TOPIC: 650 mercury year??

I have a 650 mercury 4cylinder 2stroke 65 hp outboard, seriel number is # 2507224 and was told it was an early `70,s ...can any of you brilliant boat/merc gurus confirm this. the darn thing only has forward (thought reverse worked last oct when i tried it out for the 1st time) i need to know the year for ordering parts, what parts i should replace or need if i tear down to fix the gears. I also thought i had read that putting the shifter in reverse while not running can screw this up????? sounds wrong to me to be this peticular...but what do I know??? LOL thanx in advance

68-69 your problem might be just frozen reverse lock or controll adjustment.

ummm...yeah thnx...but just to clarify, there is only forward....no reverse....no nuetral....so starting in the water tends to be difficult. I am assuming because i am cranking the prop while trying to start the beast, and likely not getting quite the rpm`s i need for easy firing. is it a lower unit removal/tear-down kinda job...or a simpler fix?

not a bad job you would want to check the water pump anyway. and while it is down you can see if the lower shifts.and go from there.
1 914 310 7086 Dave.

thnx dave (frm one dave to another) i have a friend/marine mech to dig into it, i figure for now...my skill set will stay with, exterior tweeks n tuning...any advice on a manual i should get??

meaning...i am a lil afraid to tear it down, without a good array of info, instructions and pictures.

eastcoastmarine.com has manuals for them.
the service manual 66-74 is the best.

delirious
The service manual Dave is referring to is THE manual to have.
Your 650 is a pretty simple, basic motor. Don't sell yourself short on ability to work on it. It is just a little 2 stroke engine, nothing majic or overly complex. With this forum and Dave's offer to help, you will have it running and shifting like it is supposed to in no time at all.
Neil

thanx guys....believe it or not i was very mechanically inclined, always bought old stuff i could understand (under the hood) even started off my adult life as an (unemployed) apprentice mechanic (long story) but after i while i worked at being a stone saw opperator, a welder, etc, etc, lost my tinkering mechi-edge. now i am a 12v accessory installer. ask me ampd, deck, sub. alarms, remote-starter questions and i am yer guy. i even built cutter boats for 4 years. I will order the manual...thanx guys

Until you get your manuals, this may help. Kinda general, but useful. Print or save. web.ebscohost.com/serrc/pdf?sid=a63e24ec-37b1-4be2-a3a2-7a03c63312de%40sessionmgr11&vid=4&hid=7

thanx a million....this will help...i may just try n buy another 650 if i can find one(working of course) then rebuild this one. going out today on the boat, as i promised my brother (visiting frm BC) we`d go out. dont need neutral n reverse to badly right now, but it would shore (lol sea wut i did there) would be nice...thnx kerry