I recently bought a 1969 Sidewinder with a 125 Mercury with Thunderbolt ignition. Have been having a major pain in the ass getting the thing started. Not sure what the issue is. I pump the bulb thing on the fuel line till it's hard and full, then try to start and it takes a lot of cranking and wears down battery before it goes. I dunno if I'm flooding it, or it's not getting enough gas. Also, it doesn't seem to charge battery back up after running for a while.
mid t late 70's my friend has the same motor only its a 85 hp look at the color scheme the early 70's had more crome, and the late 70's and early 80's went to blue instead of red
That is NO 4-stroke, and you better start adding 2-stk oil to the gasoline or you can destroy it in minutes! Mercury never made four strokes back then... they are much quieter too.
I have just bought Merc 50 Thunderbolt circa 1978 .How good are these engines ?
I have 15 ft Picton speedboat to go with it.Will it be quite fast or do i need a bigger engine.I have turned engine over with muffs and it sounds ok but noticed that no water coming out of top hole at head.Does this mean the impeller has gone?
@larsky11 YES THEY ARE. I HAVE A 1971 MERCURY 800, 80HP IN-LINE 4, ITS A GOOD RUNNING MOTOR FOR ITS AGE. I HAD SOME MINOR ISSUES LIKES THE CARBS WHICH I HAD REBUILT,AND A LOCKING DEVICE WHICH LOCKS THE MOTOR TO THE TRANSOME SO IT WON'T JUMP OUT OF THE WATER WHILE UNDER LOAD-. HAVE A LOCAL SHOP CHECK IT OUT . THE COMPRESSION, F/ N/ R- GEARS, POWERHEAD,THE IMPELLER/ WATERPUMP, FOR CRACKED RUBBER, CHECK THE ELECTRICAL WIRE'S FOR CRACKING CHAFFING,THIS WAY YOU LL KNOW ITS MONEY WELL SPENT
Oh, man. I love Merc outboards. Memories of Grandpa's Mercury 70 on the back of his closed bow Starcraft. Underrated motor and was it ever LOUD. My uncle sold the boat without telling me... and yes, that bothers me.
@scottmcg666 They are loud compared to a lot of other motors. When I was a kid in the early '70s my uncle had a big Merc on his Caravelle and I was surprised at the sound of it when I rode in his boat the first time--I was used to my dad's johnboat which only had a 20-horse Johnson with a tiller; it was quiet compared to that giant Mercury!
agreed, these are the best motors ever built. i have a 1969 200 (20 hp) and a 1972 402 (40 hp). these engines were way underrated in hp from the factory and will run circles around omc's of the same hp/vintage. mercury lovers should read Iron Fist, carl kiekhaeffer's biograpy and history of mercury. it is excellent.
If the cowling (wrap-around) and the face plate are the correct ones for that engine, it's a late 60's to early 70's model. The only 135's made during that time (1970-1971) were 6-cylinder models. That's either a 3 or 4 cylinder. It could be a 50-4, a 65-3, or an 80 or 85-4. From the sound & performance, I'd have to say it's a 50hp 4 cylinder, made between 1968 & 1973.
If its an 800 series, its 80 HP. Mine was a 4 cylinder. AWESOME torque in this engine and mine did 40 mph at WOT on a 16 footer deep V runabout. Great engines!!!
thunderbolt ignition really is high voltage trust me i found out when i was 7 years old . standing it water . decided to pull the plugg wire off . it snapped me back about 10 feet
Oh man I love those mercury thunderbolt from the 70s... They last forever! Ive got a 18 feet Mailibu with a 150hp mercury. It runs great! Congratulations for owning one!
