1980's ish Mariner 200hp V6 resurrection - any ideas?

[Jonny2488]

Tried to get my (newly acquired) Mariner 200hp V6 (believed 1980's ish model) outboard going this evening, but without success.

It hasn't been used in the last 6 months and the guy I bought it from claims it was serviced at the end of last season but I'm dubious about that.

It turned over reluctantly and fired very very briefly before dying. Couldn't then get it started again. It sounds likes it's really struggling to turn over. I was running it from the car as current battery is "out of service". Engine was on and providing a pretty constant voltage so that's not the problem.

Any advice? Is there something I can do to free the whole system up and get the moving parts going? Will have a look at the spark plugs when I eventually work out how to get the cowling off....any clues on this? It's not exactly intuitive! Picture attached.

Thanks.

[ribsta]

Hi, I don't have much advise what you can do but wanted to let you know I had one of the engines and it was very temperamental with the amount of fuel you primed in for cold starting. Too much and it would never start. You had to wait 10 minutes or more before having another go. Good luck anyhow.

[A1an]

It would be easier if you asked for next weeks lottery numbers.

Im doing the same at the minute with an old Merc 80 from 1979.

I went through it methodically, first job was carbs off and rebuilt, new fuel pump, new water pump and new plugs, I checked all breathers and balancing pipes replacing the perished ones, I cleaned all connections on the ignition side and starter motor to make sure I was getting a proper connection, lubed up and freed off all levers and linkages but fell at the last hurdle when my ignition barrel turned out to be fubar. In total Ive spent a week on this engine BEFORE thinking about turning the key.

Basically what Im saying is Ive tried to eliminate all chances of a problem. If I were you I would be tempted to go over all the basics first before trying to fault find.

As for your problem...It could be anything from a bad connection to a lazy starter to a bad starter solonoid. Chances are the carbs will be dirty too if its been laid up for a while.

Good luck.

[Tim M]

Jonny, I'd start off by putting a new battery on it. Sounds like it's not getting enough juice. Chances are trying to fire it up off a set of jump leads with a totally knackered battery isn't going to work. You could take the battery out of the car and hook the outboard up to it to test....

PS. Here's a clue how to get inside it:

[Jonny2488]

Thanks for your input guys.

Tim, I was running it from my car's battery which is in A1 condition.

Planning to have a proper look "under the hood" at the weekend. Any ideas how to get the cowling off? It's a mission!

[Jonny2488]

Cheers for that Tim, very helpful.

[Screaming04]

Fresh gas (and oil mix if required) will do wonders. Lots of battery power. If he left old gas in the carbs, you're in for some agony.

[Screaming04]

Advance the cold start lever all the way and hold down the choke button while cranking if you aren't doing that already. (have earplugs at the ready)

[benc]

How are you connecting the battery to the engine though - if you're using jump leads they're going to have to be decent sized ones, and not too long... I can't start my engine on cheap jump leads... it just doesnt get enough power.

[SeaingRed]

Never believe anyone when they say they've serviced something for you before you buy it!! 9 out of 10 wont have!

Give it a proper service yourself, including a strip clean and rebuild of the carbs before you do much else. Prove the fuel pump works or bolt a new one on. The starter might be lazy too, so this can be stripped and cleaned to give it another lease of life. Just ask if you need help with this.

Then a new battery attached to the correct place!!

Good luck

[uncle al]

if it was winterizide ,remove spark plugs clean and dry refit and try again, if it still not starting disconnect the black/yellow tracer wire that is the stop wire so be carefull

[jezza2011]

Make sure the battery is good and you need good connections to the battery.
Mine would not turn over properly due to dirty battery connections.

Also you do need very hefty jump leads if your going to try jumping it.

Prime the fuel by pressig the fuel bulb on the fuel line a few times.
then give it a crank.

it could also be the starter brushes. mine were knackered and disintegrating.
after a quick brush replacemnt and clean of the battery terminals its 100% again.

can you do a vid of you trying to start it.

put a little bit of throttle on, breif bit of choke when turning over.
does it sound crisp as it were when the starter turns. or is it slow to crank.?

