Guys,
Need a little help, I recently ran my boat in some shallow water and the lower unit ended up with quite a bit of paint coming off, what us the best way to retire to a factory finish? I know I've seen the mercury touch up paint, but I wasn't sure how well it worked, any help is greatly appreciated!
The best method is to sand it down smooth- wash the gearcase, wipe down with denatured alcohol, coat the gearcase (anywhere it's got ANY bare material) with Zinc Chromate (or other) Self-Etching Primer, and then follow with a couple coats of Mercury Phantom Black spray.
For a "near-perfect" finish, a light spray of Mercury "Leveler" can be applied 5-10 minutes after the final coat of Phantom Black.
Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 48 years (learn something new every day).
Mercury Parts, Mercury Outboards, Smartcraft & Accessories, Injector Service, TDR Reeds- BBC Sponsor
That's what I wanted to know! Thanks so much, just ordered everything from Mercury...
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by EuropeanAM »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">The best method is to sand it down smooth- wash the gearcase, wipe down with denatured alcohol, coat the gearcase (anywhere it's got ANY bare material) with Zinc Chromate (or other) Self-Etching Primer, and then follow with a couple coats of Mercury Phantom Black spray.
For a "near-perfect" finish, a light spray of Mercury "Leveler" can be applied 5-10 minutes after the final coat of Phantom Black.
</td></tr></table>
I have done this more than once. If you keep your speed below 50mph or so the paint will stay on. If you like to go faster it will peel off in time. The only way I could get it to stay on was to put a very thin coating of JB weld on the bare aluminum and sand it then paint it. For some reason the Zinc Chromate just would not stick even after prepping the way Don said.
If you just use a black primer spray paint on the sanded and cleaned aluminum then wet sand it, it stays on very well even at speeds over 100 MPH
Won't look quite as nice as Don's combo, but I know it stays on pretty well
<table width="90%" cellspacing=0 cellpadding=0 align=center><tr><td>Quote, originally posted by western angler »</td></tr><tr><td class="quote">
I have done this more than once. If you keep your speed below 50mph or so the paint will stay on. If you like to go faster it will peel off in time. The only way I could get it to stay on was to put a very thin coating of JB weld on the bare aluminum and sand it then paint it. For some reason the Zinc Chromate just would not stick even after prepping the way Don said.</td></tr></table>
This is usually due to poor adhesion in the primer coat. Adding a self-etching acid wash prior to the primer coat may help (although not the easiest thing to find).
Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 48 years (learn something new every day).
Mercury Parts, Mercury Outboards, Smartcraft & Accessories, Injector Service, TDR Reeds- BBC Sponsor
Don is correct, the good stuff has been banned by the EPA and what is left out in the field is very hard to find. Another option would be to mask off the L/Unit at the prop shaft centerline, sand or Scotch Brite (Green Pad) from the centerline down, spray with flat black Rustoleum paint or equiv., makes touch up easy as can be.
Gary
Growing old is inevitable, growing up is optional.......
S.W. Ohio
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