Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

[beast95451]

I have a '97 Mercury outboard (electric start)that I am having trouble starting. Have new gas, new plugs, good spark, good compression. If I put a little gas or starting fluid in the carb it will fire right up, but as I give it gas quickly it just bogs down and dies, and won't restart until I put fuel in the carb again. I've disconnected the fuel line after the fuel filter & squeezed the primer bulb, has good flow & no water in fuel....please help!!!!!

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

Is this a two or four stroke?<br />check the fuel pump

 

[beast95451]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

Sorry 2 stroke

 

[rayjay]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

Has it been sitting? Are you pushing in on the key to energize the choke ? Are you letting it warm up before you "give it gas quickly" ?

 

[beast95451]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

It has been sitting for a while, not sure how long. I'm pushing in on the choke when I first try to start it. It doesn't have time to warm up before it dies, won't idle. When I put a little fuel in the carb it starts right up and sounds great, then it will die in a few seconds. About giving it gas quickly, I just tried pumping the throttle after it sounds like its going to stall, then it bogs down & dies. Keep the replies coming I'm sure I've overlooked something (without wrenchin' on it). thx

 

[robalofish]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

HP ??<br /><br />Sitting how long? <br /><br />Can you hear the fuel flowing into the carb(s) when you pump the bulb?<br /><br />Do you hear the choke when you press the key/switch?<br /><br />Are you using fuel with oil for testing hopefully not starting fluid with no oil?<br /><br />Pumping the throttle will not usually help you need the choke.

 

[rayjay]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

You are probably going to have to rebuild the carbs. On my 115 I normally give it a few bumps on the choke while I am letting it first warm up. The motor revs up a little everytime I do this. A cold motor needs a rich mixture because the fuel does not get vaporized by the cold engine internals. Once the engine gets hot the fuel is vaporized properly.

 

[beast95451]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

1997 25HP Mercury 2-stroke...sorry. And I know these sound like stupid NOOB questions...oh yeah, they are. <br />-Yes I hear fuel flowing to the carb when I pump the primer.<br />-Should I hear a click (solenoid) when I push in the key/switch choke?<br />-Yes I'm using mixed fuel to dump in the carb.<br />-When it first starts, you say hold the choke button in?

 

[Elmer Fudge]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

Clean the carbs.<br />Replace the fuel pump diaphram.<br />Change the fuel filter.<br />Check that all of the fuel lines and connectors are air tight and the check valve in the primer bulb is not faulty.<br />Use fresh gas.<br />Do not squirt starting fluid into the carbs, in future use premix.<br />Make sure that the tank is venting properly.<br /><br />Happy Boating

 

[beast95451]

Re: Starting trouble '97 Mercury outboard

Thanks, last night I pulled the carb cleaned everything. Found a couple of the tiny idle ports plugged, float was sticking a little from waht I can see, overall it was pretty clean, could definitely tell it had old gas in it. OK so I thought I was good to go, got everything back together (wish I had smaller fingers). It fired right up, would run if I kept the "pull to prime" knob out. tried keeping it running by tuning it while pulling the knob in & out so it wouldn't die, STILL won't idle. STILL sounds like it starving for fuel. Last night I just wanted to see waht was inside, but ended up putting everything back together with the same gaskets and didn't change the fuel pump diaphram. Ordered the carb/fuel pump rebuild kit. THIS SHOULD SOLVE MY PROBLEM.....RIGHT? (bad fuel pump, air leak through old gasket?????)<br /><br />Thanks again guys for the help.