1987 merc outboard

[jigmister1]

1987 mercy 175 HP V 6 cylinder outboard


The engine runs like a champ.

It is very hard to start for the fist time of the day.
I am squeezing the fuel bulb till it is hard.
Push the ingition key in and count to 15 then turn.
The throttle is in N and push forward a bit.
It will fire and run for a few seconds and then die.
The RPMS go up and then fall off till she dies.
I have to repeat this about 5-10 times before she will idle. when she dose idle it is nice and smooth. (perfect)

after that intial pain in the *** the engine runs and fires back up like a champ for the rest of the day.
if I use the boat agian within a day or 2 it starts up easy the first time.

if it sets till next weekend chances are it is a pain to fire up.

what dose this sound like? is it normal?
any suggests are highly appreciated!

Jim

 

[AltheaToldMe]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

I read somewhere where you should prime the bulb till it's hard and give it a couple of more squeezes to fill the carb bowls. Make sure the fuel line is not kinked or pinched. Mine did this when trimmed for bringing it off the trailer. I also had to replace my bulb. Either the valves were screwed up or there was a leak. Once I replaced the bulb and trimmed the fuel line, everything was fine.

I'm a novice, but other, more experienced people will chime in.

 

[sledstew]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

when you go to start your motor , leave it in center nuetral(not forward) and there should be no need to hold the key in for 15 seconds, start the motor and then "hold the key in" (not in the start position just in the run position) until the motor quits sputtering. What it sounds like to me is that your motor is cold blooded and until it gets fuel into the motor its giving you issues.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

Does it smoke a lot, and maybe make a lot of noise like it's deiseling at first?

There have been instances where the pressure check valve that supplies crankcase pressure at about 2 psi to the oil reservoir sticks, and holds the pressure up for a long time when the engine is not running, forcing oil into the fuel lines. On startup, it'll smoke a lot and hammer a bit as it burns off the excess oil, then run like a champ the rest of the day.

It is pretty normal to have to bump the enricher for a bit after it starts to keep it running. It should only take about 30 seconds for the engine to come up to running temp. If it's a 3 minute deal, you may have bad thermostats, or a stuck poppet valve.

hope it helps
John

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

You might also check and make sure the enrichner is working properly.

 

[jigmister1]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

Does it smoke a lot, and maybe make a lot of noise like it's deiseling at first?

There have been instances where the pressure check valve that supplies crankcase pressure at about 2 psi to the oil reservoir sticks, and holds the pressure up for a long time when the engine is not running, forcing oil into the fuel lines. On startup, it'll smoke a lot and hammer a bit as it burns off the excess oil, then run like a champ the rest of the day.

It is pretty normal to have to bump the enricher for a bit after it starts to keep it running. It should only take about 30 seconds for the engine to come up to running temp. If it's a 3 minute deal, you may have bad thermostats, or a stuck poppet valve.

hope it helps
John

once it is started it warms up fast.
What do you mean by BUMP hte enrcher? push the key in while it is running to prevent it from stalling???
never thought of that

some times it smokes ALOT at start up. other times not much at all. I figured all the smoking is from cranking and cranking without it firing up.

when I go to add oil the resivor is under alot of pressure. seems like more than 2 pounds............ and I am finding this days after the boat has not been used. the resivour always has pressure in it. even if the boat has been parked for 2 weeks or more.

where is the valve located?
thanks for the help
this site ROCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am a HVACR mechanic by trade so this merc repair intersts me alot.
thanks for the help
Jim

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

Pushing in the key dumps a little extra gas right into the throat of the second and third carbs from the bowl of the top carb. It replaces a choke.

Usually, you have to push in the key a bump or 2 after it starts to keep it running.

I think that procedural thing is your problem. If it was flooding with oil, the neighbors would have lynched you by now.

hope it helps
John

 

[jigmister1]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

so the pressure in the oil tank is normal?

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

so the pressure in the oil tank is normal?

Should be just enough to noticably bulge the tank. After an indeterminate time, but certainly less than an hour after the engine is shut off, the pressure should be released.

It is supplied by a valve, which looks like a plain hose on the starboard side of the engine, low and near the front. If you are holding pressure for a long time, I would replace that part.

hope it helps
John

 

[jdupree]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

I have a 1992 200 Mercury. I have found that holding the key in before you start it tends to flood it. I prime the bulb and while the engine is turning over then I press the key in to start the enricher. Seems to fire up much easier if I don't press the key in prior startup.

 

[jigmister1]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

ok thanks for all the advice.
I will give it a go and let you know what happens.

 

[jigmister1]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

I have not had her out on the water just yet. today I went out back and fired it off on the muffs.
it was a bit hard to start but no really too bad.
once I did get it to start running, I pushed the key in and held it. doing so killed the engine.
sound right?

 

[jigmister1]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

bump

 

[Barnacle_Bill]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

I have not had her out on the water just yet. today I went out back and fired it off on the muffs.
it was a bit hard to start but no really too bad.
once I did get it to start running, I pushed the key in and held it. doing so killed the engine.
sound right?

Once it starts just bump the enrichner (intermittantly push they key in) until it runs smoothly. By holding the key in you just flooded it and it quit.

 

[jigmister1]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

I changed the valve at the crank case that applies pressure to the oil tank.
Old smokey dose not smoke much at all any more!
The results are outstanding.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 1987 merc outboard

I changed the valve at the crank case that applies pressure to the oil tank.
Old smokey dose not smoke much at all any more!
The results are outstanding.

Thanks for all the help.

Bingo,
Glad it's fixed
John