KD3 mercury

[steveabe]

Have a kd3 mercury and the fuel tank seeps between the top and bottom just enough to make you wish it didn`t. Are gaskets available are should i seal it from the inside? Also where can i buy silver paint and decals at? Have been thinking about restoreing it but it is pretty nice now all original any thoughts?

[jcrigan]

I have taken these tanks apart and resealed. Make sure the mating surfaces are flat. I have used paper gasket material along with a sealer that is resistant to the fuels we use today.

[green-thumbs]

The Kiekhaefer cast aluminum tanks can be split, cleaned and resealed easily without
special tools or talent. Tanl halves seal by squeezing a gasket coated with gasket
sealer/contact cement…(Seal All and gasket stock available at any auto parts store)
Exacto razor knife, a couple pieces of plywood, a bolt/washers/nut setup, pen/pencil
and a little attention to detail are all that are needed. I have done several and made
a set of photos detailing every step and material required. I have found the tank haves
to be flat…no light showing under machinist’s straight edge.
At some point I will see about reposting the photos which vanished last time site went down.
Louis

[steveabe]

thanks im looking forward to the pictures. Do you know if i can get decals somewhere?

[jeff-register]

Steve,
Louis knows much about the little engines from the early 50’s. Please if you ever sell it let Louis or myself know about it. I will buy it too. I have a KF3 now I’m working on getting running. Be sure to put grease in the lower unit before running. Have fun with it My Dad has an early one too but at 90 years young. Great find!!
Jeff

[steveabe]

have owned it for 15 years got it from neighbor at the lake said he bought it new. Retired and just looking for something to do.

[chuckw]

I used a tank sealer from Eastwood and did not have to aplit the tank. Worked great.

[RICHARD A. WHITE]

Agreed, I would avoid splitting it, use a good quality tank sealer and forget about it…no real need to split the halves…I used Kreem.

http://www.richardsoutboardtools.com
classicomctools@gmail.com

[bob-d]

I have a KD4 which uses a similiar split tank arrangement .
i split the tank,cleaned out all of the old gasket material from 1947, got some gasket material (Feldpro Karropak .065), put some ThreeBond 1184 grey on one side, clamped the tank together overnight . Took it apart, now the gasket will remain put,then with a new Xacto knife cut around the inside. Once you start at one edge it really easy, just use the edge of the knife and follow around. For the center gaskets just cut circles, and use a paper hole punch for the stud holes. When the gasket is cut apply some ThreeBond to the other half. and bolt up. Another advantage of splitting the tank is that you can really clean the inside with a wire brush.
This method worked for me, your choice, and it was relatively inexpensive to do.
Bob D

[bob-d]

Decals can usually be found on EBay.
For spray paint you can use Plasticote T-41 Dull Aluminum (EBay) or Duplicolor BFM0361 Silver Birch (Autozone). There is also Reprotint, but at $30 a can shipped, a bit on the high side for me.
Bob D

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