Merc On The Back Roads

RalphG

Well-known member
Finally (with a little help) figured out the video editor on this new Windows 10 and was able to upload a bit of driving video from the weekend. Fall colours were not at their best yet but the day was perfect. Roads, not so much. Had to get down into low gear on the Mercomatic to slowly bounce through some bad washouts from the big rains of last week. Sounding good though.
https://youtu.be/53KaR4_L3jM
 
Replying to my own post :-) but is it my imagination when I hear the exhaust note of the Merc in the video that it sounds like a cylinder is misfiring? Its as smooth as silk at idle but on acceleration the exhaust note in the video just sounds like a miss to me. Just wondered if anybody else noticed that. Maybe I should be checking those 40+ year old spark plugs?
 
Ralph,


To me it just sounds like an exhaust leak. If the engine doesn't vibrate and seems low on power, then I would say maybe a miss under a slight or heavy load. Does it sound like it always did, or is this a different note ? Maybe the exhaust leak is getting worse ?


Sal
 
If you think you have a bad plug, do a pull the plug lead test while idling to see if there is or is not any change in the idle.
 
Not noticeable at idle as it is very smooth but at part throttle I start to notice the sound. Don't think it is an exhaust leak as it is straight piped all the way. In this rear bumper video I start to hear it at the 1:09 second point. Up to that it sounds just fine. Or maybe I've just forgotten what a single straight piped flathead V8 is supposed to sound like.
https://youtu.be/xGpqYee4IDI
 
Sounds fine to me. I heard a carb hesitation when you stepped on the gas at one point in the video, but didn't hear it missing.


Sal
 
Last edited:
Sounds fine to me. I heard a carb hesitation when you stepped on the gas at one point in the video, but didn't heard it missing.


Sal
Thanks Sal. I guess I'll just accept it as the normal sound of the engine and its running fine on all 8. And yes, I still haven't installed the new accelerator pump parts in the old teapot carburetor. I've developed a driving style to compensate for it by just giving two quick pumps on the pedal before I want to accelerate. Works great. Bigger problem is the weekly leak down that drains the carburetor and requires priming to start it.
 
For the editing, I use pretty good service https://wave.video. It cheap enough and has a great range of features. If you insist on using free editing software, iMovie is probably your best option. Use it on your MacOs or download desktop version for another operating system.
Since this post has re surfaced I'll just say that I'm quite satisfied with the video editor in Windows 10. Practice helps to get familiar with the features I need. Its doing all I need at present and free always gets my vote. But thanks for the link and I'll have a look at iMovie.
I did buy the Vegas movie editing software and it was a big disappointment. Way too many things I didn't need to confuse me.
Did I post my latest drive in the Merc? First run this spring?
https://youtu.be/aZqmfTy4m5Y
 
Boy Ralph, countryside is pretty flat in your neck of the woods. Beautiful country. Your Merc seems pretty steady on the country roads. Cool video.
 
Thanks for the ride, Ralph. The old Merc is sounding great. Is the accelerator pump working?

Mart.
 
Boy Ralph, countryside is pretty flat in your neck of the woods. Beautiful country. Your Merc seems pretty steady on the country roads. Cool video.
Actually this is not the flat part of Sask. This is the rolling parkland here. Cameras always make the land look flatter and hills less steep than they really are.
Mart, I have not done a thing to the carburetor yet. It works as good as, and no worse than it did last year so I'll live with it for the time being.
 

Attachments

  • Merc century shack.jpg
    Merc century shack.jpg
    120 KB · Views: 9
Back
Top