doscaballo
Cadet
- Joined
- Apr 9, 2006
- Messages
- 6
Hi,<br /><br />I am having some trouble with an 1985 60 Mercury. This motor is new-to-me so I'm not very familiar with it. The impeller had never been changed so I had a mechanic change it for me. Well, he went to start it after he changes the impeller and could not get it started although I did see the motor run when I bought the boat. He later told me something was wrong with the flywheel (I think it was cracked or something) and installed a used one. He also changed the shift cable. THe bill was $600, ugh...<br /><br />Now the problem is the engine will not idle correctly, not that it ever did. It dies when I put it into gear. If I can shove it into gear quickly enough the boat takes off and runs like a dream. If I just let it idle it dies quickly. If I increase the idle to about 1000 rpm's (out of gear) it will run for a few minutes and then finally die. The primer bulb goes soft (I don't know if that is normal or not) and if I pump it up again, I can start the boat and it will idle, again with me increasing the idle to about 1000 rpm's. If I pump the primer bulb while it is runnung there seems to be no effect.<br /><br />I have replaced the fuel pump thinking it's a fuel starvation problem but that did not help and now I have moved to timing. Oh, I am opening the vent on the fuel tank. This motor came with a service manual and between it and doing searches here, I am trying to get the motor set up to now check the timing.<br /><br />So, here is the situation; I don't have a timing indicator but by looking at the pics in the manual it looks like it is something pointy bolted underneath one of the bolts at the top most of the starter. It's the bolt closest to the center of the motor. In the picture it shows the .464" BTDC mark on the flywheel underneath the pointer. THis is apparently the proper set up to check the timing. <br /><br />Well, I get cylinder one to TDC (using my dial indicator) and make a pointer out of some plumbers strapping that is used <br /><br />to hang pipe. I put a piece underneath the same bolt as the manual and give it a point with some diagonal cutters. With the motor at TDC the .464" mark is directly underneath this marker. Both the manual and a post I found here say to re-align the marker after the piston is moved .464" from TDC which would place my pointer way off, certainly not underneath the same bolt as the starter as the .464" marker is off to the starboard side of the motor.<br /><br />Can anyone please shed some light on my dilemma? Is the flywheel mounted on incorrectly, or is it something I am doing wrong? I want to give it shot fixing this cause it just plain costs too much taking it to the mechanic. Any other thoughts on my idling problem?<br /><br />Thanks for any and all help,<br /><br />Mike