Mercury Manuals?

[phil]

I just picked up my first Mercury, a KD3.

It has spark and 110lbs compression (was sold as a runner). I haven’t pulled the flywheel or the snap ring to see what the impeller looks like. There isn’t a decal, so there are no starting instructions.

The spark plug wire is cracking, so I plan to replace: do I need to take off the tank to pull the flywheel?

Anyone have any manual scans that would be helpful?
I have the condensed “New Part’s List” for 1939-1953 models.

Thanks in advance!

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

[billw]

KD3s are great runners, when they are right. You don’t NEED to pull the tank to pull the flywheel; but doing so will make your life 10 times easier. There is a fairly recent thread here, about making a modern and readily available impeller fit into these motors. Gear case seals are usually shot. use John Deere cornhead grease or equivalent. Parts lists with pictures are a little hard to come by but I think somebody here has one. If you know how to start a 3hp OMC product, then you know how to start a KD3. 16:1 fuel/oil ratio. They have plain bearings, not rollers.

Long live American manufacturing!

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by billw.

[phil]

Thanks! I had seen the Antique Outboarder article, and its repost here:

https://aomci.org/forums/topic/wizard-wd-3s-impeller-question/

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by phil.
• This reply was modified 5 years, 1 month ago by phil.

[mercuryspecialist]

Hello,
They actually are “full jeweled” (needle and roller bearings) powerheads, but the lower unit does have bushing bearings.
Personally, I am not a fan of grinding the thickness (height) of an impeller to allow it to fit. Even with a mill or lathe, it would be difficult to accurately “cut” the vanes.. It however is not difficult to remove the impeller during long storage periods. Do call if you need some help with parts.

Regards,
Joe
(770) 597-5992

[seakaye12]

Just in case others who end up reading this post may not be aware…..the Western NY Chapter of this great organization has a substantial collection of Mercury parts manuals on their site…..available for download. The can be seen here:http://www.wnyaomci.org/manual.html

[billw]

I have never opened one up that I can remember but I have seen quite a few with the power head off the mid section. No lower crank roller bearing that I ever noticed….I had gotten the idea of plain bearings from someplace…..I wonder where….word of mouth, I think. Upon looking at the parts list, I was amazed to see that they had roller bearings for the connecting rod right back to the K1! Wow! Anyway, I personally would still use 16:1 ratio.

Long live American manufacturing!

[phil]

Anyone know what’s being sold here?

http://mercury-vintage.marineservicemanuals.com/Kiekhaefer-Mercury-KD3-Comet-1946-Service-Manual.html

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

[phil]

FINALLY picked up a 7/8″ socket to remove the nut holding on the starter sheave onto the KD3 flywheel. There are two sets of (surprisingly small to this OMC guy) three threaded holes in the flywheel: are these for pulling the flywheel? What size screw/bolt??

Thanks in advance!

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

[billw]

Geez, I just did this last winter and don’t remember, now! I what to say they are 1/4-20, like most small OMCs. I don’t remember anything odd about it.

Long live American manufacturing!

[phil]

Definitely smaller than the holes in my 1965 Evinrude 3hp flywheel

http://www.omc-boats.org
http://www.aerocraft-boats.org

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