Merctrans II parts
 

Does anyone know or have a rebuild kit with seals, clutches, also looking for what I believe is the fwd gear. It is the smaller of the two it has quite a bit if wear on it. Any Info would be much appreciated. Also this is my first post so sorry if there is a better location to put this. I'm sure there is also info on this somewhere, but I couldn't find it. Thanks

I have a seal kit and some other parts.
pm me your phone and email.

rob

The clutch plates don't come in any kit. All parts for these trannys are NLA from Mercury. You can get the clutch plates online. That clutch drum and some of the associated parts are from a Ford FMX trans. Those are the clutch plates you'll need. There is no specific forward gear. The clutches lock up to give you forward. Those gears create reverse through the planetary when the band locks the drum down. Do you have a manual of this tranny to go by? I can fix you up with one if you need. Not sure exactly which gear you are talking about but I have several merctrans gears. I'll PM you.

I do not have a manual. I did get your message though, I have been meaning to send both of you a pic of the gear. I understand how it achieves Fwd and reverse now. It is the smaller gear of the two, I WILL get you both pics tonight, Thanks again for the info. So you are saying I should be able to order the drum if needed and clutches from a Ford FMX trans and they will work? That would be awesome I'd rather just put new parts in my case than buy a possible junk Trans from someone not knowing the condition of the internals.

[QUOTE=bhassett110;4670244] So you are saying I should be able to order the drum if needed and clutches from a Ford FMX trans

Not the drum but the clutches. The drum has been modified by mercury for use in that trans.

[QUOTE=picklenjim;4670465]Thanks again I believe I can clean up my drum. Thanks for the manual now there will be 100% more confidence when this goes back together.

picklenjim sent me it via email. I am not sure how to post pics yet or I would share some of the main pages for the merctans here.

It's in Mercruiser Service Manual #3. If you supply an email address I'll send it to you in PDF.

Okay, so I figured I'd let everyone know where I am at with this rebuild of the trans for other ppl searching for the info, and partly with me being bored at work... My original output shaft had a worn gear. I found a new one for $75 on ebay with help from picklenjim. I ordered new clutches from a ford FMX( Cruise-O-Matic) my clutches only measured out to .039" and they were worn quite a bit. The closest I could find was .061" from the fwd drum of the FMX here. The web site is Transpartsonline I could not post the link due to me not having 10 posts yet.
I ordered the clutch return spring and some other misc parts to see if they will work. I would like to make this as strong as possible as I am putting in a 454BBC with a 177 weiand not sure of actual power output yet, but I'll get there. Boat is a 1977 24" Panther made by Panther marine corp in Cali then later bought by the Infamous James Klem in the late 70s. I looked at some other posts about the merctans II ppl were saying the following..
"Additional notes I have for a stronger Merc trans:
1.Cryogenic treat the pump gerator.
2.Slightly clearance gerator keyway so that when the input shaft twists ever so slightly the gerator doesn't split.
3.Give the trans cooler exit its own dump (not thru exhaust)."
I could not find paper clutches the other stuff is things I will do.

I was also just told this by Mbam
"Sorry we really don't work on those any more. I can tell you that it is possible to get 1 extra clutch in there. Also the pilot bearing in the crank must be in good shape. The one other thing is you should have the mechanical shift as the electric shift is not reliable."

I'm ASS uming that I would need an extra steel too right? To install the possible extra clutch.

Yes you will need an additional steel.

You will need thin steels and possibly need to machine the front or rear pressure plate. Sorry it has been so long since we did one I really don't remember exactly. The center hub is really short so the clutch pack has to wind up in the right place so all the plates are engaged. Were you able to get the graphite clutches?

If you want call me today and we can talk about us building the drum for you.

I've never done the cryo. As far as the plates sorry I just don't remember. I would have to figure it out again as we build a drum. As pointed out the extra clearance in the gerotor is important.

If any one is interested in a bulk purchase I have at least a pallet load of Merctrans stuff. I just don't have the time to deal with it. I am sure there are enough parts to build a couple of units and have a lot left over. Send me an email and I will get some photos.

I have not received the clutches yet, I ordered them Friday. They were cheap everything I ordered came out to $56,
when I receive them I will let you know if they are the correct ones.

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Here is what we have. There are 2 transmissions that look complete and were most likely rebuilt when I bought the stuff. There is also one unit we upgraded and rebuilt in house.

WOW. I will have to see how much shipping is. I would like to have a few spares and attempt to make some stronger versions with heat and cryo treating parts. Would you be interested in selling a few complete, an the one you built in house? Don't think I could afford the whole lot...

There was a shop out west that was versed in MercTrans. Not sure if they're still around. Website doesn't seem to work anymore.

