Idling

[PlumberC]

I have a 99 model Mercury force outboard motor. I have had it worked on a couple of times but I keep having a problem with it not wanting to idle. Sometimes it runs fine after I get it on the water but after being on the water a while it will start to die every time I let it idle. It also does not crank smoothly but it is a 99 model so that could be just be normal because of the age. Is there anything I can do for this issue?

 

[Scott Danforth]

first, welcome aboard

what are the compression numbers across the board

when was the last time you serviced the carbs?

the boat should idle until you run out of fuel. nothing to do with age. all about maintenance and condition

 

[racerone]

Agreed with the above.---Post your compression numbers.-----What " work " has been done to the motor ?----Did the stalling issue present itself suddenly ?----Has water pump been serviced ?-----Mixing good oil at 50:1 on this motor.

 

[Nordin]

Agree with both Scott and Racerone, maybe the carb/carbs needs a cleaning.
Change fuel filter and if no filter, add one between the fuel pump and carb/carbs.
Todays fuel are not as good as it was before, with a lot of ethanol in it, it absorbs water.
Fuel that sits for a while become bad and it precipitates "dirt".

 

[Redbarron%%]

I also think that today's fuel does not vaporize in the carburetor as easily and that makes starting atomist all of the old school engines, mowers, outboards, etc harder.
I think that to aid in the evaproative pollution this is done, but I have no proof of that.
Back in the day of British sports cars the needles were shaped for the more volatile European fuel and hard starting and idling was an issue over here.
Perhaps the more volatile fuels cost $0.000001 more to make.
Of course with today's electronic fuel injected engines that would make little or no difference.

 

[racerone]

Started an outboard motor the other day.-----Fuel was 3 years old.----Started on the second pull.----I would not consider that to be a " hard to start " issue.

 

[jerryjerry05]

If the tanks full and not in direct sunlight.
The gas should be usable.