50 mercury hp no start

[steplift20]

My 1984 50 hp outboard is not starting, she turns over and pops sometimes but does not start. She started last month. What to check? Spark yes,got it. Battery charged to full. Must be something going on with the gas any suggestions ?

[phatdaddy]

you seem to have narrowed it to fuel, unless it suddenly lost compression, so any filters to check. ball pumping up and getting hard. no fuel leaking from carbs?

choke working?

pull plugs out, squirt some premix gas in, see if she pops off

[steplift20]

Ok I will do that. I got her started after I took off the fuel filter and filled it up. It’s the little plastic cap with 5he screen inside. She started up ran for a short time than stalled.
The screen filter looked good but what I’m go8ng to do next is try to run her without a filter than if she starts. That’s the issue if not. Do what you said. It’s a great engine but l8ke all engines ,when they don’t run,,,,,they suck.

[steplift20]

Ok this is where I’m at, put some gas in the spark plug hole and she started right up then shut off. So I’m confident that she is not getting gas. I took the gas line off at the fuel filter going to the cards and it was under pressure , gas is flowing to the filter but I’m thinking ,should it be pressurized. Going to the carbs? I had the carbs rebuilt last year what should be my next move? Thanks for any feed back

[phatdaddy]

6 gallon tank or built in tank?

Quick disconnects on fuel line?

Go buy a qt of Trufuel 50:1 E free fuel.
Disconnect fuel hose from tank.
Stick it in the Trufuel can
Pump ball till firm
Start motor

If it doesn t start, problem is upstream. . . Fuel pump then carbs
If it does start, problem is downstream. . . Filter,tank pick up,connection.

Also, i know u run ethanol, so could be collapsed lining in fuel line

If it does start on the Trufuel then dies, try holding the can higher than the engine. This will give u a flooded suction to the fuel pump and make it easier for a weak pump to pump fuel. I used to be able to tell when my fuel pump was getting weak on my old Merc because after trolling about 15 minutes, it would get slower and slower. Would have to go back and pump ball.

[steplift20]

Tried two differant tanks. If I put gas straight into the carbs she starts up. I feel it’s a carb issue. I had them rebuilt last year but honestly where I liv3 the mechanics are not the best if you can find on3 who works on an old engine. I mean. A carb is a carb.

[phatdaddy]

Carbs cant carb if fuel is not getting to them.

Pump ball hard and open bowl drains on carbs, see if gas is getting to them.

[steplift20]

No gas to bowl. You know what really sucks,I had them rebuilt last year , I went back to him and he said it’s probably the needle. Ok than he says it will cost about $500.00 to rebuilt the two carbs. He did it a year ago. I liv3 by lake hopatcong and the so called mechanics here are not good like down the shore. I think im going to wait till next year. The people up here are nice the the mechanics suck

[phatdaddy]

are u sure gas is going thru the fuel line to carbs

[steplift20]

Phatdaddy ,youknowi didn’t check that.im going to disconnect the fuel line going to the carb and see if it’s clear. That’s a very good point, start with the simple and work your way up. I’m going to look at that tomorrow
I will post here with the results. I hope the fuel line is bad,that would br great.