Mercury outboard probs

[Madracer]

My son just purchased a 1978 champion bassboat which has a 200 mercury on it. The boat has been setting for about 10 years. It ran when parked. My son has gone through the motor and replaced the impellers and changed the lower unit fluids and many more things that are beyond me. Here is what is happening now with the motor. When trying to start the motor it acts like the battery just doesnt have enough umph to turn the motor fast enough to start it. When the plugs are out of the motor it turns fast. When plugs are in and battery has a full charge on it the motor turns very slow.

I guess what I need to know is what could be causing this and how to test certain area's that could be the cause.

I have used this forum several times in the past and had great results, any help you can give would be greatly appreciated

1978 200 mercury.

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

There are other possibilities, Madracer, but the most likely is some resistance in the starter high current circuit (BIG wires). Fortunately it costs nothing to check it out.

Disconnect and carefully clean all connections of big battery cables, including the battery terminals. The worst offender is where the battery ground cable bolts to the engine block. Looking good and being tight is not enough, gotta be squeaky clean.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

There are other possibilities, Madracer, but the most likely is some resistance in the starter high current circuit (BIG wires). Fortunately it costs nothing to check it out.

Disconnect and carefully clean all connections of big battery cables, including the battery terminals. The worst offender is where the battery ground cable bolts to the engine block. Looking good and being tight is not enough, gotta be squeaky clean.

Good luck and let us know how it works out.

Check the starter current. Should be under 150 amps (with the plugs in). I'd be willing to bet it's over 300.

With the brushes on the bottom end of the armature, as it sits on the engine, they fill up with brush debris and short out. It can fool even an old salt like me. Once bought a 50 dollar battery for 80 bucks at a marina because I "knew" that was the trouble. Turned out to be the starter full of crap routine.

hope it helps
John

 

[Madracer]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

I thank you both for the input I have given this info to my son and will follow up with you guys later this evening. He will work on it then and do some cleaning and amp checking.

 

[Rocky81859]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Hi I'm the son, I took a voltmeter and from battery to starter I have 12 volts, from distributor cap to various places I have around 8 amps. Is that enough? The starter was rebuilt shorty before parking it so could the brushes still be a factor? What about the cylinder walls needing lube?

 

[achris]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Hi I'm the son, I took a voltmeter and from battery to starter I have 12 volts, from distributor cap to various places I have around 8 amps. Is that enough? The starter was rebuilt shorty before parking it so could the brushes still be a factor? What about the cylinder walls needing lube?

If the engine has a distributor cap then it is NOT a 200hp....

Chris.....

 

[sschefer]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

If the engine has a distributor cap then it is NOT a 200hp....

Chris.....

I couldn't be a Merc 200 /20hp, could it

 

[Madracer]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

What you all do not understand is that my son knows nearly nothing about marine outboard motors. This thing he is saying is a distributor cap could be something else like coils or who the heck knows. He is saying distributor cap because thats what it looks like. It is a 200 mercury as the vin number and the title show it. Now with this at rest I'd like to try the 2 original things suggested and go from there.
If anyone knows what the distributor looking thing could possibly be let us know.
Otherwise keep the "it couldn't possibly be a 200 mercury" to yourselves. I am sorry if I sound a bit irratated but I am asking for assitance on what I know is there not what you think it may not be!

Again any help anyone can give me and my son on this project is appreciated.
No smart !$$ answers please...

 

[Dukedog]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Sounds like you NEED TO BUY A REAL MERC MANUAL if your gonna work on your own stuff then you won't have ta put up with smart *** answers............

 

[achris]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

....Otherwise keep the "it couldn't possibly be a 200 mercury" to yourselves. I am sorry if I sound a bit irratated but I am asking for assitance on what I know is there not what you think it may not be!

Again any help anyone can give me and my son on this project is appreciated.
No smart !$$ answers please...

I WAS trying to be helpful. We have had a few people here who don't even know what engine they have, hence my statement. I haven't seen your title, or your engine. I can only go by what you tell us.

[size=+1]If you want assistance tell us what you have. WE ARE NOT MIND READERS. If you say distributor cap we have no way of knowing that you don't mean 'distributor cap', just something that might be like one... Give me a break!!![/size]

What you all do not understand is that my son knows nearly nothing about marine outboard motors.

You're completely right, we don't understand. And why is that? Because we weren't told. We were expected to read your mind and know everything there is to know about your son, the engine and all its history and faults, even the title for the boat, then magically come up with exactly the right answer first time.

If your son doesn't know the difference between a distributor cap and an ignition coil he should NOT be working on an outboard, particularly one this size....

The contributors here give their time and experience freely and don't need to be 'put back in their box' for genuine suggestions. You may be irritated, I'm feeling downright insulted!

 

[CharlieB]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Principles of operation of the starter is the same, doesn't matter the size of the motor.

A poor connection within the solenoid can hide a problem, check voltage on each side of the solenoid while cranking, or grab your favorite pair of jumper cables, ground one from the battery to the engine black, use one side to jump straight from the battery to the starter, if it turns well then obviously the problem is a poor connection somewhere in between.

Clean ALL cable ends, Pos and Neg, also the cable from the starter solenoid to the starter.

If it still turns slow, then clean the commutator and lube the starter.

 

[achris]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Sounds like you NEED TO BUY A REAL MERC MANUAL if your gonna work on your own stuff then you won't have ta put up with smart *** answers............

My answer was not intended to be a smart a@s comment as you suggest. I was merely making comment on what was described. My experience here has taught me to not assume anything. We don't get to see the engine, we don't get to hear the engine. We can only go on what is written on this forum. If the man says 'distributor cap' I'm not a mind reader to know he means something different....

I'll get back in my box now and leave you too it....

 

[Dukedog]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

That wasn't for you. I think you said it better. If he thinks that was a smart *** answer then he has a problem....................

 

[Dukedog]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Sounds like you NEED TO BUY A REAL MERC MANUAL if your gonna work on your own stuff then you won't have ta put up with smart *** answers............

Just to clarify this statement. Its not for Chris. His answer was not a smart *** answer in anyones mind but tha guy that started this thread. In fact I was thinkin' tha same thing. He just beat me to it...........DD

 

[achris]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Just to clarify this statement. Its not for Chris. His answer was not a smart *** answer in anyones mind but tha guy that started this thread. In fact I was thinkin' tha same thing. He just beat me to it...........DD

My bad.. Sorry for that, and no hard feelings....

 

[Madracer]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

I apolagize for the comment that I had made. Frustration gets me thinking oposite of what may actually be being said. Again I do apolagize.

I do appreciate each and every suggestion that each of you send our way!

 

[Dukedog]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

Alrighty then. Now that we got all tha BS outta tha way I really do suggest you find a "real" Merc/Mariner manual for your motor. It will help two fold with any problems. It will also help you identify tha parts that will be described in any answers you will get from tha good people on this board. In other words, it will make tha whole experience easier for questions and answers.

Now back to your starter. Like J said and I will add, might just need a good cleaning. Settin' up for that long it may just have some surface rust on some of tha (armature and such) parts. This is just a START (no pun intended)

Later....................D

 

[Rocky81859]

Re: Mercury outboard probs

I cleaned all the connectors and everything same problem so I took the starter to auto zone and they ran it and said it couldn't turn a Tonka truck so as of right now I need to either rebuild or buy a new starter thanks for the advice and sorry for putting pantys in a bunch I'll update later