1984 Mercury 200hp. Boat and motor sat for ten (10) years without attention. This is a saltwater boat. Emptied and cleaned fuel tank. New fuel lines and new fuel pickup tube. Have not changed fuel pump. Water pump is new. 15# water pressure at 1500 rpm. Thermostats replaced. Old ones were totally disintegrated. Nothing but gaskets and a little residue left.
Put in the river today for the first time.. Ran very well and smooth at 2000 rpm for about 10 minutes. Then it began to run a little rough. Lost rpm and slowly shut off. Thought it was a fuel issue. Changed the Racor. Ran for 2 to 3 minutes very smooth and again slowed and stopped. Fuel bulb was firm. Could coax it to run at idle but it backfired occasionally. Opened the cowl and the heads/water jackets too hot to hold hand on. Water from tell tale was too hot to hold hand in. I assume this is too hot. ??? I don't believe that the alarm horn works. (Next project.) Is it possible that the old thermostat parts (residue) partially plugged up the cooling passages? Can this be cleaned out? How? I have a factory manual and parts book. Any other thoughts??? Before I replaced the thermostats and after the new water pump, it would pee 8 to 10 feet. Now I only get about 1 to 2 feet. ??? Water pressure still shows the same as before the thermostats. Have run weedeater line up tell tale and it is clear. Compression is 120 all the way. Need a little help here, please.
Bob
Put in the river today for the first time.. Ran very well and smooth at 2000 rpm for about 10 minutes. Then it began to run a little rough. Lost rpm and slowly shut off. Thought it was a fuel issue. Changed the Racor. Ran for 2 to 3 minutes very smooth and again slowed and stopped. Fuel bulb was firm. Could coax it to run at idle but it backfired occasionally. Opened the cowl and the heads/water jackets too hot to hold hand on. Water from tell tale was too hot to hold hand in. I assume this is too hot. ??? I don't believe that the alarm horn works. (Next project.) Is it possible that the old thermostat parts (residue) partially plugged up the cooling passages? Can this be cleaned out? How? I have a factory manual and parts book. Any other thoughts??? Before I replaced the thermostats and after the new water pump, it would pee 8 to 10 feet. Now I only get about 1 to 2 feet. ??? Water pressure still shows the same as before the thermostats. Have run weedeater line up tell tale and it is clear. Compression is 120 all the way. Need a little help here, please.
Bob
