I know the trim system and motor pretty well. I agree if the motor has compression the rest can be done to make the motor 100% on the cheap. The old inline 4 50hp is about as tough as a cut nail. The trim pump inside the boat looks factory. It is the same pump that the I/O's use. The hydraulic cylinders are mounted outboard of the clamp bracket. If you start to tinker with the hydraulic hoses be real careful threading the stainless fitting back into the aluminum housing. The three buttons were the same as most all the Merc controls. Down, Trim and Tilt as I recall. With that setup you only need a up and down type switch. The trim pump motor has a brush card and is easy to refurbish if the windings are still good. Had one on the back of a flatbottom boat. Not a ball of fire in the hp dept. but it would absolutely scream and was silky smooth. The good ole' days

There should be a release valve on the pump to be able to let it up and down manually, if need be.

Great little motors, electrical system can be a pain in the ***.. The trim setup sounds about right for that era, should have 2 rams, one on either side of the motor if i remember correctly.

That is one of the best Mercs made and I have been accused of not being a Mercury fan. But I will admit to owning a bunch of them. The inline 4 cylinder like that one was what I sought out for a tiller motor for my gutted 17' Whaler pickup truck. The motor became the classic "50" in 1986 and actaully had a 40 horspower rating due to the change to prop rated hp. My motor is a 1996 40hp rating but will outrun the porky mercaha 2002 Mercury four stroke 50hp it replaced. Idles just as smooth in my opinon and isn't terrible on gas.

Brian

I had a 1987 Merc 50 on a Bass Tracker one time, it was a great running little motor, easy starting, easy on fuel, quiet for a 2 stroke.....I loved it.

Anyone familiar with these enough to help me find a carb rebuild kit? It is an 1982 (serial 5951267) with a tillotson carb. Cannot find any other info on it and it seems like there are 50 different carbs for that year.

-Svence

Well found a rebuild kit and will start tearing them apart. Now my only problem is I don't know how they go back on.... When I bought the boat the carbs were off and I can't figure out the linkage system for the choke. Anyone have an idea or pic on one rigged up? I can't seem to get everything to line up from the electric choke to the linkage.

-Svence

You can get what ever you want for that motor here.I use them for parts for my 1977 merc 1500.http://www.boats.net/parts/search/Me...0UP/parts.html

Had one on a smaller boat years ago EXACTLY like that...very dependable and strong little motor. I agree with "brushes in starter, check compression, go from there"

My Dad had a 1972 Mercury 80 h.p. which looks exactly like that motor but with red instead of blue trim. Merc did not change those 4 and 6 cylinder motors for quite a while. It was a great motor for about 6 years but then starting having electrical issues. Dad was frequently changing "power packs." He was a PITA with Mercury though, and somehow kept getting Mercury to replace them at no charge.