Mercury Through The Years...

**2us70** · 06-01-2017, 03:41 PM

We had an older motor without that provision (might have been a 44ci Merc 400). We made an adapter plate from plate aluminum. Worked great for about a year but then the driveshaft splines started to fail. That adapter caused the driveshaft splines to not engage fully so Brooke Russell sleeved and pinned a slightly longer top end on the shaft. Over the years I suffered just about every common failure from breaking off the top of a crank to breaking out the rear bearing carrier in the lower unit and most of the stuff in between. I learned a lot and with the help of a few knowledgeable friends I got so I could make the 500s run pretty good and pretty reliable too.

**bernie** · 06-01-2017, 04:58 PM

Heres just a pretty picture of mine - now being replaced by a 650XS.

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**FUJIMO** · 06-01-2017, 05:39 PM

...Had the exact same 14' CheckMate Bernie. Green metalflake. Louvered blue-stripe J-motor. Ran unusually well considering it's rounded V-bottom. You did a nice job cleaning that one up. Looks great.

**2us70** · 06-01-2017, 05:45 PM

That's nice. A real classic.
I will have to admit that I probably made every tuning and setup mistake in the book on those motors. Hell,I probably added a couple to the book but it was all a learning experience and great fun.

**2us70** · 06-01-2017, 05:50 PM

I have driven several 15' Checkmates with J motors and if you can manage a 14 with one you have my admiration.

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...Had the exact same 14' CheckMate Bernie. Green metalflake. Louvered blue-stripe J-motor. Ran unusually well considering it's rounded V-bottom. You did a nice job cleaning that one up. Looks great.

**2us70** · 06-01-2017, 05:56 PM

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My Action MX13 clone with 3cyl 650 in 1973

**bernie** · 06-01-2017, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by FUJIMO

...Had the exact same 14' CheckMate Bernie. Green metalflake. Louvered blue-stripe J-motor. Ran unusually well considering it's rounded V-bottom. You did a nice job cleaning that one up. Looks great.

It actually is a 1968 131, 13'. Orignally owned by the Kiekhaefer Corporation, and was a playtoy of Freddy hisself. Fred verified that for me when he recognized the deck mounted tach tube and the forerunners to K-Planes, built by JD Emerson at the Lake - which is cool because I know JD also. Fred sent me a "Dialed in at Lake X" decal, its on the dash. It says "dialed in at Lake X" and then is autographed "by Fred Kiekhaefer". During my resto process I found the

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Kiekhaefer Corp property tags for the boat and trailer! The seats I had reupholstered but that back tank cover is original upholstery! Also has early tilt wheel Ride Guide! I did respray the deck but the rest was just buffed up. Bottom has about 3 feet of SuperGlide at the keel. Getting close to trying it with the 650XS, some rigging to finish. Check out those original 50 year old transom bolts!

**2us70** · 06-01-2017, 06:40 PM

A word of warning. Those MX13s did not play well with the 650 lower units. Lots of prop blowout. I found them to handle better with the big units on the 850s in G class. I got my 13' Action cheap because the first owner spun it several times and scared himself. I managed to make it better but every once in a while it would try to go sideways.

**FMP** · 06-01-2017, 06:54 PM

I had that motor as well, strong and great looking. Turned a two blade, seems strange now.

**bernie** · 06-01-2017, 07:02 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

A word of warning. Those MX13s did not play well with the 650 lower units. Lots of prop blowout. I found them to handle better with the big units on the 850s in G class. I got my 13' Action cheap because the first owner spun it several times and scared himself. I managed to make it better but every once in a while it would try to go sideways.

Maybe thats why there is a fin on one of the tabs? The boat had something bigger on it at some point in time, found big bracket bolt holes and a PT harness tucked away under the gunnel. I will work into the XS with caution. Thanks!

**FUJIMO** · 06-01-2017, 07:11 PM

...1968 CheckMate/Mercury...

**bernie** · 06-01-2017, 07:13 PM

Originally Posted by 2us70

A word of warning. Those MX13s did not play well with the 650 lower units. Lots of prop blowout. I found them to handle better with the big units on the 850s in G class. I got my 13' Action cheap because the first owner spun it several times and scared himself. I managed to make it better but every once in a while it would try to go sideways.

Maybe thats why there is a fin on one of the tabs? The boat had something bigger on it at some point in time, found big bracket bolt holes and a PT harness tucked away under the gunnel. I will work into the XS with caution. Thanks!

**Dave Strong** · 06-01-2017, 07:22 PM

Originally Posted by bernie

Maybe thats why there is a fin on one of the tabs? The boat had something bigger on it at some point in time, found big bracket bolt holes and a PT harness tucked away under the gunnel. I will work into the XS with caution. Thanks!

How were those tabs adjusted?

Dave

**FUJIMO** · 06-01-2017, 07:26 PM

...Fred Kiekhaefer(previous president of Mercury Racing) and family friend & business partner Rex Runzheimer will be introducing the long awaited & much anticipated new K-Drive, initially behind diesel power. Rex owns Runzheimer International in Wisconsin, who's business is workforce mobility programs & related mobile workforce management, commercial real estate, etc., among many other businesses. Rex is the manager of the recently formed Miami Florida corporation KDrive, LLC. The new testbed boat is a Cigarette...or is it a NorTech...or...? In just a few more weeks we will have more exciting news regarding this new drive system. (file photo)