Thank you louis for your input.

(see above reply to jw)

In the last 55 years I have gained much "experience" and in many cases the lessons were hard ones. This is a relatively new arena for me and I wish to avoid hard lessons the best I can while I get experience.

This is my first merc, before it has been OMCs. When I was a kid we had a Merc powered runabout (1966) but my father worked on it. knowing what I know now, I would have paid more attention (Dad was Port engineer for a major marine transportation company).

Part availability is a concern. From my due diligence, this engine shares bases with 2 earlier mercs- one powerhead and one lower unit. I figure if I could look at electricals, I may have a better answer to the Go or No Go equation.

I have built several wooden boats and thought a hydro or speedster type boat and this engine might be fun (many state parks cap HP to 9.9)- more fun if I dropped 50 lbs.

Thanks for the help. I would email you but we have a desktop with "issues", one of which is it isn't opening microsoft programs.

rogerdavis1956@gmail.com

Your first move is to diagnose the patient's illness(es)
1) turn engine over and listen and feel what is going on
with bearings and crankshaft...abnormal noise and
roughness may mean internal rust...and a teardown

2) check compression...a worn out motor or stuck rings
will give low readings...one you can fix the other
you can not..

3) stuck saddle pivot and prop indicate storage in a
damp location to me...what does appearance of motor
tell you? Good care or Not?

4) Water pump impellers never live long enough to
qualify for a pension...always factor in replacement

5) Coils frequently bad but not always...the difficult
flywheel when removed revealed like new looking
Bendix coils...don't buy coils or water pump impellers
until motor is back together and ready to run...if
it gets that far.

6) The later Kiekhaefers are not something I feel strong
on at this point. I am aware of your feeling that
these may be a little beyond your reach...if you
have little money in it and you work carefully
you can do it no harm...price out bearings,
seals and save all gaskets to use as patterns
On line, bearings can be significantly less expensive
than some less competitive suppliers...same bearings
can vary widely in price.

7) Worst case is you wind up with a pile of parts that
someone may need to finish theirs and recover a
portion of your out of pocket...Best case you
gain new skills, confidence and a runner!

Louis

I have 3 issues: the engine swivel is frozen; Look for a tension-adjustment screw on the saddle. Try loosening it and see if that releases the swivel.

Prop is stuck: lay the motor on its face and drip your favorite solvent into the gap between the prop and the shaft. I use a mix of ATF and diesel fuel. Put the propnut back on all but two threads, to leave a little slack, and while your helper holds the weight of the tower off of the floor by the prop blades, tap gently a few licks on the nut (or a temporary nut is better) and see if the thing comes loose. Don't go overboard and ruin the shaft threads. Some garage engineers rig a puller using clains and clips - think about how you might do that.

Tilt pin corroded; if it is too far gone you may have to cut it, drive the pieces out and find a good one.

Merc easier to work on than OMC? Well, some Merc guys will agree with you - most won't. And I doubt if any OMC guys would agree, but what do they know? They're so stuck on OMCs that they won't even look at a Merc. That's okay - more good ol' Mercs for us!

Here's a picture of the home-made spanner wrench for removing the impeller cover. Good luck. JW in Dixie

I have a Mercury KE7 powerhead torn down at moment...the
Mark 25 is a developed version. I also have a couple
KE4/Mark 7/KE7 gear cases torn down. They are less
developed version of KG7 gearcase. If you think worth while
I will set up and take pictures...
My email is LouD31M066@aol.com Let me know where to send
If someone can post on this site let me know.
There is a tension adjustment...have you released?
If that does not cure stuck pivot...
remove powerhead to access saddle and pivot
pin...if you are lucky inside of hollow pin is threaded
so you can use a bolt,nut and washer scheme to pull it
out...may need to assist with solvent and torch...
I have found at least one pin that defied removal so
I cut the pin with hack saw to remove saddle...not pretty
Louis

I believe you are correct on the damp storage issue. It was in the garage when I saw it and began barganing. Here is a link to pics of it which I took. I had not removed the cover so what you see is what I saw. No cleaning took place.

https://picasaweb.google.com/rogerdavis1956/Super10?authkey=Gv1sRgCO3s4pzrtJHITw#

It had what I though was very good compression via pull cord. I removed plugs and top of piston had basic 2 cycle carbon on it but I could see what I thought was aluminum or steel. My guess is it was stored with oil cause it seemed gummy and not dry. It has not been run in 3 decades.

once i get the flywheel off, I believe I will know what to do.

On a note, I dont see how I can remove the lower cowing since the block sits on top of it and the vertical lower unit below. it looks as if it goes full circle. I have 2 more nuts to remove but on 3 of the previous 4, the enite stud came out- a typical to an auto stud, threaded on both ends. They must screw into the powerhead and if I am right, then what exactly holds the powerhead on? So confusing without a drawing(s).

I had to repair some other small internal combustion engines and bought a package of assorted gasket sheets. My father had a set of gasket punches I now have so I can make 90% of my gaskets. Do you know where I can find out which type of gasket material is used where on an engine?

I believe you had posted (or someone) that these wizards were a previous generation of mercs so the wouldn't outclass the current years models. I believe it was stated that the engine aspirated with a smaller carb and 4 reed plates rather than 8. Know how I could find the info to weak this up for higher HP and rpms? the seller said they balanced the pistons, flywheel and whatever they could/were allowed under that class he raced in.

thanks again. It is generous of you to share your experience to someone who is a neophyte. Hell, a man's gotta have a few hobbies....right?

roger davis

I got to thinking....dangerous process...I have a
KF3 and a KF5 gearcase torn down AND they are same
layout except on a smaller scale as the KE4 thru KG? gearcase series and so for Wizard eguivalents
getting late will get back to this tomorrow.
Louis