I have an old 1985 SAME Mercury85 4wd.
The clock stopped at 6000 hours before I bought it, and I've put 800 hours on it after finally getting a new clock a few years ago.
It's a tough machine; I've had it for 8 years and barely needed any maker-specific parts. Only brake seals [master cylinder kits were very expensive].
I've replaced the front axle pivot bushings, steering cylinder ends, steering bearings [only because someone had reassembled the front end without the shims and killed them], front end U-joints and oil seals. All those parts came from a bearing shop but for the bushings, which I made to fit after machining the housings and posts.
I rebuilt the alternator too; although it had an Italian name on it, I figured out it's actually a Bosch and parts are easy.
As you can see from my screen name, I'm not in the US.
I'm not fond of air cooled engines; they're rarely run at optimum temperature and tend to be smokey. But mine always starts easy and runs like a clock, super smooth.
