1984 60 merc won't run in the water

[40nout]

Hi Guys,
I have a old (1984) 60 merc. Has low hours, but stored most of last 25 years. Now I finally get it into the water and it runs like it's new for 1-2 minutes. Than I limp back to the dock. I have changed filters, fuel pump, spark plugs, and some wires on the unit were cracked. I have also changed the fittings on the gas tank. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[usskydvr]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

Make sure your gas tank vent is open/clear. Is the fuel line bulb collapsed / hard/ soft?

 

[40nout]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

Vent open, primer bulb seems OK but it will be new in the morning.

 

[latin monkey]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

we really need more info on what its doing exactly. have you done a compression test and checked for spark?

 

[latin monkey]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

did you clean/rebuild the carbs before you tried to run it after all those years of sitting up?

 

[40nout]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

No on both counts. Motor has been started and serviced a few times over the years. It starts fine. Goes to high RPM'S with the ears on with no problem. Water shoots out the back indicator. Revs fine. I put it in the water and it idles a little rough, then I give it some gas and it jumps up on plane, runs great for 1-2 minutes than just dies out. I have to idle back to the dock. Any use of the throttle and it wants to stall. As far as the carbs, all I did was spray some carb cleaner into it while the moter revved.

 

[latin monkey]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

i would suggest taking the carbs off and give them a good cleaning. do you have a manual for that motor?

 

[latin monkey]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

did you try squeezing the fuel primer bulb when it started running bad?

 

[latin monkey]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

i have the same motor by the way

 

[40nout]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

I did try to squeeze the bulb when it started shutting down, no help. I do not have a manual. I will get one. I will try to clean out the carbs. I also see from this site that I should change the impeller. My gut tells me it is a fuel problem, but I am pushing the limits of my know-how.

 

[latin monkey]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

a mercury factory service manual is a wealth of info and will help you alot with the maintenance of your motor. yes the impeller should be changed if it hasn't been done recently, just turning your motor over a couple of times without it being on muffs or in the water can destroy the impeller and send pieces of it through your motor and over time they can get brittle from sitting up

 

[Gomer50]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

I would guess its a fuel delivery problem,In the driveway on muffs there is no real load thus not needing alot of gas,and by the way not a good Idea to rev it up on muffs can cause some serious damage beause there is no load. I am not sure about this but I am sure somebody here can chime in on this the stator might have 2 windings one for low speed and one for high speed, once your high speed winding gets warm the windings may seperate causing it to die out but putter around still works. When it cools back down your good to go again for a few.This is worse case senario and may not apply to your motor.Good Luck.Check back for good advise to get you back on the water.

 

[Mi duckdown]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

40 when you say some wires were cracked. what wires were cracked? spark plug wires? Or other wires?

 

[40nout]

Re: 1984 60 merc won't run in the water

The wires that were cracked were on the starboard side. Small wires, they were changed by a mechanic 2years ago. Everything else "looks" fine.
Today I will search out a manual and start to plan for carb work and a new impeller.