I posted a few weeks back about a 1996 Mariner 15hp. I wasn't getting any spark so I replaced the switchbox. Well I got the new switchbox in yesterday and quickly bolted it up to the motor and to my surprise the motor fired up on the first pull. The motor ran great at idle in my yard and I was just sure that all my problems were solved so I took the boat to the river today to give it a test run and try to get some fishing in since the weather is finally nice here.
I will have to add that the boat has been sitting since late january with a full tank of gas and I didn't put fresh gas in before I launched the boat. Well the motor fired up and I set off to run the boat but as I began to throttle higher the boat just stayed at a slow pace. I turned the tiller handle as far as it would go and it wouldn't even get on plane. Well I thought the gas in the carb may have been old and that I could run it out so I rode a little farther just to see. That wasn't the answer and shortly after the motor started to spit and sputter. I pulled to the side of the river and messed with the butterfly on the carb a little and a few times could get it to rev up high but most ever time I pushed it, it would just rev a little then spit and sputter. I wasn't comfortable being on the river alone with a motor working at a limp at best so I headed back to the ramp and headed for the house. I checked the plugs when I got home and the top plug looks brand new where as the bottom one is a bit darkened already. The plug wires were both getting a good connection and looked to be okay. What is causing my motor to do this?:redface: I am already running low on funds from the last repair so I can't take it to a mechanic but I really wanna get it running....could it be the trigger? ignition coil? I'm stumped so any help from you more experienced fellas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brad
I will have to add that the boat has been sitting since late january with a full tank of gas and I didn't put fresh gas in before I launched the boat. Well the motor fired up and I set off to run the boat but as I began to throttle higher the boat just stayed at a slow pace. I turned the tiller handle as far as it would go and it wouldn't even get on plane. Well I thought the gas in the carb may have been old and that I could run it out so I rode a little farther just to see. That wasn't the answer and shortly after the motor started to spit and sputter. I pulled to the side of the river and messed with the butterfly on the carb a little and a few times could get it to rev up high but most ever time I pushed it, it would just rev a little then spit and sputter. I wasn't comfortable being on the river alone with a motor working at a limp at best so I headed back to the ramp and headed for the house. I checked the plugs when I got home and the top plug looks brand new where as the bottom one is a bit darkened already. The plug wires were both getting a good connection and looked to be okay. What is causing my motor to do this?:redface: I am already running low on funds from the last repair so I can't take it to a mechanic but I really wanna get it running....could it be the trigger? ignition coil? I'm stumped so any help from you more experienced fellas would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Brad