Water Intake 98 Mercury 8hp

[imbame]

I am having trouble getting my 98 Mercury 8hp 2 stroke started in the water. The lake is a far drive and I want to try starting it in the driveway cooling it with the garden hose. Can someone tell me where the water intake is and how I go about it?

Thanks for your help in advance.

imbame

 

[corm]

Re: Water Intake 98 Mercury 8hp

Hi,
It is on the bottom of the cavitation plate.
Use a bucket or garbage can.

 

[imbame]

Re: Water Intake 98 Mercury 8hp

Ok. I decided to start it in a barrel of water. I think I didn't get all of the old gas out of the fuel line the first time I tried to start it on the lake. I got rid of that and got it running on full choke and fast idle. My problem now is it doesn't run when I take it off full choke. I tried new plugs. That didn't help. Do you think if I take it to the lake, put it in gear, and try to run the motor fast it will help burn out the carb. Or any other suggestions.
Thanks again for your help.

 

[corm]

Re: Water Intake 98 Mercury 8hp

Hi,

Chances are that you will need to clean your carb.
I guess that would depend if it has run well this year or if this
was your first time out this year. You could let it idle in the
barrel and see if it would get better, but if it has sludge in it from
the last yrs fuel volatiles evaporating away or water in it it should come off.
I do not think running it on the lake will fix correct the problem.
Sorry.

 

[imbame]

Re: Water Intake 98 Mercury 8hp

Thanks for the help corm.

Is cleaning the carb something I could do or does it need to go into the shop for service?

Thanks,
Jim

 

[donrjuan]

Re: Water Intake 98 Mercury 8hp

There is the chance that you have a stopped up fuel filter also. However if you need to, cleaning the carb is an easy process if you are mechanically inclined. It needs to be removed from the motor, careful not to damage any gaskets between the carb and the power head. You will need to remove the float bowl by taking out the typical four Phillips head screws, minding to keep it 180 degrees (upside down from the way it mounts) so as not to allow the pin holding the float to slide out. Also be sure when separating the bowl from the carb body that you do not tare the gasket (it may be a good idea to get a set of gaskets to do it correctly).Carefully remove the pin and take out the float and needle attached to it and try to keep it together or at least note the way the needle hangs on the float so if it comes loose you can seat it properly again (some have no orientation and you don?t have to worry but I prefer to be safe). Now the bowl you removed normally has the main jet in it. There is typically a drain plug on the side of the carb that is directly in line with this jet and you can remove it to get a better view of the jet. You will want to clean this out carefully with a small piece of wire (I use bread ties with the paper or plastic stripped from them) and maybe a blast of compressed air or carb cleaner. Be sure the bottom of the bowl is free of residue and debris. Inspect the other openings on the carb body and give them a gentle poke with the wire and a small blast of carb cleaner. Allow the components to dry and reassemble. Hope this helps and I hope I didn?t miss a step. I have been doing this for years but this is the first time I have written about it. Good luck!