hawk, me and my dad had an 1980 model 50 horse (same exact motor) and it's a 2 stroke 4 cylinder outboard same as the one shown: same ignition (thunderbolt)
i just got a mercury,4 cyl, 50hp outboard with thunderbolt ignition, can anyone give me any clues as to age,,and engine specs, my brother said it was a 2 stroke oil /petrol mixture, but its a 4 stroke, does it have its own oil supply, ie sump etc, havent run it yet going to service it first, seems ok, just concerned about the oil
If you can find the serialnumber on the engine, than is there a site which can help you. Look it up on oldmercs.There you find the year the engine was build. Greetz from Holland
I recently bought a 1969 Sidewinder with a 125 Mercury with Thunderbolt ignition. Have been having a major pain in the ass getting the thing started. Not sure what the issue is. I pump the bulb thing on the fuel line till it's hard and full, then try to start and it takes a lot of cranking and wears down battery before it goes. I dunno if I'm flooding it, or it's not getting enough gas. Also, it doesn't seem to charge battery back up after running for a while.
jazzartdesign 5 months ago
mid t late 70's my friend has the same motor only its a 85 hp look at the color scheme the early 70's had more crome, and the late 70's and early 80's went to blue instead of red
mutt259 9 months ago
That is NO 4-stroke, and you better start adding 2-stk oil to the gasoline or you can destroy it in minutes! Mercury never made four strokes back then... they are much quieter too.
littlerig6 10 months ago
I have just bought Merc 50 Thunderbolt circa 1978 .How good are these engines ?
I have 15 ft Picton speedboat to go with it.Will it be quite fast or do i need a bigger engine.I have turned engine over with muffs and it sounds ok but noticed that no water coming out of top hole at head.Does this mean the impeller has gone?
patpending00 1 year ago
hey man i have the same motor i got for free and i know nothing about it can i have your serial number as refrence?
crazyfingerz27 1 year ago
iv got a chance to bye one of these mercury engines its a 85 hp in line four are they any good it will cost me 450 pounds
larsky11 2 years ago
@larsky11 YES THEY ARE. I HAVE A 1971 MERCURY 800, 80HP IN-LINE 4, ITS A GOOD RUNNING MOTOR FOR ITS AGE. I HAD SOME MINOR ISSUES LIKES THE CARBS WHICH I HAD REBUILT,AND A LOCKING DEVICE WHICH LOCKS THE MOTOR TO THE TRANSOME SO IT WON'T JUMP OUT OF THE WATER WHILE UNDER LOAD-. HAVE A LOCAL SHOP CHECK IT OUT . THE COMPRESSION, F/ N/ R- GEARS, POWERHEAD,THE IMPELLER/ WATERPUMP, FOR CRACKED RUBBER, CHECK THE ELECTRICAL WIRE'S FOR CRACKING CHAFFING,THIS WAY YOU LL KNOW ITS MONEY WELL SPENT
TAHITI1967 2 years ago
love the sound lol
Peabody182 2 years ago
thats a 1971 mercury 800, i have one on my tahiti. runs like a champ...
TAHITI1967 2 years ago
Oh, man. I love Merc outboards. Memories of Grandpa's Mercury 70 on the back of his closed bow Starcraft. Underrated motor and was it ever LOUD. My uncle sold the boat without telling me... and yes, that bothers me.
scottmcg666 2 years ago
@scottmcg666 They are loud compared to a lot of other motors. When I was a kid in the early '70s my uncle had a big Merc on his Caravelle and I was surprised at the sound of it when I rode in his boat the first time--I was used to my dad's johnboat which only had a 20-horse Johnson with a tiller; it was quiet compared to that giant Mercury!
galoon 1 year ago
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TAHITI1967 2 years ago
Man, I love that sound. Brings back memories, goosebumps. They were noisy but mean. Excellent!
jhs5150 2 years ago
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TAHITI1967 2 years ago
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TAHITI1967 2 years ago
Looks like my small 9.8 that I use to have, but dropped it in the lake. Damn
BoatandTruckLover 2 years ago
looks like my 65
2004blacksrt4 2 years ago
that a 402?
