End of my rope

[boat_dude]

Hi all,<br />Getting pretty frustrated here. I have a 1976 Mercury 150hp motor. To get it started I have to use starting fluid. After that it runs fine until it's been shut off for a while. Any ideas on where to start my trouble shooting? It'll turn over just sounds like it's not getting any spark. The carbs get plenty of gas.

 

[CAPTBLACKSMARINE]

Re: End of my rope

START WITH THE BASICS. CHECK YOUR FIRE WITH A SPARK CHECKER,DO A COMPRESSION TEST,AND CHECK QUALITY OF FUEL.LET ME KNOW WHAT YOU FIND AND THEN MAYBE WE CAN NARROW DOWN THE PROBLEM.YOU SHOULD QUIT USING STARTING FLUID IN THE MEAN TIME IT IS BAD ON THE ENGINE.

 

[boat_dude]

Re: End of my rope

Well I had a compression test done. It was 130 all the way except #5 was 115.<br />Spark seems to be good. There is one plug that is cracked. Gonna replace all of them. The gas in the tank was probably pretty old. But there wasn't much in there. Just put in 12 gallons of 93 octane and mercuy oil. I don't use the starting fluid if I don't have too. After the first crank of the day it runs fine.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: End of my rope

Sounds like the pimer (choke) isnt working. Be careful with the fuel mix you now have. I would pump it all out and start with fresh 87 if it was mine.<br /><br />Good luck!

 

[JB]

Re: End of my rope

Howdy, Dude.<br /><br />If starting fluid gets it to start it is NOT getting enough fuel.<br /><br />Your choke/primer system must not be working properly or you may not be using it properly.<br /><br />I agree with what CBM suggests as a start in troubleshooting an engine with unknown problems. Your problems are known and the procedure he suggests completely ignores your symptoms.<br /><br />Do not use starting fluid. As CBM says, it is BAD for your engine because it contains no lubricant. Use premix in a spray bottle.<br /><br />Good luck.<br /><br />Red sky at night. . .<br />JB

 

[boat_dude]

Re: End of my rope

Well it seems like the carbs are getting enough gas. I can push the primer and basically get to where gas is just pouring out of the carbs. I'm gonna try the squirt bottle with gas/oli mix. Spraying each carb and then trying to start.<br />Most posts I've read about old Mercurys say they have to do this to get theirs started.<br />I would sure like to figure out whats wrong with mine.<br />For someone who is somewhat mechanically inclined would you suggest learning to rebuild your motor yourself?<br />My problem being this is a 76 Mercury. Not sure how much money I won't to invest in getting in tip top shape. Versus just buying a new motor.

 

[skier]

Re: End of my rope

I might be of some assistance. I and my family have had Mercury Outboards all my life. There is one (1) way to start a Mercury Outboard that is NOT fuel injected (EFI) or a 4-stroke.<br /><br />1. Pump the bulb till firm/hard (Just short of fuel spilling out of the carbs).<br /><br />2. Raise the "Lift For Cold Start" lever to it's full upright position. If your control box doesn't have this lever, then push the button on the bottom of the shift lever (To dis-engauge the shift mechenism) and push to about 1/2 - 3/4 throttle (The lever should have a stop built in to it)<br /><br />3. Push the choke button and hold it.<br /><br />4. Turn key and crank. The motor should slowly speed up until she fires and then and only then take your fingure off the choke. Take the throttle down to where the engine is running at about 15 - 1800 Rpm's while you are getting ready to go.<br /><br />I have never had to use starter fluid on ANY of the Mercs that I/we have had. They are cold blooded *****es the first time of the day, but after that all I have to do is tap the starter and it fires off.<br /><br />I sure hope this helps you and anyone/everyone that has a Mercury Outboard. I have no idea what the other outboards trates are.<br /><br />Craig

 

[araiha]

Re: End of my rope

I had a merc 50 (4 cylinder) that was like that. It was badly out of time. Once I fixed that it started on the first pull every time cold or warm.

 

[Grizzly]

Re: End of my rope

Hi Dude, I once owned a '68 125 hp and presently own a '73 85 hp {Mercs}. Both of these motors had to be cranked EXACTLY the way MERC 140 described when cold. Read step 4 again, and you'll probably have to hold the starter longer than you want to. After the first start, no problem, unless you raise the motor and dump your carburetors. Also, if you left ANYof tha old fuel in the tank, do like Dhadley says - that suff is poison. I'd treat her to anew set of plugs and give her another chance. I love these old engines but what you and Merc 140 had to say describes them to a tee. I'd be interested to know if it made any difference or not. LOL -G.

 

[ehenry]

Re: End of my rope

I had a MErc 500 50 horse that never was real sporty about cranking the first time. Its trick was exactly like Merc140's trick. After that you could just point at the engine and it would fire right up.

 

[captsara]

Re: End of my rope

check your fuel lines for air leakes. Especialy around the throttle body, and air intake side. It sounds like your motor is sucking air. <br />My advice, figure it out. New motors have problems too. It taks a while to "tune into" your engine. That never changes new or used. MERC 140's start up procedure is one that has served me consistantly, deisel or gas. <br />Don't give up! You can do it

 

[12Footer]

Re: End of my rope

If you can sqeeze the primer, and get gas out of the carb overflows, you have problems with the float level in the bowls. the float should push a needle up to shut-off fuel flow to the carbs, once the bowl is full.<br />This aint happening in your case. Remove and have your carbs rebuilt.

 

[Jomusky]

Re: End of my rope

I have a 81' 175 merq and had a hard starting problem last summer. I started with new plugs, which didn't work. I then changed the fuel pump and gas line/bulb and that was it. However, 2 days latter the cage on the lower crank bearing failed from lack of lubrication. The only symptom I had was the hard start for about six days, otherwise it ran fine. <br />I would take this problem seriously.

 

[chumbucket]

Re: End of my rope

On my 82 merc 150 that i bought off original owner last year gave me his secret to start this motor is to pump throttle 10 times than give it a start . Is that because of mercury,s being hard to start when cold or ???????????

 

[wakatoa]

Re: End of my rope

Don't know if this will help but I just took the fuel hose off my johnson 70 to replace a connector and found that the cable ties that were used to hold all the control cables, fuel and oil hoses were so tight there was quite a severe crimp in the fuel line probably reducing the 5/16 hose to less than half diameter. Haven't tried the motor since but might see an improvement.

 

[boat_dude]

Re: End of my rope

Wow all kinds of replies.<br />I'll try what Merc 140 wrote. it's just weird cause it doens't sound like it's getting any spark till the starting fluid hits it (if that makes sense). I have it up at the local mechanic right now. Yesterday he told me "You know it has trouble starting" DOH! Think I'm gonna get me a Mercury book and start learning everything I can about my outboard. Maybe I can start fixing some of these problems myself.