1983 Merc 50hp

[NZ Sidewinder]

Ive been offered a genuine 10 hr one owner 1983 50hp Merc.
750 bucks
Ive got lots of outboards and the wife wants new curtains but this one is begging me to come to my place.
Any support out there

[atgill]

I paid 100 dollars for my 1979 50hp Merc, and controls. and it ran like a top. Had to buy a prop. Replace water pump. I put it on a 1958 Fiberglide boat the I rebuilt.
That 50hp is basically a new motor

[NZ Sidewinder]

Well Ive taken up the offer.
It comes with remotes and the original sales docs.
It was last used and removed from the boat back in 1988 being stored ever since.
The old guy that owned it died and its being sold by his wife who has told me her husband never really used it because he brought a bigger boat in 1988.
The pull start will tell the story.
Anyway ill probably scope the bores and make sure the engine is in good working order before de- commissioning it for display only.
It will look good next to my Full sized Barber Shop Indian.
Wife will be ecstatic about it Im sure.
Lol

[NZ Sidewinder]

Yes
One day it may end up back in America

[22R]

I'd go for it be dammed da curtains...... Pics please when you get it.

22R

[NZ Sidewinder]

In those days that was US$1750.00

[jk67switzer]

That's a great motor and a helluva deal !! I'd buy that in a heartbeat if it was offered to me.

[NZ Sidewinder]

Well some sad news.
The freight company dropped the outboard and it has been badly damaged.
The repairs will probably be documented on this thread.
It needs a new top cowl and mid cowl as well as both front and rear cowl support structures and pull start housing.
Turned out to be a short shaft.
Spark plugs are still painted black on the hex and it is as new.
There is a fair bit of finger pointing going on as to which branch of the company dropped it but an investigation is under way.
Im one of the companies larger clients so will apply as much pressure as I can to ensure a reasonable outcome.
We will find straight parts that can be refinished to a new condition,
This is a photo of just one damaged part.

[DangerNewb]

Bummer. That does look basically new other than the damage of course.

[mikesufka]

That sucks !

MDS

[NZ Sidewinder]

Ill update the restoration of this motor as it happens
So far Ive found a couple of donor motors to fix this one but its not as simple as that.
One of the donors is a really good fresh water motor that deserves a restoration itself and the other is just a donor.
So now I need more donors because one donor isnt enough to fix two motors.
The primary motor needs a new head as well so Ill just keep buying motors.
The impact of the fall bent the lug at the top of the head so that head is trash.
The damaged clam shell is at the coating specialist as a practice piece.
He is figuring out which process to use to strip the paint and will practice respraying it with various paints.
Once he has it sorted Ill give him 2 complete Cowls and a bunch of other stuff to do in black.
Here in NZ these 1970s-early 80s 50hp's motors are selling for around 500 bucks as only just or not running.
There are heaps of them but they are mostly buried in sheds.
The 150's are a rare beast though and I passed up a mint one six months ago for 1500 bucks. Dumb.

[NZ Sidewinder]

It's been a while but it's getting there.
Just paint required now.

[delawarerick]

I bought a 1988 classic 50 for 300 with controls looks as not many hours but the lower unit has never been off. I'm afraid to run without a new water pump and had surgery so it sits on the stand.

[NZ Sidewinder]

Today it ran for the first time in almost 40yrs.
The carbs were very clean and I put 20 to 1 fuel through it.
Fired second pull
https://youtu.be/39xuc-jO1zk?si=1H62eic8ot_NoJMJ