K C Marine

Bellingham WA 98225

(360) 739-3936

I was talking with Marc and K C marine was brought up. He said he had past away, said he was a really nice guy. I personally never talked to Kirk, seemed like a very good guy based on what others say about him, its a shame.

Interesting thread. Very sad news regarding Kirk.

I used to race with FMX transmissions in cars back in the day. I had a full manual valve body that I designed myself. The one thing I remember is running FEWER plates in the clutches. The shifts hit harder with fewer plates but I also bumped up the oil pump psi to about 250. It was a different application though, not saying its what you should do. The more plates in the clutch was similar to running wider tires in the snow. It would tend to distribute the load and float on top of the trans fluid where one or two plates would cut right through and lock up harder. You had to run the higher psi to do it though of course. Just a memory from reading about you guys stuffing those clutch packs. Usually more clutches were used for softer shifts and longevity in stock trannys (which may be what you want)

The teflon seals were a must. The steels were absolute trash and were why the ford transmissions sucked so bad. As soon as the fluid got hot, there went your psi through the gaps in the steels. I never cryo'd the gerator and experimented with dozens of setups running psi as high as 400-500 psi to hold those plates together under nitrous.

The FMXs suffered from weight and that huge compound planetary really tore up the mid band (2nd gear). Yes the paper plates and bands were the chit but hard to find. Occasionally I blew the ring lands off the lip of the front clutch but the later models beefed that area up (post '80).

I have a Merctrans in my SeaRay which I am rebuilding now. The challenge is going to be not modifying it ;-) I always thought Kirks ideas were great on their website, sad he's gone.

-BL

Howdy y'all from Texas. I had many great discussions with Kirk. I knew he had cancer but didn't know for sure he had died. So sad to hear. Good news is that he was a Christian and rests with the Lord now. I took some notes that I need to share somehow. I even charted out standard seal numbers that work great. The nylon seals are easily made on a lathe and I think Kirk gave me dimensions.Good thing is that Merctrans is a good and viable design to keep using. Even by this post you can see that there are tons of used parts around. The achilles heel that gets so many Merctrans is freeze damage of the cooler. The curved tip will split open and water gets in trans = bad. Rout outlet 3/8 hose to a thru hull telltale outlet and you can SEE that cooling water is passing. Keep access, via a fitting and extra hose, to the inlet water passing from belt driven pump to the trans cooler. To winterize blow compressed air thru and you'll see water clear from cooler thus removing threat of freeze damage. Should I make a Youtube video with all my info?

[email protected]

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Would you mind sending me that one as well, I'm in a similar situation and am about to take mine apart, it would sure help alot.

[email protected]
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Link to KC Marine's old website
 

Merc Trans seems to be not as bad as the reputation that precedes it.

Weakest point I have found on a MercTrans is the Output shaft, their such a small diameter. Hit your prop on something solid and it will break it. Their hard to come by also. If you see one used out there you better grab it!

With a mechanical system tq'd up at 400ftlbs...and getting it shocked like prop impact, can really test the parts, no doubt.

Weak link on the output shaft...check. I suspect if that didn't get hurt on a hard prop impact, then something next in line possibly would.

Key here I suppose...is don't hit stuff!

Pacific Northwest area has a lot of deadheads though. So always a risk no matter the precautions taken.

So True, Kirk was a old school type of guy... He shared his knowledge to me and others for many years, RIP.

I am looking for a oil cooler for the side of a merctrans 11 ,I see afew in the picture ,are there new ones available or will you sell one ?
thanks Brian

The oil cooler is a simple metallic tube that is mounted and sealed through a cover plate.

My intent, is to have more active ATF cooling method. This would also give a larger volume of fluid, for a greater thermal mass.

Hello all,
I just joined this site today in hopes of getting some help from anyone out there that could help me piece together all the seals and orings required to seal up a merctrans. I picked up a merctrans a few years ago and would like to go through it but the orings seem to be the hardest thing to figure out. Also I have a merctrans case for a Ford engine if anyone is interested, i am only using it at the moment to try and source the orings and seals needed. My boat uses a Chevy, Once I get that figured out anyone out there that needs it can have it.
Thanks to everyone out there.

Figure I'll throw this out there for anyone searching
merctrans rear output seal TIMKEN 450593 or CR 10050

Kirk has passed away, In 2018. I do have a some of his old parts stock.

Sorry to hear about Kirk. Where are parts located Tahiti25?

I am in Bellingham wa.

Merctrans 2 seal kit
 

I'm in need if a seal kit for my merctrans 2 any idea where I can get one . I have looked all over the web and not luck and it need to get it back together