The SN on my Merc 40 4 cyl 2 stroke is OC 186507. After some Googling, I
come up with 1989. Is that right?

Steve

SteveB wrote:
The SN on my Merc 40 4 cyl 2 stroke is OC 186507. After some Googling, I
come up with 1989. Is that right?

1989 MERCURY 40 ELPTO

It's an in-line 4 cylinder

Mercury service manual 90-814676R1. Please do NOT buy an after market
manual - they are not worth the price and contain more misinformation
than truth.


--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

"Dave Brown" wrote in message
news:BqCdnTjXDPTRcDDUnZ2dnUVZ_sninZ2d@wtccommunica tions.ca...
SteveB wrote:
The SN on my Merc 40 4 cyl 2 stroke is OC 186507. After some Googling, I
come up with 1989. Is that right?

1989 MERCURY 40 ELPTO

It's an in-line 4 cylinder

Mercury service manual 90-814676R1. Please do NOT buy an after market
manual - they are not worth the price and contain more misinformation than
truth.


--
Regards,
Dave Brown
Brown's Marina Ltd
http://brownsmarina.com/

Thanks. I have copied this to my boat file. You probably saved me money,
as I am already looking at manuals. I want to wait until I have this in my
possession, and the manual, too before doing anything hasty. I still have
to figure out the up/down rocker switch on the starboard side. Looks like a
couple of wires disengaged. Will know more when I get it home, cleaned up,
a hot battery, check electrical, and can trouble shoot it.

Thanks again.

Steve

wrote in message
...
On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 20:26:12 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

Thanks. I have copied this to my boat file. You probably saved me money,
as I am already looking at manuals. I want to wait until I have this in
my
possession, and the manual, too before doing anything hasty. I still have
to figure out the up/down rocker switch on the starboard side. Looks like
a
couple of wires disengaged. Will know more when I get it home, cleaned
up,
a hot battery, check electrical, and can trouble shoot it.

Thanks again.

Steve


The tilt/trim switch is a simple SPDT rocker switch that picks one or
the other (up/down) solenoid on the motor.
On my 89 they looked like lawn tractor starter solenoids. I assume the
marine version is "marinized" as in three times as expensive but one
from the lawn mower shop will work until you get a real one. ;-)

This is the wiring color code that will help you sort out the wires
http://gfretwell.com/electrical/merc%20color%20code.pdf

Thanks. Copied to file. I'm getting so much info here, I may not have to
buy a manual. ;-)

Steve

wrote in message
...
On Wed, 4 Mar 2009 06:52:55 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:


wrote in message
. ..
On Tue, 3 Mar 2009 20:26:12 -0700, "SteveB"
wrote:

Thanks. I have copied this to my boat file. You probably saved me
money,
as I am already looking at manuals. I want to wait until I have this in
my
possession, and the manual, too before doing anything hasty. I still
have
to figure out the up/down rocker switch on the starboard side. Looks
like
a
couple of wires disengaged. Will know more when I get it home, cleaned
up,
a hot battery, check electrical, and can trouble shoot it.

Thanks again.

Steve


The tilt/trim switch is a simple SPDT rocker switch that picks one or
the other (up/down) solenoid on the motor.
On my 89 they looked like lawn tractor starter solenoids. I assume the
marine version is "marinized" as in three times as expensive but one
from the lawn mower shop will work until you get a real one. ;-)

This is the wiring color code that will help you sort out the wires
http://gfretwell.com/electrical/merc%20color%20code.pdf

Thanks. Copied to file. I'm getting so much info here, I may not have to
buy a manual. ;-)

Steve


If you are really going to work on the engine you need the real book.
Like Dave says, get the real Merc manual. Those Seloc and other clones
are not particularly accurate since they try to cover several
generations of engine. The other stumbling block is you need special
tools for a lot of tasks.
I have nursed 3 Mercs along for a total of about 7000 hours over the
last quarter century on my old pontoon. The good news for me was I
never had an internal power head problem but I have been into just
about everything else.

I am looking forward to this. As a younger man, I frequently pulled and
reinstalled small block Chevies, doing valve jobs, turning cranks, etc. Did
some boat repairs, too. Got too many tools. Will send off for the Mercury
book suggested as soon as I get this puppy home and make sure I'm getting
the right one, and passing that last hurdle of the paperwork. It ain't over
till it's over. Looks like there may be an issue with the power trim, but
that is an item that can work or not.

Oh, good. I got a reason to buy some new "specialty" tools.

Steve