why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

Home Cookin'

Fleet Admiral
Joined
May 26, 2009
Messages
9,715
Just found this ad on Craigslist. Nothing says it better:

25 hp mercury outboard. 1989 motor and model serial number is 0A9771xx.
Outboard has great lower unit, rebuilt carberator, and other new parts.
The motor ran fine last summer; but, would not start one day. I took it into a shop who used carb cleaner to get it running and it ran on the carb cleaner until head locked up.


ALso I suggest not visiting that shop!
 

beagleboy

Seaman
Joined
Apr 15, 2011
Messages
66
Re: why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

Next thing they should come up with is Quick Start ether already mixed 50:1. LOL But all joking aside I see at Depot and Lowes they have 1 litre containers of mixed gas for the average home owner for the grass trimmer etc. There trying to make everything idiot proof.
 

5150abf

Vice Admiral
Joined
Aug 12, 2007
Messages
5,808
Re: why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

Idiot proof ,never happen, idots are idiots , that is what they do.

I wonder what kind of shop it was that they didn't know you can't do that, duh.
 

Rudy Brown

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 3, 2005
Messages
289
Re: why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

Idiot proof?? as soon as somebody does that, along comes a better idiot.
 

davidonmars

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Mar 27, 2011
Messages
84
Re: why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

if im starting up a 2 stroke dirtbike and it wont go i usually just put some mixed gas in a water bottle with a hole in it and spray that in the carb.. Works for me never seized a motor like that
 

beagleboy

Seaman
Joined
Apr 15, 2011
Messages
66
Re: why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

if im starting up a 2 stroke dirtbike and it wont go i usually just put some mixed gas in a water bottle with a hole in it and spray that in the carb..esel Works for me never seized a ms nototor like that
2 stroke 4 stroke or diesel ether is not good. Like previous poster says use a squirt bottle (old dish soap bottle).
 

HT32BSX115

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Dec 8, 2005
Messages
10,083
Re: why we don't use starting fluid on outboards

I took it into a shop who used carb cleaner to get it running and it ran on the carb cleaner until head locked up.

The engine didn't start on the "carb cleaner", it started on the propane propellant (in the carb cleaner)
 
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