Fast forward to the present >>>
Spurred on by a particularly enjoyable day at Ivy Lake and the rewards of a nice contract to kick the year off, I placed an ad on this very forum for a Merc. I was happy to consider anything really - as long as it was a runner. Within hours, I received an email from a fellow member advising of a L/S Merc Classic Fifty on eBay. The price was good, it looked clean and tidy and I was ready to go. It was listed as having a problem with a weak spark but a call to our own Alacrity convinced me this was something that could probably be sorted fairly easily.
I had the engine delivered direct to Alacrity's expansive country estate and was pleased to get a call saying that it had arrived safe and sound and certainly looked OK.
Although a self-confessed dimwit when it comes to oily things, I did check a few videos on how to change the impeller - simple enough as you all know, undo bolts, drop gearbox etc. etc.
I was greeted bright and early (for me) by Alacrity - but was slightly perturbed by the response to my cheery 'good morning' which was something along the lines of 'it may not be - we have a bit of a problem...'
Not wishing to teach my grandmother, I said 'no, it's perfectly simple, undo the bolts and it all drops down...' erm... no - apparently it doesn't. Anyway, long story short, following over two hours of hammering in wedges and he-man levering the gearbox finally parted company.
They never showed that in the video...
The drive shaft splines looked OK, but the the little spring tensioner thingy (technical term) at the end of the drive shaft was pretty corroded. A decision was taken to pull the lump out and have a look a the end of the crankshaft. Hmmm - not so much splines as rusty bumps. After a bit of spline dentistry and a blow out with the air line, it was obvious the thing was shot.
Within short order, the whole thing was broken down to its component parts, where it also revealed a shot piston. At almost every stage, there was a problem with one thing or another and I would by now have doubtless chucked it all in a skip and given up boating for ever but for Alacrity's - 'I think I've got a spare one of those...' every time a problem was encountered.
Apart from general interest and the reminder of 'Caveat Emptor', I want to put on record my heartfelt thanks to Alacrity and all my fellow CMBA Members
- the advice and assistance I have had right from my first day of joining, has been invaluable.Right then... I'm off to get the Wet+Dry - watch this space...
Robin
