1999 15 hp 2 stroke will not start.

Hi everyone,

My name is Lawrence and this is my first post here. I am a skilled boat owner, and have restored 6 vintage boats including a recent DIY re-power of a 1965 38 Chris-Craft Commander. I exchanged the original 431 Lincolns with new 8.1 MPFI Crusaders, ZF Hurths gears and a larger driveline and exhaust (absolutely fantastic performance and economy by the way) so I am fairly familiar with a wrench.

That being said, I have never owned an outboard motor and quite honestly I am still sorting out what is under the hood. Everything is so darn small <S>

A month ago I purchased a 1999 15 hp Mariner 2 cycle for a Zodiac. The previous owner seemed to be knowledgeable about this engines care. He used it a half dozen times a year on a small fishing boat. The motor appears to be well cared for and in good condition.

When I looked at it started on the first pull.

On launch, it sputtered and quit on the first pull with the choke out. And then I pulled the cord a 100 times before it finally started. Then it ran fine the next three or four times I used it.

Then, it did the same thing, sputtered on the first pull and would not start. I pulled the plugs ? they were pretty dry and had a spark. Then after thirty or so pulls it started and ran mostly fine but a little weak and I noticed that pumping the bulb on the fuel line seems to help.

Used it a couple of more times and it started the first pull or two and ran ok but my last time out with it running on my way back to the marina it ran poorly and not at full power.

Back at my slip, I went to check it out and it sputtered and died on the first pull and now it will not start without any sign of life. I even gave it a very small shot of starting fluid (I know, a no-no on a 2 cycle) and nothing. I pulled the plugs again after 50 pulls and they were pretty dry.

My guess is fuel pump diaphragm but sure would love any insights, suggestions, and parts sources for this engine. I did order an aftermarket service manual for it today.

This engine has the integrated throttle/shifter so any insight on how the priming mechanism works would be helpful.

Thanks in Advance

Lawrence Neisler
Chicago IL

Re: 1999 15 hp 2 stroke will not start.

The 15 HP has a primer so if it don't stay running the first time you need to prime it again by pushing the button in and pulling it back out a second time. It also sounds like the carb is crapped up from sitting around we always run them dry to prevent that from happening. Geez I can't believe with the price of fuel you would want to give up a couple of 431's.

Re: 1999 15 hp 2 stroke will not start.

Hi,

Thanks for the response. That is the same thing a guy in my marina said that owned the 9.9 hp version of this motor. It bums be out that I have to work on it; this is by far the newest engine I have ever had with the exception of the Crusaders.

Give up the 431?s? That was an easy decision. They were over 40 years old and tired. With the 431?s my boat cruised at 17 mph and got .5mpg. With the 8.1?s I can get 1.1 mpg all the way to a 28 mph cruise which IMO is exceptional for a 38 foot boat. I absolutely love them and don?t miss those old plank MELs for a second.

Cheers

Lawrence