Not Getting Gas

[wjhuskey]

I recently bought a 1981 Mercury 25 hp and I am trying to get it to start now. I was proud to hear it actually crank up but it doesn't run long. I put new gas in the tank and cleaned the spark plugs. Its a pull start and I cranked on it while my friend squirted choke cleaner in it. The motor would run as long as he was squirting the choke cleaner in it. It seems to not be getting gas. What do I do now? Could it be that the carb needs soaking?

 

[Maxz695]

Re: Not Getting Gas

First of all Put that choke cleaner away!!!!!! You will damage your engine by drying it out. Rebuild the fuel pump and see if the bulb stays hard it may have a bad checkvalve

 

[Randy J]

Re: Not Getting Gas

id make sure the fuel tank vents open???????????????????????????????????

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: Not Getting Gas

use a spray bottle with gas oil mix in it instead of carb/choke cleaner..... at least that way the engine gets a bit of lubrication when fired.... the fuel vent comment is a great one and easily overlooked... (heck it happens to me sometimes still)
how long did she sit before you bought her? the fuel may have dried out in carb and plugged things up a bit or caused em to stick.
by all means check fuel pump... then i would say carb.... but if primer bulb is working even if fuel pump is not, you should be able to continuously pump primer bulb and keep engine running... and she should start without need of extra help (starter fluid, carb cleaner, gasoline spritz, gas soaked rag) just by choke and fire.
I am gonna bet on the carb needing a cleaning.... let us know what you find out.

Sean

 

[wjhuskey]

Re: Not Getting Gas

The previous owner said it had been over 6 months since he'd last used it. The gas in the tank that came with the motor didn't really smell old and it looked good but I went ahead and put new gas in it anyways. I'm guessing it had been setting unused long enough to have the carb gummed up?

 

[wjhuskey]

Re: Not Getting Gas

I'm hoping I get time this weekend to work on it some more. I will try to pump the bulb when it hits and see if I'm able to keep it running. Are there other ways of knowing its the fuel pump besides this? Oh and I looked and the gas tank vent was open.

 

[ONERCBOATER]

Re: Not Getting Gas

the pumping the primer bulb, is easiest check i can think of for poor or non performing fuel pump. If pumping the primer makes the difference it is the fuel pump.
something else to look for is while pumping the primer look for any wet spots (most times at the hose connections) if fuel can get out under pressure than when drawing a vacuum air can certainly enter the fuel system and mimic a bad fuel pump.

Sean