Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

[zepplinswt]

I just had the powerhead on a 2001 mercury 2-stroke rebuilt due to overheating. OCC out of Washington rebuilt it. Anyways, just got it back two days ago. While running the boat with the mechanic I noticed the motor was sluggish at certain rpm's. The powerhead had about 1.5 hours run time on it he said. The oil mix was 4.5 ounces to every gallon. When running the boat it would sound like it was missing, he called it "double stroking" due to running rich mixture of oil to gas. Running at 3800 rpm’s then backing off the throttle a little you can hear the engine brdddd-brdddd-brdddd-brdddd quick burst on the pistons, then the noise will stop and it will run fine. While increasing the throttle it would sometimes do this and it would lose power when it does, then moving the throttle a little more and the sound goes away. You can definitely feel and hear it when it happens. I am not sure what to do? I think there is something wrong. Is there? The mechanic says this is normal and will go away when I start running 50:1 mixture. I had him disconnect the oil injector so I don't have to be concerned with that failing me. Will disconnecting this have any adverse effect? I had a temperature gauge and water pressure gauge put in. The temperature on the motor never gets above 100. I am running it in 55 degree lake water? Does the thermostat regulate the amount of water or is it always wide open? I just can't take it back to the mechanic because he is in arroyo city and I am in Austin, Texas. 6 hours apart. This is my first boat and have had it less than 4 months and it’s been in the shop for 2 of those four months. Any suggestions/comments would be great.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

Well you came to the right place. There are a lot of top notch people on this forum who will undoubtably be able to help you.<br /><br />I am not one of them!!!!<br /><br />Just wait till tomorrow and you will see.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

^^^^^

 

[Waterbugtoo]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

If it truely is a problem, that would be VERY hard to diagnose on this BB. Seeing how you are a newbie to boating, I would guess that you are possibly not familiar with outboard motor sounds and actions. Listen to your mechanic, and if something still doesnt seem right, just ask them to take another look. Your warranty should protect you, so just do as they advise. If you are not satisfied or comfortable with their answer, you might consider a second opinion from a closer dealer. Theres nothing wrong with disconnecting the oil injection as long as you properly mix fuel/oil.

 

[MURX]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

I see no reason to disconect the oil injection<br />does this 125 have the resivoir on the side of the powerhead? if so those are pretty good set ups<br />the bigger motors use the remote primary and powerhead mounted secondary resivoir only problems I've heard about with mercurys are warning buzzer giving false alarms due to the float sticking or bad sensor on the tank. some V6's had issues with the oil pump drive gears from what I've been told some were plastic!

 

[zepplinswt]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

I had him disconnect because I want to know the oil is mixing. The reservoir was removed from the side of the powerhead. I don't have a problem mixing my own oil. I am concerned about the noise I am hearing and the temperature not getting above 100. How is the engine suppose to break in if it never gets above 100 degrees?<br /><br />Also the mechanic had the boat for over two months and when I get there to pick it up and run it the boat couldn't even get on a plane. I was wondering why he was asking me when I got there about the boat being underpowered, etc. Anyways he had a vacuum line backwards with another line and one of the cylinders was getting little gas and oil. Compression on all 4 cylinders are right around 145.<br /><br />What started this whole problem was there was not an overheat alarm installed on the motor. Alarm never went off and the intake was clogged with grass. So my thought was that it could happen again if the oil injector failed and cylinders were not getting lubricated properly. An overheat alarm was installed and temperature gauge to make sure this doesn't happen again...hopefully!<br /><br />I am just frustrated as you can probably tell. I have also had two blowouts on the trailer both times I have hulled it down and back from the rio grande valley. It has to get better from hear.

 

[zepplinswt]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

has anyone ever heard of "double stroking"?mechanic described it to me as every other time the piston comes up it fires? <br /><br />that make no sense to me?

 

[Bear]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

Check this link:<br /> http://www.maxrules.com/fixbreakin.html <br /><br />Yes I have heard of "double stroking". From my moped days. Adjustable main jet on a 50 cc 2 stroke engine. Too much fuel at wot. In that case.