Etrician55 2 years ago
@Etrician55 no, 402"s are shorter , 2 cyi vs 4cyl
TAHITI1967 2 years ago
i own a Mercury 500 thunderbolt ignition(blue stripes) 50hp and its the best outboards engne i've ever had! plenty of power and unkillable! love it
LG2TK 3 years ago
agreed, these are the best motors ever built. i have a 1969 200 (20 hp) and a 1972 402 (40 hp). these engines were way underrated in hp from the factory and will run circles around omc's of the same hp/vintage. mercury lovers should read Iron Fist, carl kiekhaeffer's biograpy and history of mercury. it is excellent.
satchelh 3 years ago
smooth
zjk1634 3 years ago
Man these are the greatest outboards ever built. I got a 1968 65 in PERFECT running condition on a 1970 V-bottom and we can haul!
stubbstheman88 3 years ago
what horse power is it?
myridef150 4 years ago
about 135 hp buddy
wert60 3 years ago
If the cowling (wrap-around) and the face plate are the correct ones for that engine, it's a late 60's to early 70's model. The only 135's made during that time (1970-1971) were 6-cylinder models. That's either a 3 or 4 cylinder. It could be a 50-4, a 65-3, or an 80 or 85-4. From the sound & performance, I'd have to say it's a 50hp 4 cylinder, made between 1968 & 1973.
cjack56 3 years ago
I have what looks like the same one as this guy and its a 500 (50 hp) 4 cyl i love the look of these ol merc's
gityermudon 2 years ago
135? your smoking crack.
canoetaco 3 years ago
If its an 800 series, its 80 HP. Mine was a 4 cylinder. AWESOME torque in this engine and mine did 40 mph at WOT on a 16 footer deep V runabout. Great engines!!!
allanjenny 3 years ago
thunderbolt ignition really is high voltage trust me i found out when i was 7 years old . standing it water . decided to pull the plugg wire off . it snapped me back about 10 feet
enginemasterbuilder 4 years ago
Wonderful video! When I am up in Northern Ontario at my cabin, there is nothing like the sound of an old merc in the morning!
billpetriejr777 4 years ago
i got a 72 merc 500 that looks just like this, is this a 500 (50 hp)???
junrau83 4 years ago
Oh man I love those mercury thunderbolt from the 70s... They last forever! Ive got a 18 feet Mailibu with a 150hp mercury. It runs great! Congratulations for owning one!
andrewwwcomv8 4 years ago
Sounds just like our 1974 Mercury 500! It sucks fuel like no tomorrow, however.
runforit420 4 years ago
hawk, me and my dad had an 1980 model 50 horse (same exact motor) and it's a 2 stroke 4 cylinder outboard same as the one shown: same ignition (thunderbolt)
cpetit3 4 years ago
thunder bolt igniton is 2 stroke 1982
k03dur1p0d 4 years ago
i just got a mercury,4 cyl, 50hp outboard with thunderbolt ignition, can anyone give me any clues as to age,,and engine specs, my brother said it was a 2 stroke oil /petrol mixture, but its a 4 stroke, does it have its own oil supply, ie sump etc, havent run it yet going to service it first, seems ok, just concerned about the oil
hawktalkuk 4 years ago
If its thunderbolt ignition, its probably 1975-1980s.
Is it a two or four stroke?
mjkft22 4 years ago
If you can find the serialnumber on the engine, than is there a site which can help you. Look it up on oldmercs.There you find the year the engine was build. Greetz from Holland
vaageling 4 years ago
Sounds great !!!!
honkeytonker 4 years ago
very nice. i have a 1981 Mercury 800 (80 horse) with Thunderbolt ignition, runs excellent
mjkft22 4 years ago
hi need parts for merc 800 80hp . but no serial no. any ideas where i will find it
thanks ,rjhnewton
rjhnewton 4 years ago
uk ebay mate ..someone called bill higham he has everything
electricdixie34 4 years ago
uk ebay mate ..someone called bill higham he has everything
electricdixie34 4 years ago
Can´t wait to start my own 500 Merc ´69!
classicfiberglass 5 years ago