Model Boat Mayhem

The Shipyard ( Dry Dock ): Builds & Questions => Pleasure boats, Sports, Race, Power and Leisure Boats: => Topic started by: rcecos on May 14, 2011, 07:31:17 pm

Title: merco 60 engine
Post by: rcecos on May 14, 2011, 07:31:17 pm
hi guys and girls
i am quiet new to the nitro world of boats but i have always had nitro planes and heli and cars but never a boat
so brought a fiberglass boat from ebay in pretty good condition
it come with two engines a jba unsure never heard off
and a merco 60
i need spares for this engine i.e the gasket that goes between both bits of ally on the water cooling jacket
is there a model shop that is very good with boats cause theres quiet a few other bits needed
or websites   
and im not being stupid but the merco 60 it is a nitro engine cause just looked at google and it looks like a tiny spark plug or is that the 61
thanks
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: omra85 on May 14, 2011, 08:33:22 pm
Hi
The Merco will be a "61".  It will probably be a 'glowplug' engine (in that the "spark plug" has a coil of wire rather than an electrode with a gap). A glowplug engine does not need any ignition equipment in the boat, unlike a petrol engine, only a 1.5 - 2.0 volt battery for starting. These engines run on glow-fuel (methanol).
If it has a screw-down crossbar at the top, it is a diesel engine.
Mercos were designed and built in the 60's so are a very old design and only used as "sports" engines due to the low power output.  Some information about the company can be found here - http://www.iroquois.free-online.co.uk/merco/merco.htm#TOP (http://www.iroquois.free-online.co.uk/merco/merco.htm#TOP)

JBA are a more modern engine so should produce more power - however - these engines are Chinese, and although the quality has improved considerably in recent years, the early models were very poorly made and unreliable.  Infromation on the company products here - http://www.jba-engine.com/index.asp (http://www.jba-engine.com/index.asp)

If the boat was already fitted with one of the engines, I suggest you try that first and see if it works and gives you the speed you want.  If it doesn't, then try the other or even consider getting a more modern engine from say, Just Engines (the ASP has come on in leaps and bounds but is still cheap).

As for any other bits - your local model shop is unlikely to stock a lot of fast marine products, but depending on where you are living, there are a few good suppliers for most of what you will need (may have to be mail order though).  Things like gaskets, you will have to make yourself (brown wrapping paper is a good material).

Hope that helps,

Danny
BMPRS Chairman
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: JB on May 14, 2011, 09:17:49 pm
I bought a Merco 61 back in 1967, I didn't have the chance to actually run the engine...long story so I won't bore you !

Its difficult to say if you should try to fix the Merco or change to the other engine (I don't know that make) or even consider electric power for the boat you have...a lot will depend on your experience with things mechanical...and the type and size of your boat.               

Can you describe the boat or better still...any photo's ? some of the engine would be helpfull...so we can see the condition etc.

I've run about 25-30 glow engines over the years...I've lost count now, I'm an R/C aircraft modeller, I have run 2 diesels too but that was some time ago, the basic principals are the same for boat and aircraft glow engines.

J.







 
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: brianB6 on May 15, 2011, 12:01:16 am
The Merco engines were designed and built by Henry J Nicholls and his sons, in their model shop in Holloway Road, London.   No doubt, long gone.  <:(
I did my architecture course at the then, Northern Polytechnic, just the other side of the railway bridge from them and used to call in regularly for balsa for architectural models and bits for my boats.
They had a tiny courtyard at the rear where they tested the motors.   I don't know what the neighbours thought, since it acted as a amplifier!!!!! %%
They were aircraft enthusiasts and as far as I am aware, all their motors were air cooled but could probably be fitted with a water jacket.  Ripmax in Camden Town were not far away, and they had jackets to fit most aero motors.
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: JB on May 15, 2011, 05:26:04 am
I have to be honest and say I can't remember the history of Merco, I bought my '61' at Harry Welch's 'Modellers Mecca' on Church St Preston, in 1967/8, £30 worth of paper rounds...!!!

They were available either aircooled for planes or watercooled marine, mine had twin plugs.

