Mercury Big foot 4 stroke 60 alarm at hi rpm

[jerseysmail]

I have a 2001 tracker by mercury marine big foot 4 stroke 60 horse that beeps a few times when running for a minute at 4500 rpm and then shuts down. It seems to have a steady stream of water the entire time. I am able to fire it right up again. I don't have water or oil pressure gauges. Is there a common problem and an easy fix? SN OT291414
Thanks!!

 

[esoxmagnum]

Re: Mercury Big foot 4 stroke 60 alarm at hi rpm

I am not surprised to hear of your problem with this motor. I own a '99 Merc 50hp 4-Stroke and my buddy owns a '00 Merc 60hp 4-Stroke. We both have battled this issue during our entire ownership. For both of us, the warning horn will come on after a few minute idle or during a run across the lake--no rhyme or reason. It does not happen everyday, but occurs frequently enough that it is truly aggravating and concerning.

From Day #1, care and maintenance for both motors has been meticulous. We have had a Mercury Premier Service Dealer do everything on this motor--if it was touched, it was touched by a highly qualified, Merc endorsed mechanic.

I have replaced the water pump and thermostat three times, as has my friend. We have had it in numerous times to a few different Mercury "Premier Service Dealers" without any resolution. This is a problem for these outboards that Mercury never acknowledged or alerted their Dealers/mechanics on how to fix.

Sorry I cannot give you the fix--after 11 years now, I am still looking for it.

 

[Reloder]

Re: Mercury Big foot 4 stroke 60 alarm at hi rpm

This is a fairly well documented problem and about four hours to fix:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=408552

There is a great deal of information on this problem out there, but it may not be the solution for the OP.

 

[jerseysmail]

Re: Mercury Big foot 4 stroke 60 alarm at hi rpm

Wow, I saw the pictures.....looks too involved for me...I am great at breaking stuff but terrible at putting them back together. I don't have an oild or water pressure gauge. Is there different alarms for each so I can tell which is doing it? Is there a spot to hook up a computer to tell me? I wonder how much a shop will charge me to diagnose and repair it? Thanks again...it looks like that might be it. I'll start with back flushing it and see if that helps. The boat was used in a lake that had lots of weeds and crud....It was all over the lower half and intake area.

 

[Reloder]

Re: Mercury Big foot 4 stroke 60 alarm at hi rpm

The boat was used in a lake that had lots of weeds and crud....It was all over the lower half and intake area.

I would take a stab that the problem with your unit has more to do with what you just mentioned rather than the grommet. To find out which alarm is going off, unhook the sensor(s) when the alarm is active. When the alarm shuts off, you have located the sensor. That is at least a good starting point.

 

[jerseysmail]

Re: Mercury Big foot 4 stroke 60 alarm at hi rpm

I'll give the alarm and sensor thing a try.

Thanks I'll let you know how it works.