Reply To: Opinions on 1964 Merc 500?

[Pondrocket]

Great engine there. Don’t pass it up if you have the chance to pick it up for a fair price.

I’ll have to take a look at the book you’re referring to before I can give you a qualified opinion on what it says.

As for the Mercury 500 in question, I’d suggest changing the water pump impeller first, then firing it up and giving it a good test run. After that, I would plan on going through the following:

• Carburetors
• Magneto/ignition system
• Fuel lines and fuel pump
• Electric starter and recoil starter

As long as the wiring hasn’t been chewed up, cracked, or badly deteriorated, it should be fine for the time being.

Keep in mind, this is a 60-plus-year-old motor, so it’s going to need some TLC. Once you work through these items and get everything updated and properly adjusted, you should have a fine-running engine that will give you years of enjoyment.

Don’t let one book change your mind about these old Mercurys. They can be a little tricky to work on, and you definitely need some patience, but all in all, the Mercury 500 is a great motor to own and run.

Travis