A good idea is to remove the plugs spray a little bit of wd down the bores. and slowly hand crank it round. does wonders. especially if its been standing for 6 months.

gives a little lube to the rings and pistions.

always do it to mine if its been standing for a long time.

"Any advice? Is there something I can do to free the whole system up and get the moving parts going? Will have a look at the spark plugs when I eventually work out how to get the cowling off....any clues on this? It's not exactly intuitive! Picture attached."

again a spray down with WD-40 does wonders. :-)
Opening the front pannel its hinged on the right hand side. so open from the left side and then relaease the springed catch then the covers open up. they can be lifted off as they hindge at he back and just lift off the engine.

[9D280]

I would normally agree with the Full up with the fast idle lever, and hopefully uncle Al ore TurboD can confirm / correct me on this but some of the Mercriners of the time didn't have a choke as we know it, but used an "enrichening valve" which basically throws more fuel in rather than cutting off the air.

Net result nobody can start my engine 'coz the last thing you want to do when it's cold is un- choke it again by opening the throttle with the fast idle lever....... Not intuitive.

As I have no idea what type of carb your engine has, once you get the lid off, have a look at what the choke solenoid does - if it moves a flap across the intake, use the fast idle. if it moves some tiny lever at the top of the carb with no air valve movement, make sure the fast idle lever is all the way down.


As for the lid, the front panel should come off either with a twistlock on the front at the bottom or a catch hidden underneath. panel falls off, revealing two or threee clasps that hold the sides together.... Just be careful in a high wind!

[jezza2011]

Ok I meant enricher.
and mine needs a little enricher press on the control box and a little throttle via the lever. always has.

[uncle al]

ok lets start again, do you have a spark at the spark plugs? if yes it is probaly a fuel problem ,does the primer bulb on the fuel line go hard?was fuel left in the carbs when stored if yes remove carbs strip and clean re-assemble and refit

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by uncle al

ok lets start again,

wan wanders ifn i mite maik sow bowld dat ifn de geezer carnt figger owt ow too gett de fkin cowel orf orl dis advises wot hee az bin givven mite bee a likkul bitt too mucch teknicul forr de pore likkul lam

sennd im too a meccanic

[uncle al]

Willfish you could be correct, but we will do our best and answer his questions.

[9D280]

Originally Posted by wiLlfish

wan wanders ifn i mite maik sow bowld dat ifn de geezer carnt figger owt ow too gett de fkin cowel orf orl dis advises wot hee az bin givven mite bee a likkul bitt too mucch teknicul forr de pore likkul lam

sennd im too a meccanic

In his defence, the catch on those front panels is remarkably well hidden..... unless you have the twistlock type! (which both pics seem to indicate isn't the case)

[Jonny2488]

Originally Posted by jezza2011

can you do a vid of you trying to start it.

put a little bit of throttle on, breif bit of choke when turning over.
does it sound crisp as it were when the starter turns. or is it slow to crank.?

Thanks for that mate. Will try a video at the weekend. It was slow to turn over when I tried it briefly the other night. Felt reluctant.

Originally Posted by uncle al

ok lets start again, do you have a spark at the spark plugs? if yes it is probaly a fuel problem ,does the primer bulb on the fuel line go hard?was fuel left in the carbs when stored if yes remove carbs strip and clean re-assemble and refit

Thanks. Going to have a proper look at it at the weekend. Will post an update then.

Originally Posted by wiLlfish

wan wanders ifn i mite maik sow bowld dat ifn de geezer carnt figger owt ow too gett de fkin cowel orf orl dis advises wot hee az bin givven mite bee a likkul bitt too mucch teknicul forr de pore likkul lam

sennd im too a meccanic

Seriously? Tell me that "grammer" is intentional? I hope for your sake it is.

Originally Posted by 9D280

In his defence, the catch on those front panels is remarkably well hidden..... unless you have the twistlock type! (which both pics seem to indicate isn't the case)

Got the f****r off in the end. Probably the most poorly designed cowling clip I've ever come across.

Thanks for the input those of you that have helped.

[Pikey Dave]

Originally Posted by Jonny2488

Seriously? Tell me that "grammer" is intentional? I hope for your sake it is.

You've met our WiLIfish then