Mercury 5HP:Rabbit ears go where?

[jr438234606]

Hi All,

I power my dinghy with a newer-model Mercury 5.0. I got this motor second-hand and so have no owner's manual. I can't find one online either (thanks Mercury!). I know the motor is water-cooled. I need to start it out of the water. Unlike other outboards I have owned in the past, there doesn't seem to be an obvious water intake on the lower unit. I do see a 1" diameter rubber plug on the lower unit, but I'm not sure that is the water intake since, if it were, the plug would be a major obstacle to getting water to the engine. I hesitate to remove the plug and start filling it with water!

Any ideas?

[sailingdog]

You don't say whether this is a four-stroke or two-stroke outboard. If you're planning on keeping the outboard for a while, it might make sense to get the repair manual for it. That should have almost everything you'll ever need in it.

[SailorMitch]

When I winterize my Yamaha 3 hp I attach it to a sawhorse over a large trash can I fill with water. The lower unit sticks down into the water and I can run the engine dry of fuel, do anything else I need to, can even put it in gear if I want to. Works just fine.

[TrueBlue]

I do exactly the same as SailorMitch with our 3.3 Mercury OB. It works fine and also enables a check for potential gear lube leaks from the lower unit. I would imagine most smaller outboards (15 hp or under) are done this way.

[haffiman37]

I may dissapoint You but , but Your engine is in fact a camouflaged Tohatsu! The rubber plug goes in to disconnect the shift rod, so let that one stay or the exhaust takes an unwanted exit. Just put it in a bucket of water , but take off the prop first!
PS: Only the lower unit in water!

[Johnrb]

Haffiman:

Re: "PS: Only the lower unit in water!"
Damn! Thanks, now I know my problem. ;-)