Mercury Mark 40-H

[Mark75H]

The top picture is an early Bass lower unit with ram water inlet.

The second one is unknown to me; bottom looks like a Konig, but top looks like antique OMC

The third is a Yamato horizontal split "hatchet"

The forth is an Eldredge lower unit. It should say MHE on the other side with a 3 digit number that is the serial number. The propshaft closest to the tool box looks like it fits the Eldredge

[Mike Schmidt]

Is a Hot Rod unit with a large skeg welded on. I have done a bunch of these over the years. I am thinking this may be one of them. On reworked units, if I don't fill them with gear lube, I write a big note on the side, "No Oil" . Can almost read this on this one......

Michael D-1

[A/B Speedliner]

The 40H Doug Kay restored for my brother Alan has its first test run with Doug's brother Jim at the helm of his hydro. With only 10 to 15 minutes of test time in the tank the engine was actually tested on a boat today. The first pass provided a 65-70 GPS speed. The water was a little bumpy and on the second pass the engine took a swallow of water. Number 3 plug fouled. After drying out the engine a second run was made and Jim said the engine felt stronger but due to the rough water conditions he could not read the GPS.
The test was done with an unknow prop that looked like a good place to start with. Then engine was tucked under but it carried the sponsons nearly a foot clear of the water.

As additional test are called in I will post the results. They are testing in Mich. and I am in Florida.

David

[John (Taylor) Gabrowski]

One Yamato Hatchet for sure. The one that is supposed to be Konig (Skeg looks like Bass) also looks like Bass. The one with fastening above and below the propshaft looks like Inson and the other maybe an Eldrege.

[David_L6]

Originally Posted by John Taylor

One Yamato Hatchet for sure. The one that is supposed to be Konig (Skeg looks like Bass) also looks like Bass. The one with fastening above and below the propshaft looks like Inson and the other maybe an Eldrege.

Bass, Hot Rod, Yamato, Eldredge.

[Mark75H]

Originally Posted by John Taylor

One Yamato Hatchet for sure. The one that is supposed to be Konig (Skeg looks like Bass) also looks like Bass. The one with fastening above and below the propshaft looks like Inson and the other maybe an Eldrege.

Definitely not an Inson. An Inson is a direct copy of a Crescent; 2 piece main housing with rear load shaft. Mike told us what it is and that he probably did the alteration.

There is no maybe on the Eldredge, nothing else looks like Marshall's work.

[John (Taylor) Gabrowski]

Seen an Eldrege on a 44 Quincy Flathead in Florida a few years back. Some one mentioned that some 500 Eldrege gearcases were built, did that include some kind of "tractor" lower unit or were they all, the props on a rearward propshaft?

[Mark75H]

You are correct, Marshall told me he made approximately 500. Some were ABC Merc, some D Merc and some Konig. I do not think he ever made a tractor unit. Tractor units have been illegal for more than 60 years.

I have never seen any of the ABC Eldredge units and only one Eldredge to fit the Konig pattern.

[Aeroliner]

Thanks all with the identification of the gear cases. Two are brand new and two are rebuilt shown in the photos. All in all I bought about 25 lower units, most of them are apart but all seem complete. As I go through them and get them reassembled the ones that I don't need I will be selling. I also found a new 25XS case and two 44XS cases all new in the items i packed.

Yesterday we ran the red 44 cubic inch Mark 40-H and things went quite well. Low speed settings were a little to lean so we had to work the stalling problem when you let off the throttle. While doing that we caught a wave and fowled the #3 plug so a bit more adjustements. We set the engine kicked in 2 degrees and 3/4 in down from the bottom at the tail of the prop shaft shaft. Ran an old Steel Kamac prop with the short skeg lower unit. Engine pulled the boad on plain without an issue. We put 4 gallons of fuel through it and it loosened up quite nicely. Early runs were in the high 60's until we got some time on it. We didn't know if the welded cyliners would be a problem but they worked great. The area where we tested wasn't the best with lots of pleasure boat traffic but the the guys with the hot jet skis got their minds blown when we blew past them. All in all it was a great day with the boat just touching the low 80's. We will have to add a bit more kick in when we run a good 3 blade wheel. Hope you like the photos.

Alan

PS: Also firede the KF-9 for the first time. Engine lit on the third pull and ran on the fourth.

[John (Taylor) Gabrowski]

I just love those Tillotson KC6s staring out of that 40H, 44 Modified. Going hunting at least once in Formular E, just for fun? You already have the exhaust divider system cast in situ and with redone combustion chambers and 44 cubic inch displacement into the block some extra tuning turns it into a frightening relic! What a sleeper shocker that would be!!

There was sure of difference getting a first ride on a P50 into the mid 50 mph ranges then grabbing a Merc KG9 with a 40H tower and lower unit and getting over 60. The mid 1960s seem a long time ago! lol!

On the parts, what a haul of stuff! One only can wonder how many motors could be completed or restored with all that?