 

[Bear]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

I have a problem with ounces and gallons but I think your mix is about 24:1 right now.<br /> http://www.brokeboats.com/ratio.html <br /><br />100 degrees Farenheit is 37.7 degrees Celcius<br />55 degrees Farenheit is 12.7 degrees Celcius<br />(for non F motorheads)<br />Too cold for a swim and too cold for your engine I think Why not check your thermostats? And do get a manual. There is a link below.<br /><br />After the break in period and with the proper 50:1 mix, maybe it will run okay again.<br /><br />Check the previous link in my first post, read the manual, call the mechaninc. <br /><br />I hope it will turn out just fine

 

[zepplinswt]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

that's the way he described it to me. two stoke motor cycle engines will do this also. by the way what is WOT? I have seen this everywhere but don't know what it means.

 

[Bear]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

Sorry, Wide Open Throttle.

 

[Hooty]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

Definitely get a manual, preferabley the factory manual. I don't know much about your engine but I think it should be operating in the 120 - 130 degree range. Cold two strokes don't run good. Get the manual and check thermostats.<br /><br />c/6<br /><br />Hooty

 

[Reel Appeal]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

zepplinswt,<br /> When you say grass clogged the intake,I assume you mean the intake on the lower unit?If the intake was clogged long enough to cause powerhead failure,I hope the water pump impeller was replaced.Also sounds like a link and sync should be performed,syncronizing the carburators.Make sure the thermostat(s) are actually there(installed),and the correct temp.

 

[zepplinswt]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

thanks for all the advice everyone.<br /><br />yes, the intake on the lower unit clogged and burned up the engine with in minutes. we drifted for 6 hours before another boat pulled us in. that sucked!<br /><br />yes, the water pump was replaced. i am not real sure about the thermostat. i know it's on the back of the block but not real sure what to do with it. <br /><br />where should the temperature gauge be installed? the way it is installed now is mounted to the outside rear of the block. a device is pressing against the outside of the block...don't know if that gives an accurate reading or not. it does work...temperature gets to 100 and that’s it. <br /><br />what i don't understand is the boat will run perfect for a short period of time but then begin to "double stroke". it also doesn't putt around like it used to...little more vibration.<br /><br />i may be planning another trip south to have the mechanic take another look but not before i run the 20 gallons of gas out of it and run with correct oil mix. 50:1 <br /><br />what does some of this simple tuning run. i know they charge $80 an hour at some of the dealers around here. Don’t really have a mechanic in Austin....anyone have any recommendations.<br />just trying to figure out if it would be worth it to drive it 6 hours to do this work. it will cost $100 in gas just to get down there and back.<br /><br />thanks again everyone for the advice. anymore will be greatly appreciated.

 

[Waterbugtoo]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

You seem to be very concerned about temp. I have yet to see a temp gauge on a Merc outboard that was accurate. I wouldnt recommend relying on it. Let your mechanic straighten the motor out, whatever the problem may be. They rebuilt it, its their job.

 

[zepplinswt]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

yes, i am concerned about the temp. if it doesn't heat up it's not ever going break in. another thing, i just can't run it down the street to the mechanic. he is 6 hours away. also the double stroking concerns me but i guess i will just want until i am running the recommended oil to gas ratio and listen to what the mechanic told me. <br /><br />anyone know where is the best place to pick up a manual to my motor?

 

[clanton]

Re: Mercury 125 ELPTO - just rebuilt not running right

My manual stops at 1997 so there may be some difference.<br /> When the engine was new with Mercury controls, it had overheat alarm.<br /> The carbs have different jeting by cylinder,has this ever been checked.<br /> The bottom 2 carbs do not have idle adjustments, this may have been changed later engines.<br /> Timing/synchronizing should be spot on, the manual Im looking at has 4 pages just for this.<br /> Engine needs thermostat, check engine temp with melt stick.<br /> All of this should have been done when engine was rebuildt.<br /> Engine should run fine on a 25-1 mix for about 8-15 hours before fouling plugs.<br /> If you dont want to give the mechanic one more time to correct everything, Buy a manual by serial number from Mercury, they have 800 number and should ship correct manual, and start reading.