There doesn't seem to be much choice of new marine glow or diesel engines today, although an aircooled version of many engines could be converted with the a suitable waterjacket and flywheel.

Here's a link to one make of engine which is reasonably priced and has a good reputation (now that is... ok2)

http://www.justengines.co.uk/acatalog/A.S.P._Marine_2_Stroke.html
  
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: rcecos on May 16, 2011, 12:10:33 am
hi well wow thanks for the response i shall get photos up during the week of boat and engines
some one mentioned a couple of mail order places for parts for the boats what would these be i.e name of company
or any shops in london
cheers
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: scoop on May 16, 2011, 08:36:30 am
hi well wow thanks for the response i shall get photos up during the week of boat and engines
some one mentioned a couple of mail order places for parts for the boats what would these be i.e name of company
or any shops in london
cheers

Hi,

Company names that may be able to help you out, as Danny said above....Just Engines at www.justengines.unseen.org  they provide manifold and tuned exhaust bundles as well or for boat hardware Prestwich Models at www.prestwich.ndirect.co.uk

Regards
Scoop
BMPRS PRO
www.bmprs.co.uk
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: JB on May 16, 2011, 10:06:39 am
Here's a link to another 'engine man' who is also worth trying for older I.C. engines of almost any make, his website makes for interesting reading...if you have the inclination take a look  ok2

http://www.motorvationmodelengines.co.uk/Services_i_offer.html
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: brianB6 on May 16, 2011, 11:14:23 am
Henry J Nichols are possibly still in existence:
    Phone (0) 20 7609 7700
Location: 308 Holloway Road, Holloway, London, N7 6NP
Also look them up on google for their history.
I should have looked further down the page.
You are right about the change to 308 Models.
I thought Henry designed the Merco but they were only an outlet.   It was Bill Morley and Ron Checksfield who designed them.   Sorry to both.   I must have met Bill at the shop.
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: omra85 on May 16, 2011, 11:19:26 am
Henry J Nichols are possibly still in existence:
Location: 308 Holloway Road, Holloway, London, N7 6NP

This is now "308 Models" owned by Richard Harris.  They are more into cars and helis than boats, but they do have boat experience.
It's doubtful they even sell Mercos as they specialise in Picco.

Cheers
Danny
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: Artistmike on May 29, 2011, 10:33:55 pm
Hi All
Ref MERCO 61 MARINE. RINGED OR ABC FUEL METHONAL AND 20% CASTER OIL, AND UP TO 10% NITRO

THAY ARE LOW RPM BUT WILL TURN A LITTLE LARGER PROP THAN SOME.

MERCOS WERE MADE BY DJ ALLAN'S IN THE 60'S AND IN THE 70'S WAS BOUGHT BY A FRIEND REG HILL OF FOREST ENGINEEING
THEN AFTER SOME YEARS MOVED ON TO SOUTHMINSTER IN ESSEX. SPARES ARE A PROBLOM .

                         MERCO'S GO ON FOREVER IF LOOKED AFTER.
                                                      VINCE
Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: tony23 on May 30, 2011, 09:23:23 pm
In the early 70's my best friend worked on Saturdays in the Merco factory on an industrial estate in Edmonton North London, we were only in our teens and he used to bring to my house pocket fulls of bits out of the waste bins and we used to build complete engines from unwanted parts.
Merco did make marine engines including the 61 as I still have all my Mercos the only difference is a water jacket and flywheel with a groove for the starter string for the marine version.

In the 70's I spent all my pocket money in Henry J Nichols in Holloway Road I new Richard Nichols very well it did go through a lean period when the first computers and gaming machines appeared and Richard gave the business to his son who started to sell computer games for a number of years. It was bought out eventally and started to sell aeromodeling and car related items again and still going today.

Title: Re: merco 60 engine
Post by: BJ on June 12, 2011, 10:49:25 am

i need spares for this engine i.e the gasket that goes between both bits of ally on the water cooling jacket
is there a model shop that is very good with boats cause theres quiet a few other bits needed
or websites   


The man you need is John D Haytree see the website at  http://www.flyingsites.co.uk/shopfront/archive/haytree.htm (http://www.flyingsites.co.uk/shopfront/archive/haytree.htm)