Today my 82 mercury long shaft/electric start stalled out while on the lake. It's a 70 hp. It was the first time I've taken it out in a couple of weeks, which makes me wonder if it's bad gas? The gas was originally bought 3+ weeks ago. It seems like it could also potentially be the fuel line? Since it would only start back up when pumping the gas line/bulb, and then would need to be re-pumped immediately after it stalled in order to start again, makes me think that possibly it's not getting a steady flow of fuel? Just ideas, I don't know a lot about motors and perhaps this is just wishful thinking as I dread the thought of doing any engine work.
What's strange is when I first took it out today, it ran mint. Literally turned over on the first try. I let it warm up for 10 minutes or so, and then ran it for another 10 minutes or so at idle speed through the channel that I live on, out toward the lake.. when I hit the lake, I ran it for about 5 minutes straight at full speed, cruising around with no issues at all. Then I turned off the engine for 10 minutes or so, took a swim out in the middle of the lake, and the problems started when I tried to head home. As you will see in the first video below, at first it would go for a minute or so at idle/slow speed before stalling. Eventually it stopped doing that all together and would stall after 1-2 seconds. I had to paddle the last quarter mile or so home with my tail between my legs (of course, as college kids in their parents 80k yachts cruised by). The stall is around the 2:25 mark:
at 0:30 when i mention "giving it gas" i am referring to the throttle at that particular moment and not the bulb on the fuel line. no clue if this is the "proper method" to getting it started, but it seemed to always start quickly/get me around last season without a problem! one more video in my next post (only allowing me to do 1 at a time)
any ideas before i pay a mechanic to look at it? thanks.
What's strange is when I first took it out today, it ran mint. Literally turned over on the first try. I let it warm up for 10 minutes or so, and then ran it for another 10 minutes or so at idle speed through the channel that I live on, out toward the lake.. when I hit the lake, I ran it for about 5 minutes straight at full speed, cruising around with no issues at all. Then I turned off the engine for 10 minutes or so, took a swim out in the middle of the lake, and the problems started when I tried to head home. As you will see in the first video below, at first it would go for a minute or so at idle/slow speed before stalling. Eventually it stopped doing that all together and would stall after 1-2 seconds. I had to paddle the last quarter mile or so home with my tail between my legs (of course, as college kids in their parents 80k yachts cruised by). The stall is around the 2:25 mark:
at 0:30 when i mention "giving it gas" i am referring to the throttle at that particular moment and not the bulb on the fuel line. no clue if this is the "proper method" to getting it started, but it seemed to always start quickly/get me around last season without a problem! one more video in my next post (only allowing me to do 1 at a time)
any ideas before i pay a mechanic to look at it? thanks.
