How to reach carb??

[magbolt]

I am new to boating/outboards. I have a 2003 40HP Mercury 2 cylinder outboard. It ran fine all summer. The week before I was to winterize for the season I added stabil to the gas and ran it that week. The day I was winterizing it I added more stabil to the gas tank and then tried to start the engine. It would not start. This is the FIRST and only time the engine would not start. At first I thought it was because I added too much stabil or flooded the engine. I added some fresh gas and waited until the next day to try to start it again. Once again the engine would not start. I am not to mechanically inclined but did check the spark plugs and they were wet and looked kinda black. Im thinking they are fouled? I would like to check the carb (not too sure what I would do if I found it) but I dont know how to access the carb. I know where it is but there does not seem like an easy way to expose it. Once again its a 2003 Merc 40HP, any tips on how to expose the carb and any tips on how to get her started again?<br />Unfortunately I had to pull the boat from the water and will not be able to try to start it again until spring.

 

[achris]

Re: How to reach carb??

Hi Magbolt,<br /><br />Easiest way to get this sort of info is to purchase the service manual. If you intend to do more of your own work, it'll pay for itself a thousand times over.<br /><br />Chris........

 

[Trent]

Re: How to reach carb??

First thing to check is spark at the sparkplug wire. Your kill switch is connected I hope?

 

[DHPMARINE]

Re: How to reach carb??

Magbolt,I imagine some ammount of stabil may keep an engine from starting,but unless we are talking gallons (and I doubt we are)that's not your problem.<br /><br />Actually you can put water into your tank and it will start the next time.It just won't run once the 'contaminated' fuel hits the sparkplugs.<br /><br />You can run the motor out of the water,on the trailer on a garden hose with a flushette.<br /><br />Could you have tripped the kill switch? It's at the end of your teather cord?Otherise you probably have an ignition failure.<br /><br />DHP

 

[joelfiona]

Re: How to reach carb??

I have a 1997 75hp Mariner and the outboard runs fine until I stop for 1/2 hour or so and then I have major problems starting it. Stopping and starting every 5 minutes or so does not give any problems. It has been serviced new plugs etc. Starting cold is never a problem. Somebody suggested "Hot soak" or "Heat soak" problems?<br />Can anyone help

 

[achris]

Re: How to reach carb??

What RPM at you getting at WOT? If it's lower than 4750 then that will be the cause of the 'heat soak'.<br /><br />Chris........

 

[joelfiona]

Re: How to reach carb??

My boat idles at approximately 1000 RPM after it's hot it seems to idle around the 900 RPM. <br />I cruise at between 20 to 30 knots I'll keep an eye on the WOT/RPM meter this weekend- Are you saying there is some correlation between RPM and heat soak and perhaps the ammount of time the motor is running?<br />There is also some mention of a technical Document on heat soak - do you know where this is?<br />Is Heat soak and vapor lock the same?<br />Many thanks for your help<br />David