you look at the pages pertinent to your engine, they, too, have the last revisions in the early 70’s anyway, same as mine. (The little numbers down on the bottom of each page, like “570”, means that page was last revised in May, 1970.)

I was looking through the manual. What a piece of cool mechanical history you have! Hydraulic shift in the bell housing! Tillotson MD carbs that look like they came off my 16 hp Scott Atwater, except they have an accelerator pump! (On the 60, at least.) Water pump right on the top cover of the outdrive! The whole engine just hangs in space, with no front mount! An outboard-type alternator that wouldn’t show up again until the 470 type ‘Cruisers!

The only ones I ever saw were twins, in one boat, that were being removed and junked, to repower with an OMC stringer drive. As I recall, way back in about 1975, those engines were already dead from salt water damage and water intrusion, just like you speculated…..

They are interesting. Perhaps reflecting some of Kiekhaefer’s mechanical goofiness?

Wet liner auto engines seem mostly a French thing–Peugeot, Renault, Citroen all used them. it used to be possible to get a set of pistons and liners from J. C. Whitney for $100.

The manual show a fresh water cooling option for the 60 hp but not for the 80 or 90. Wonder why. I have my doubts that the stock system could provide adequate circulation around the head and liners.

The Volvo-Penta drives used a lot by Bayliner, etc, often lack a front mount, and that’s a much heavier system–2.3 liter iron block engine. But they also have fresh water cooling and other "premium" features.

Mercury no longer makes 4 cylinder outdrives, and I think not Volvo either. With the high quality of 4-stroke outboards I guess there isn’t much of a logical case to be made for them.

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