2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

[santander]

I have had this motor for a month now and have never had a problem with it, until today. Yesterday i installed a new bulb and fuel line running from the gas tank (which is a old school metal one from the 70"s or 80"s) Tried it out in a garbage can and it worked fine, it actually reved higher and faster than with the old leaky line and bulb. So today i go fishing and after about a mile the motor starts bucking and then dies. Restarts a few times the nothing. once back at the ramp i tried it again and it started but then sputterd out and then wouldn't start. I got it home and now it won't start at all and the rope is harder to pull. Any suggestions?
Fuel, spark , both? Also the kid that sold me the motor said that on this kind of fuel tank the vent is supposed to be closed so thats how i used it and it worked fine. But know i'm not sure if thats right.

 

[santander]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

looked at it today and it seems like there is some black gunk dripping out of the spark plug holes not much though. Does this sound like a fuel or spark problem? Also i thought that because we have had some pretty hot days lately that some gunk might of come unlogged in the carb and clogged her up. If i bring it to a mechanic how much would a carb rebuild cost on a newer 8 hp motor.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

'01 isn't that old for being all gunked up but who knows. May be it's environment.

Look in the archives for "decarb" and try that first. All it costs is a little time and a $5 bottle of Sea Foam......maybe a couple of new plugs if you can't clean up the old ones.

Sounds to me like your engine uses fuel faster than it can be replenished. May be a stuck float.

If the engine has been sitting up for a long time the decarb should get you going. Otherwise you will have to dismantle and clean it up.

Charges? Depends. Probably a couple hundred bucks at least to have the carb redone.

Mark

 

[santander]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

talked to some people today and they suggested that because the boat and tank had been sitting in the hot direct florida sun for 6 hours before i took the boat out, there might have been condensation in the gas tank which made the gas go bad. Is this possible? Every other time i take the boat out the boat had been covered before hand, but this time i brought it to work were it was allowed to sit in the sun for a long time prior to going out.

 

[santander]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

Also i was able to start it on the the same fuel today and it ran rough for about 20 seconds before kicking off. i guess i just need to see if fresh gas will help.

 

[old merc]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

I assume you've tried it with the tank vent open? I've got a pair of old metal tanks and they must be open otherwise motor stalls out.

 

[Vlad D Impeller]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

It appears that your new fuel line may be the problem,check the fuel line for air leaks and make sure that the primer bulb is facing the correct direction.

 

[santander]

Re: 2001 8 hp mariner putters out and then won't start.

well over the past week have tried a bunch of stuff including checking spark on both plugs (good), i assume this means my coils are good?, sprayed carb in and out with sea foam deep creep, attached air hose to carb fuel inlet to blow any crap out, tried differnet gas tank but the fuel was just as old as the one thats in my usual metal tanks( couple weeks old, been sitting outside). so after these tests i have been able to start the motor but it eventually putters out unless i give it gas. Could this be from bad gas still (i really should just empty my usaual tank and get some fresh gas), also if there was water in the gas does this mean the carb should be rebuilt? and could this be causing the motor to die with out throttle?
thanks so much for the help,
im an idiot :%