Merc 700...Calling Farley, Dave, Ryan...

[icemanbryan]

Bob, that is an awesome engine.

[seabob4]

I need to do some scrubbing, Bryan...

[floridamisser52]

Hey SB. I was wondering if you pulled that PH that a baby sand blaster would be in order for some clean up. And maybe baking soda where the rubber meets the road? Might make short / easy work of the whole motor. Just a thought.

[seabob4]

Hey SB. I was wondering if you pulled that PH that a baby sand blaster would be in order for some clean up. And maybe baking soda where the rubber meets the road? Might make short / easy work of the whole motor. Just a thought.

FM, that is entirely a possibility.  Now that I have all the periphrials removed, it's just a matter of disconnecting the shift shaft, a few bolts...and she'd be sitting on my bench...

[GoneFission]

Bob - here's your motor before Mercury went black:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-MERCURY-OU ... 36&vxp=mtr  

Charlie Strang said his mother is the reason why Mercury motors are now painted black. Back in 1961-62 Mercury was coming out with the 1000 Mercury, the prototype paint scheme was a white motor with silver and black trim. Carl Kiekhaefer, when viewing the prototype, thought the motor looked too big and bulky in white. Charlie told his mother about Carl's comments, and Charlie's mother commented back that women sometimes wear black dresses to look a lot slimmer, why not paint the motor black? Carl liked the idea, so Charlie had one of the new Mercs repainted black. Carl loved the slimming effect of the motor in black and ordered the paint scheme to be changed to black for all future Mercury outboard motors.  Here's a video of a '62 Tower o' Power 1000 running:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33o7iNK6F58  

And some cool old Mercury commercials - including your 700 pulling a skier (or two, or   ):    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNokPOnPNa0  

Just a little encouragement for your work on the old girl...  

[seabob4]

John, Thanks for the vids and encouragement, I had read that about Charlie's Mom...way cool!  One thing I noticed, that stood out too me watching the 1000 video, and it applies to all well running outboards.  They get really into the powerband, around 4750 to 5000.  They sound...happy, for lack of a better word.  Like if you had a 100 gallon tank, they would run that speed all day until the tank ran dry...and thank you for it!  Totally cool...

The 700 is sitting happy on her engine stand, just haven't really messed with her as of late.  But she's right here beside me, well protected and taken care of, just a matter of priorities...

[GoneFission]

It does seem like some motors will just keep running when you get them right.  Carl was a great marketer for Mercury - He tried this - around 1960, two Mark 75 motors set an endurance record by running non-stop for over 50,000 miles over 68 days on Lake X. The motors were refueled as they ran, and averaged over 30 miles per hour.

[seabob4]

John, there is a certain point in the first pass where the driver is into the throttle...probably around 4200.  Motor sounds good.  But then he gets on it a bit more, say, maybe, 5000, and you say, "Motor sounds REALLY good!"  Almost like the motor is saying, "Good you found it!  Now don't move that throttle!!"

Used to go by Lake X all the time when my ex-SIL lived in Palm Bay.  A few miles E of St. Cloud on 192.  Simple dirt road entrance with a gate, guard shack, no trespassing sign, and no clue as to what was beyond those fences...

[icemanbryan]

Those old videos are awesome.
I love the sound of the motors at higher RPM

[floridamisser52]

Kinda wish Karl was around today. As of late, Mustangs went old school again. Wonder what Karl and company could come up with. My vote , chrome handle on top,( despite PTT ) and the spring loaded center piece complete. Cool time for some imaginations to run rampant. Could this post make some of the Big Boys look? Hope so.  Or is Mandarin the only language on the menu?  :joker:

[gran398]

Enjoying the history of Kiekhaefer Mercury.  Proud to run the little black seventies.

[seabob4]

What's kinda cool is when you start taking chit apart on this motor, virtually every part has the Kiekhaefer logo either cast in or sprayed on as a stencil...even that funky multi-plate rectifier Farley alluded to many posts ago.  No Japanese/Mexican/Chinese/"assembled in the USA from globally sourced parts" chit on this motor!!      

Unfortunately, Mandarin is a requisite language in today's day and age...

[Aswaff400]

Used to go by Lake X all the time when my ex-SIL lived in Palm Bay.  A few miles E of St. Cloud on 192.  Simple dirt road entrance with a gate, guard shack, no trespassing sign, and no clue as to what was beyond those fences...

nice size private lake wonder how many motors and projects they sunk out out in the lake...
https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Lake+Con ... onlin&z=13

[FJStretch]

Lake X. Beautiful property and we'll cared for by the Kenneth Kirchman Foundation.  The foundation is dedicated to providing environmental educational opportunities for children. The rest of the property,  aside from the old Mercury Marine facilities is a true gem; almost entirely natural lands. Thumbs up for the Foundation!

[seabob4]

John, having a place in Satellite, I imagine you take 192 pretty often.  Back in my Orlando days ('80 to '94), there wasn't chit between St. Cloud and Palm Bay, 'cept for a little store in Deer Park that we could grab a 6-pack in on the way back to town.

Lots of nasty wreaks on 192 back then...