Hey Bigshrimpin!

garbubba · #1 06-04-2008, 06:16 AM

I have a mercury question for you. I have an '96 200hp mercury offshore. It has an erratic problem. I'm offshore Monday, boat started great, ran great, all that. Sat at the beach a couple hours & when we left if started fine, took off great & then lost power, max rpm's about 2000, after a minute of two, boom, back to full power, then back & forth again.

This happened twice before but I couldn't make it reoccur.

What do you think?

Doug

spareparts · #2 06-04-2008, 06:41 AM

check your primer bulb, make sure its not sucking closed. If it happens again, try pumping the bulb, if it gets better, you know its a fuel delivery problem, probably the bulb, or something tank related. If squeezing the bulb doesn't help, push the key in to choke the engine for just a split second while its running, if it gets better, fuel related, somewhere between the bulb and the powerhead. If squezing the bulb and pushing in the choke don't help(or make it worse) it could be too much fuel, or ignition related

steplift20 · #3 06-04-2008, 08:06 AM

heres my 2 cents do you have a water sepperator if you do change the filter and see if theres water in it that would do what your decribing

garbubba · #4 06-05-2008, 06:06 AM

I did pump the bulb with no change but I noticed it looks a bit rough so I plan to replace it. It does have a water seperating filter too & I haven't changed it this season yet.

Looks like I have some chores to do.

Thanks,

Doug

spareparts · #5 06-05-2008, 06:49 AM

all the primer bulbs available are junk at best, no one makes a real good one, I've taken brand new off brand primer bulbs out of the bilster pack and had them leak, crack, or just not pump. If you are going to buy one, I recomend getting one from an engine manufacture(Merc, Yamaha, Bomb, etc). From what I hear, the mercury bulbs with the yellow rings at the hose fittings are the best available.

THEFERMANATOR · #6 06-05-2008, 08:42 AM

The BOMBARDIER primer bulbs are also very good with some pretty heavy duty rubber used in them. TEMPO and MOELLER are not really worth the money IMO, even the SIERRA brand isn't that good. The OE's are your best option.

bigshrimpin · #7 06-05-2008, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by garbubba

I did pump the bulb with no change but I noticed it looks a bit rough so I plan to replace it. It does have a water seperating filter too & I haven't changed it this season yet.

Looks like I have some chores to do.

Thanks,

Doug

Try running the motor off a 6 gallon tank with fresh fuel. That always helps me isolate fuel related problems up to the motor. If it runs well on the 6 gallon tank then chase the problem backwards. If it still runs crappy then you know is somewhere on the motor.

garbubba · #8 06-06-2008, 06:18 AM

Thanks for the input guys, I was thinking electrical since it came & went like somebody throwing a switch. I have a 6 gallon tank just filled up. & I'm on the hunt for a new bulb, hose & water seperator.

I'll let you know how it goes.

Doug