posted 08-02-2004 10:05 PM ET (US)        

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A friend has this engine on a 15 that he bought 2 years ago and is just getting around to working on it. I am not familiar with Merc motors and the shop manual does not offer too much help. Several puzzles to this motor. It has T/T switch on the controls and a plate on the motor claims to have power trim. The leads have been cut from the control box and if there was a t/t motor it was removed. Also it looks like something was removed from the port side but I can't figure out how it was connected (no pistons other that what looks like a lift assist for the motor) (note pistons in the up position). He has never had this boat out and in its current state it it would seem that there is nothing holding the motor firmly and if it was in reverse and power was added it would jump out of the water. I assume that forward thrust would keep it in its down position, no?

I would like to get some feedback on the mechanics the missing motor and any potential thoughts as to someone would perform surgery on the unit. Also, if anyone may have one for sale I'm sure that my buddy would be interested. He did ask the local merc dealer about the part and the dealer told him he would be better off buying a new motor.. Can this be fixed?

Thanks for your help.
Hutch
Here are the picture links.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/raise-lowerpiston.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/powertrimemblem
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/portsideraised.jpg
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/EngineRaised
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/EngineMount.jpg
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/enginelowered.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v420/slipperyeel/controls.jpg

posted 08-05-2004 05:18 PM ET (US)            

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Any thoughts or comments on this?

Thanks,

Hutch