My Merc went bleaughh - can you help diagnose?

[Dusk]

I have borrowed a Mercury 2 stroke 4hp engine and it has not been run for a good 6 - 8 months. I started it quite easily last time and it ticked over ok for about 10 minutes. After about 5 minutes in gear at very low revs a whisp of smoke came from under the cover and it died not to be started again.

it sounds like something has burned out but where do i need to start looking?

Any advice appreciated

[willk]

The two obvious questions:

Was the telltail water stream running out of the motor?

(Pls don't be offended by this question) Did you put two stroke oil in the petrol?

[Poly]

Then once you have answered willk questions, does it turnover (ie with I in gear but the killcord off can you turn the prob by hand?) I'd suggest you disconnect the fuel and pull the hT leads off the plugs to be sure it doesn't become a mincer.

[Dusk]

Originally Posted by willk

The two obvious questions:

Was the telltail water stream running out of the motor?

(Pls don't be offended by this question) Did you put two stroke oil in the petrol?

the telltail was there as far as i know. As I borrowed it I used the fuel that it had in it 1/3 of a tank although I had fresh with me with 50:1 mix that I maybe should have put in.

[Dusk]

Originally Posted by Polwart

Then once you have answered willk questions, does it turnover (ie with I in gear but the killcord off can you turn the prob by hand?) I'd suggest you disconnect the fuel and pull the hT leads off the plugs to be sure it doesn't become a mincer.

I will check this tomorrow as it's tucked in the garage at the moment...

I'll maybe have a play in a water filled wheely bin when i'm home in the light next

[9D280]

Originally Posted by Dusk

I have borrowed a Mercury 2 stroke 4hp engine and it has not been run for a good 6 - 8 months. I started it quite easily last time and it ticked over ok for about 10 minutes. After about 5 minutes in gear at very low revs a whisp of smoke came from under the cover and it died not to be started again.

it sounds like something has burned out but where do i need to start looking?

Any advice appreciated

On grounds that wisps of smoke can sometimes be decieving, you say it only ticked over for 10 mins. - are you sure the wisp cama form under the cowl?

I'm thinking 10 mins at idle without a good run to warm it up there's a reasonable chance you've just oiled the plugs. Pull them out & see how black they are. (can do this at the same time as Pol's turn test).


Cure for this is clean the plugs then a good few pulls (no choke or you'll flood it more) to flush through the excess fuel / oil & when it starts - make it do some work!

[Dusk]

Originally Posted by 9D280

On grounds that wisps of smoke can sometimes be decieving, you say it only ticked over for 10 mins. - are you sure the wisp cama form under the cowl?

I'm thinking 10 mins at idle without a good run to warm it up there's a reasonable chance you've just oiled the plugs. Pull them out & see how black they are. (can do this at the same time as Pol's turn test).


Cure for this is clean the plugs then a good few pulls (no choke or you'll flood it more) to flush through the excess fuel / oil & when it starts - make it do some work!

Thanks for the reply buddy. I really hope this is the case

Will do the tests on Sunday fellas and report back