1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging (updated)

canoemang

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
350
1984 mercury 115 inline 6 (6524769)

I am having an issue with RPM's dropping at WOT. At WOT it jumps up to 5100 RPM and slowly drops down to 4900 then surges back up to 5100 and so on. When it surges it sounds like it is running strong then tapers down to 4900, also all 6 plug's have drops of black oil. I prime it and no gas leaks at all and the primer bulb holds pressure.

It has a jet lower unit (from outboard jets) with a 4 blade aluminum impeller (shimmed correctly) and is pushing an Alweld 1856 (1400 lbs). The rpm surge is not cavitation of the jet, i have intake fins and it is sucking water the whole time.

So far I have:
Rebuilt fuel pump
Rebuilt all 3 carb's (maybe floats need to be readjusted and is currently running to rich?)
Installed new Gas lines from tank on through
Link and sync (set max timing on the water wot @ 21 degs
CDI Switch boxes
CDI stator
CDI trigger
Coil packs test good (resistance test in spec)
Strong spark on all 6 cylinderz
Hooked and inductive timing light to each plug wire 1 at a time during wot, no miss at wot
Compression is 120 on all 6
New inner exhaust baffle gasket (was leaking and water droplets was on #3 spark plug, fixed)
Both of the water jacket gaskets I did when I did inner exhaust gasket
New port gasket (was leaking also)
91 Octane gas with no ethanol, mixed 50-1 with quicksilver 2 stroke mercury oil.

I currently have the idle mixture screw set at 1 1/4 turns out, it has given the best performance at hole shot and wot.
 

Chris1956

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Mar 25, 2004
Messages
28,109
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Seems like you got most stuff. Are you using 3/8" ID fuel line? Check, clean, remove or replace the antisiphon vlve in the fuel tank pickup. Make ure the fuel tank vent is clear. Does the primer bulb go flat?
 

canoemang

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
350
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Yup matched the fuel line 3/8". It has a 17 gal inboard tank and it is a 2008, i have read about the antisiphon valve but figured since it was only 3 years old and the previous motor didnt have this issue it wasnt that, I'll try it.

The primer bulb is new also, it doesnt go flat and pumping during the issue doesnt remedy it.

Does the oil on all 6 plugs mean i am running to rich? Like the floats/needle is set to high or low depending on which way you hold it..
 

canoemang

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
350
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

O.K. I tried a 6 gallon portable tank today, gas was mixed rite and it is used on a known good merc.

Same issue, so i assume it isnt my anti-siphon valve, same results different gas source.
 

canoemang

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
350
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Well went through and replaced the anti siphon valve for my onboard tank with mixed results.

Instead of surging, when i hit WOT it jumps to 4500 RPM and slowly climbs to 4800 and holds steady at 4800 RPM. I opened the idle mixture to get the best hole shot but seems as though i cant get it to run in RPM range.. I know with the jet foot it should jump and hold at max RPMS and not drop or slowly climb up.

any ideas or direction would be greatly appreciated.
 

canoemang

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
350
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging

it may seem as though i am posting to myself but here is an update..

I took and sprayed SeaFoam Deep Creep into all 6 cylinders, let it sit overnight.
Full tank of 86 octane gas mixed 50 to 1.
Got new (Champion) Plugs.

Went to the launch and did the decarb process with the old plugs in, Went through the whole can of deep creep.

Replaced old plugs with new..

Success, WOT jumps to 5200 and sits solid.. holds an idle and runs like a top.
 

shadowrider

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Feb 19, 2009
Messages
195
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging (updated)

That is good news, I have a similar problem with my jet outboard. It runs perfect except it will only do 4150 rpm at WOT. Tach reads 650 at idle so it seems right. I just might try seafoam for the heck of it. I dont think that is the problem, but it cant hurt to try it.
 

canoemang

Petty Officer 1st Class
Joined
Apr 9, 2011
Messages
350
Re: 1984 mercury L6 115 RPMS surging (updated)

I know your issues.. i commented on jet height etc..

This didnt fix it.. the motor is sitting on my garage floor, I bought a rebuilt 86 and im going to rebuild the 84 over the summer.
 
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