50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

[MJR_50HP]

I will try to be as brief as possible: I have a 2000 50hp mercury 4-stroke, I need help I have had nothing but trouble with this motor since I bought it. First day out it would not start, went through 2 batteries and finally got it started. It would not stay running if put in nuetral. Took to Mercury dealer to have tuned up.....told it was not under warranty...ok had the set the carbs. Took it out adn did the same thing. Took it to another dealer...said carbs were dirty had cleaned ran well for about 3 days did the same thing. Dumped all the gas filled with premium took back out did the same thing would not idle or stay running took back to dealer said carbs were dirty again. Had cleaned was using the Mecury fuel stablizer since it was bought. Never had old gas in tank or motor always ran dry. Took out this fall would not start gas running out of carbs....I mean RUNNING out. Took back to dealer said that carbs are dirty. this motor has less than 100 hours on it since it was purchased. The techs at the shop said that Mercury knows of the carb issues and is doing nothing to correct it...also said that if there are carb issues they will not even cover under warranty. Has anyone else experienced the same issues or did I just get a Bad motor. Any Ideas would be more than helpful. I have already spent over $800.00 to have this motor repaired. Is this normal??<br />Thanks, Mike

 

[dmessy]

Re: 50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

Time for another dealer, those are strong motors

 

[dmessy]

Re: 50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

Time for another dealer, those are strong motors. Fuel running out of the carbs. says stuck float to me. Whats with the short warrenty, didn't you buy the 5 year one?

 

[hondon]

Re: 50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

Where is the selling dealer in all this? When you bought this unit ,did anyone at that dealership reccomend a water separating fuel filter?Did you buy this unit online or across the border?In other words why are you here and not barking down MERCS throat, or that dealers throat? Those carbs are way overthought and intricate and once they get contaminated can be difficult to clean completly.Plus once they come off that intake mani you will need the proper tools to resync them.Did any of the dealers you dealt with have those tools or any experiance with them.

 

[BillP]

Re: 50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

I bought a Mariner 50 4s (same as merc)new in 11/95 and had no problems. It has about 300+ hrs. From day one a large canister water separator was installed and the engine has a small filter (factory stuff) under the hood. The engine sits for weeks at a time without running and I never run the carbs dry. <br /><br />It sounds to me like you have either a dirty tank or contaminated fuel...somehow. If that bad I would flush the system, fuel pump and associated fuel line after the carbs are cleaned. Check your tank vent line to make sure water is not entering there...check while running too. Do the external filter if you don't have one. They are available with clear bowl and drain so you can see what is in there and purge.<br /><br />Has the fuel pump diaphram been replaced? The placement of the fuel pump (aft side of block)on mine is subject to being damaged when the cowl hood is put on. The plastic pump body can get cracked very easily...I know this one from experience.<br /><br />I'd also say the original dealer is shafting you or is too inexperienced to find the problem. It isn't rocket science. If from day one it ran bad I would raise hexx with the dealer and contact the Merc regional warranty manager for help.

 

[MJR_50HP]

Re: 50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

Thanks all for the info, to follow-up I have hounded the dealer and the mecury reps to no avail. I was told each time that this is a FUEL related problem and that it is not and will not be covered by warranty. The dealer is a local dealer and when they could not correct the issue I was put in contact with a regional rep for Mercury and was told that again it was the fuel. I have call numerous dealer and was told that this is a common response to a issue that they had dealt with with the 4 strokes. The mechs told me that Mercury is aware of the carb issues and at this time are not doing anyting but recommending that the carbs be cleaned and that they would not cover this problem as a warranty issue"the regional rep told me the same thing" as long as they say it is a fuel related issue it is not covered. Been to 4 dealers and all say it is more than likely a carb issue but they will not replace as long as they can blame it on the fuel.<br />The issue is NOT fuel related.....it seems to me to be a design flaw and that is what the techs are telling me but will not go on record and say that. Am I the only one experiencing this problem?? The techs tell me they run into this at least once every 2 weeks with the 4 stroke motors. If it is just me I will try yet another tech and try again. Thanks again for any follow-up

 

[BillP]

Re: 50 HP Mercury 4-Stroke

Wow, my 50 is an old one so maybe the carbs are different. You comment about merc knowing motor stuff is wrong but not addressing with the customer is identical to what a merc dealer told me. <br /><br />The topic I heard about was the upper water tube getting plugged where it meets the powerhead on 50hp 4 strokes. They corrode very quickly (1.5 years)in salt water and the engines run hot. I guess the heat crystalizes salt at that location while running and causes the problem. Flushing does not keep it from happening. Merc knows about this but says nothing to customers. My mechanic knows of approx 50 (yes fifty) mercs that have had this problem. Mercs never have been as good as OMC was.