120 mercury force starting problems

[licorice]

I just bought a used boat that has the mercury force 120. My wife and I took it to the snake river for a couple days of fishing. When I got it in the water I primed the bulb and pushed the key in for choke and nothing after several attempts it started. However during the time we were there I noticed evreytime we started the motor it was difficult and took at least 10 attempts. When we finally stopped and anchored down for the night of fishing the next morning as we tried to return to the park NOWAY!!.No staret brand new battery to and kiled it. am I simply a rookie or are these motors a bearcat to start.The only thing I noticed was the prime bulb just didn't seem firm but I could feel gas circulating as I pumped more than 10 times to reach that point. HELP.

 

[chrome dome]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

you may just be flooding it, specially if you're pumping the bulb 10 plus times...try 3 or 4 times and use the fast idle lever thingee..if it has one, not real familiar with that one...do have a 120 chrysler though LOL
if you know it's flooded, tilt the motor right up out of the water and give it a few mins for the excess fuel to drain before trying to start it again

 

[JB]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Your engine is a Force, licorice. Though it may have been made by Mercury, it is not a Mercury.

You will get better response in the Force Forum. I will move this there for you.

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Your engine is a Force, licorice. Though it may have been made by Mercury, it is not a Mercury.

You will get better response in the Force Forum. I will move this there for you.

Thank you for your help. Licorice

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

you may just be flooding it, specially if you're pumping the bulb 10 plus times...try 3 or 4 times and use the fast idle lever thingee..if it has one, not real familiar with that one...do have a 120 chrysler though LOL
if you know it's flooded, tilt the motor right up out of the water and give it a few mins for the excess fuel to drain before trying to start it again

I called the owner I bought the boat from and he said though he only took it out a dozen times he never changed the spark plugs. He also said that if the spark plugs get wet it won't start period. I took the spark plugs out and they needless to say old with signs of rust on the tips!! So I ran down to the nearest auto parts store and replaced the spark plugs after giving everything a good bath with contact cleaner. Still the motor won't start, turns over nicely but yes your right lot of gas in the flash pots and carbs are wet. I have a friend coming over to help will let you know as soon as I find out something thanks for your response.

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

We put new spark plugs in and had the battery charged and turned it over. It cranked good but nothing,gas started to come out of the carbs so we stopped. We know it's getting gas but no fire we pulled a spark plug and checked for spark and low and behold nothing. Well off to service dept lol. Thanks for your help guys well let you know the outcome.

 

[emoney]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Compression, Spark & Fuel. Check all 3 of those things and then get started troubleshooting. Sounds like the PO didn't use it a lot so I'd be thinking about doing some serious maintainence on her. Once you know you have good compression, and then know you have good spark, check all the fuel hose & fittings and they do need replacing at some point, especially with Ethanol in today's gas. If the carbs haven't been cleaned in at least a couple of years for fresh water (more frequent for salt imho) then that's next.

You didn't say what year your motor is (unless I overlooked it). In the 90's Merc started putting their ignition systems in them so they are a lot more reliable than the earlier models. Still, they can be finicky on the starting procedure. On my '95 120hp, it demands that I pump the bulb firm, push the warm-up throttle all the way forward and then bring it back to about 1/2 way, push the key in while starting for choke. It will hiccup almost immediately, and that means restart without the choke. Fires up every time that way. Post a picture of your controls if you're not familiar with the "warm up" throttle. They're supposed to do this; (it's a video, btw, click the picture to get it to start)



Look for leaks in the line at in-line filters, etc. if the bulb refuses to get firm. Bulbs can go bad too, so if there isn't a filter, replace it. Good luck and keep us posted

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Thank you for the information I have checked all the lines and bulb and find no leaks or anything suspicious. Took the spark plugs out and redried and replaced. I am recharging the battery and will let you know of the outcome. A technician told me there should be no gas coming from the carbs whatsoever but after flooding you would think that's a gimme.I adjusted fuel enrichment on carbs to 1/14 turns as directed. I know your English when you say there are certain tricks to starting these things just gotta hit the right sequence. Thanks again for the information I am pleased with this site and hope I can help someone in the future.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Carb setting is 1 turn out for initial starting.
Year and model# ???
The flywheel magnet on older models can come loose.
Newer models they can fall out.


Do a compression test.
Check for TDC.

Clean carbs.
Again depending on the year,choke or enricher.
The enricher can feed the motor too much fuel.

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

After recharging battery and inspecting all lines I was ready for my 5th attempt. I hesitated for a moment and looked closely at the wiring again. I observed a green wire blue, and brown they looked like part of the ignition system by following them but not enough experience to tell you exactly what they were or how they work just that the brown wire had become disconnected from it's contacts.I snapped it back together and on first attempt at starting with no choke fired off. Second attempt came to life and throttled well. So I haven't disconnected yet to find out how important that little wire was but it appears that may be it.Jerry

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

You know it's really hard to diagnose a loose wire from here

We hope the owner/mechanic looks for these things!!

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Exactly told you this is my first boat and it sure is hard to diagnose especially being super paranoid lol. Just one of those things I guess when you realize put you head down and concentrate instead of running around in circles screaming doomsday.

 

[emoney]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

I wouldn't fret too much about it, as odds are you do something similar on your 5th boat too, lol. There's a tendency to be "over-cautious" after we have a break-down, especially. And as Mr. Murphy has stated in his laws, it's ALWAYS the last thing you look at.

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Well not so fast my friends. We planned to take to the boat to the Columbia river for some fishing with friends. I thought about the problem I had with spark and decided first things first so my wife and I drove it to the lake for some serious testing.Before putting it the river. We got it in the water and when I turned it over no start. We got it back home and the same thing no spark???? I took apart the wire I found disconnected and cleaned them thoroughly and reconnected and nothing. I traced the wiring and find nothing loose and the fuse is okay. Now I am stumped but I am going to start with the throttle and work my way back if you have any ideas I would sure appreciate it. Thanks Jerry.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Serial# Year? Model#? Location? Fill out the profile?
You might be close to someone who can help???
Start with a compression test?
I know it has no spark but if comp is no good no reason to pull your hair out till that's fixed.

Then start with,kill switch?
Go to outboard ignition . com or CDI electronics
They both have test procedures for a no spark situation.

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Ihave the operators manual and the model say's 120. The only other numbers I can find our the serial numbers. OE049541. I went to out board ignition.com and I need to find the year of the outboard before I can start to identify the parts and start testing. Wish I had more experience with outboards but unfortunately it's my first one.

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

found another number under the fuel filter. BMP 100-917606-C

 

[licorice]

Re: 120 mercury force starting problems

Okay found the information in a manual stored in the paperwork I was given. a mercury force outboard 120 year 1994.Engine numberOE049541.I also found the electrical color codes in the back of the book wow. Get back to you soon. Jerry