1976 Merc 150hp

[boat_dude]

Last weekend I bought a boat from a guy. The boat has a 1976 150hp Mercury on it. The boat started fine when I bought it from the guy. Even took it to my local mechanic and he didn't have any trouble starting it.<br />Well took it out on the water today and couldn't get it started. I'm sure I probably flooded it right off, not knowing that pushing the key in pumps gas into the carb. Anyway, it would crank but no spark. Could that just be from the motor being flooded? Or should I be looking deeper? Also, is there a fitting on that Merc that allows you to hook up a waterhose so you can try and start it out of water?<br />Any tips on the proper way to fire that thing up would be greatly appreciated.<br /><br />Mike

 

[trevorcday]

Re: 1976 Merc 150hp

One tip on starting these old "towers of Power" is to make sure they are tilted all the way down while cranking. If they are tilted up they don't have enough vacuum at cranking speeds to draw the gas up hill. Trimming the motor all the way down makes the carbs sit level.

 

[Gold Bear]

Re: 1976 Merc 150hp

Dude,<br /><br />I have a 1972 (6cyl) 115 HP Merc that is hard to start first thing in the morning. I have found the best thing to do is;<br /><br />1) Tilt the motor all the way down (as already suggested).<br /><br />2) Place the idle speed lever at "full speed".<br /><br />3) Using a squirt bottle with pre-mixed gasoline, give each carb about four good squirts of gas. (Be careful with gasoline!)<br /><br />It should fire right up. Be ready to slow the engine to an idle. <br /><br />After going through this little ritual, my engine starts right up for the rest of the day. (I bass fish, so sometimes I start / stop quite a bit.)<br /><br />Good Luck, Gold Bear <br /><br />

 

[Gold Bear]

Re: 1976 Merc 150hp

Dude,<br /><br />PS - They make a gadget that looks a lot like "ear-muffs" that attach to a water hose. You can probably find them at Wal-Mart.<br /><br />Gold Bear,