1946 KD4
This is my 1st pre-'50 Merc. I generally
stick to the Mk series motors, but I'm developing a real sweet tooth for
these little "K" models. I'd like to find a few of the '40/ '41 motors,
and a KD3S/KD4S (recoil model '46-'47). I had to replace the carb and the
"bra cup" plug covers are missing. I'll scrounge them up at a swap meet I
hope.
This was my 1st "green tank" Merc. When I got it, the was no
spark on one cylinder and very little on the other, the lower cowl was missing
along with some of the throttle/ choke parts. The recoil was gone too. The
motor sat around while I worked on others, but little by little, I gathered
parts for it. I swiped the coils from a KE4 power head that I found and gave
it a go just to see how it ran. It had great compression and started right
up! I put it away for later and there is sat for a while. Fast forward to
Aug. '00, I was getting married soon and received an early wedding present.
A friend had found a complete "Q" length quicky tower and gear case and was
giving it to me! I cleaned up the tower/ foot and there were no cracks, welds,
or chips at all. The only thing missing was the transom clamp and swivel pin.
I bolted on a spare KG7 clamp and the KG7 power head, mostly just to see
it all together. I really had no intentions at that time of putting the KG
power head on it, I figured I'd find another one for it. Eventually, I got
the plans for my 1st hydroplane, built the boat, needed a motor for it and
now, the KG7 has become a race motor. I ran it a few times in the
late fall when I got the boat pretty much done (the boat story is in the
"Boat Projects" section), then put it up for the winter, again with plans
of finding a different power head. Over the winter, I got bored and decided
to restore the KG7, then I figured I may as well do the Quicky tower/ foot
as well. I started with the
gas tank and
recoil, then pulled the power head apart to check everything and clean
out carbon, etc. I got the tank/ recoil looking nice (filled a few dings
and scratches) and painted them, painted the power head parts, then started
on the tower/ gear case for the Q. There were a lot of casting flaws in the
tower so I filled quite a bit of it with spot putty. The small side cover
on the tower was also missing, so I made one out of 1/8" aluminum. There
was a little bit of pitting starting on the gear case, that got filled also.
I forgot to mention, the tower and case had been chrome plated at one point
and was flaking pretty bad, so I had to strip the whole assembly anyway.
I also replaced the bushing in the tail cone (Thanks to Dan W!) and the impeller.
It runs great and now looks great too!
This is how it looked when I picked it up, and
here's a shot with the other 2 motors I got that day. This is how the
KG/ Q looked before
resto. I've still got the standard KG7 tower and gear case and I'm keeping
it until someday I'll find another power head for the racer. I'm going to
use it to death and would hate to ruin the good original power head. I'd
like to put together a "race" power head from spare parts if I can track
them all down.
56 Mk6
Pic #2
This is a great little motor that I got from
a friend. He had it sitting in his shed for years and asked if I wanted it.
The paint is pretty faded, and at some point, his son decided to do a little
"touch up" with red spray paint. Most of the original decals are still there
and it runs great. I was thinking of restoring it, but I think I'll leave
this one "as-is". It's pretty ugly, but it's got character. I may still end
up doing it, though. The neutral cable sticks a little sometimes, so I may
have to take it apart anyway.
1957 Mk55E
The main motor
for the Trojan. Right now, it's a mix-n-match motor. I pulled it apart over
the winter to paint, but didn't do anything mechanical (it ran fine last
year). When I put it back together, there was a slight knock in the power
head. I didn't want to run it and chance really hurting it, so I put the
'58 Mk55 power head on it for now. The original gear case and starter need
work, so the '58 donated a gear case and a Merc 400 gave up a starter. I'll
put it back to original when everything is repaired. For now it runs great
and wants to get back in the water (my motors talk to me sometimes, usually
after a long wrenching session, and perhaps a beer or 2).
***NEW!!***
Here's a few "As found" pics of this motor
pic 1
pic 2
pic 3
Here's my 1st old outboard
'57 Evinrude Lark 35
