Just bought a 1992 XR6

[bowhunter71]

I just bought my first Mercury outboard.I hope to use it to replace my 1995 Johnson 130.I do not know much about the history of the motor except it was not ran in atleast a year.I checked the compression it was around 120 on all 6.I gave it some fresh mixed gas and it fired right up.The telltale is weak at idle but if you rev it a little it squirts decent.I pulled the lower and the impeller looked good to me.The thermostat cover on the right side is leaking a little. I have a factory service manual,new thermostats and gaskets and water pump kit ordered.

Do you Mercury guys have any suggestions on what else to check before I put it on my boat?Is there anything that really has to be watched on these motors?

I have been doing some reading about these motors.It seems they are pretty good motors.Is there anything on the oiler system to check?

I have tons of questions but I will stop with these for now.Any input would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,Jeff

 

[j_martin]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

Very solid 2.5 L motor.

If you get the check beeps on the oil system, yer good to go for sensors and alarms. (should beep a few times when you turn the key) Tank on the motor should be plumb full tight. If there's an air bubble in it, loosen the cap slightly at idle until it begins to leak out, then hand tighten it, just enough so it doesn't leak. Wipe up the mess, and it's set for the season. Up to 3 gallons of oil fits in the boat tank. If you're unsure of the oil system function, run mixed fuel. Double oil won't hurt much. No oil will hurt a lot.

hope it helps
John

 

[bowhunter71]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

Thanks for the reply.I got the oil tank on the motor full as you said.I do not have a beep when the ignition is turned on.I just got the manual so I will search through it.Any ideas where to look first?I plan to run premix and mark the boat oil tank and make sure it is using oil.

The boat I plan to put this outboard on is a centrer console.What control box do I need? I see there are few different models of binnacle controls.
Thanks,Jeff

 

[j_martin]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

There should be a complete check out procedure in the manual.

for now, there's a terminal strip on the starboard side, above the switchboxes. One terminal has purple wires on it. That should be at 12 V. with the switch on, and one of the wires should go over to the oil alert module, which is mounted on the port side.

The other terminal should have a wire going to the OT switch on one head, another going to the oil alert module, and one going into the harness. If you ground that screw, the alarm should sound.

If the alarm sounds, there's 12V to the oil alert, and it's hooked up, and no startup beeps, your oil alert is bad.

My guess is that it is bad in some way, and was disconnected when you bought it. Very dishonest, but common.

 

[bowhunter71]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

The guy I got it from never used this outboard so he knows nothing the guy before him just gave it to him.I grounded the screw that you said and no beep.Where is the buzzer suppost to be?I looked in the control box and did not see any buzzer in there but maybe it was hiding.Also what is the button labeled trailer on the control box suppost to do?
Thanks,Jeff

 

[j_martin]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

There's usually one in the control box, and there is also a lead available in the dashboard harness. The wire is tan with a blue tracer.

The circuit connects to the neg of an alarm (sonalert or light or both). Positive of the alarm goes to 12V switched. (purple)

I suspect the tan/blue wire is "clipped" somewhere. For testing you can just put a test light between the two terminals on the terminal strip. (alarm and 12V purple)

hope it helps
John

 

[bowhunter71]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

I did not find an alarm in the control box.I did find the tan/blue wire coming from control box attached to a horn under the dash of the boat the motor is on.It does not ground with the key switch on but it does ground if I ground the post with the 3 wires from oil alert and temp sensor.So I guess that means my oil alert module is proly bad.
Thanks,Jeff

 

[j_martin]

Re: Just bought a 1992 XR6

That wire should be connected to some sort of an alarm, either a sonalert or a light, and the other side of the alarm goes to the purple 12V wire in the same harness. Usually a sonalert is spliced in and just taped into the harness.

If the sonalert is alive, that alarm will beep a few times when the key is turned on.