New Outboard Problems - help please

tom534 · 21 August 2019, 20:57

Hi Guys,

I have recently purchased a new 6hp Mercury to go with my new boat.

Took it out today for the first time, all was well for the first hour.

A few miles down the Trent from Sawley the outboard cut out.

Could not get it stated again, spoke to the helpful guy who sold it to me but no joy for about 45 mins.

Then got it started with the throttle turned to 100% no choke, ran for 5 mins, before it cut out again while slowing down to the slowest speed.

Got a tow back up to Sawley Marina from friendly Narrow boater.

Started it again in the Marina and it ran fine going slow for another 30 mins before I went home.

I was using the internal tank, had the fuel position correct, had fuel in, had the kill cord on. Spark plug was dry, but quite black.

Any ideas what could be causing the issue, seems to be going from 40% throttle to the slowest that causes it but not really sure?

Thank you.

neil.mccrirrick · 21 August 2019, 21:13

Sounds like it was running on choke or there is an air blockage

tom534 · 21 August 2019, 21:20

Nope, choke was not on. Air in the fuel system?

willk · 21 August 2019, 21:36

Tank air vent open?

Fenlander · 21 August 2019, 21:40

Was it brand new out of the box and never run before or just newish?

I had a very similar set of behaviours with a few months old Mercury 9.9 when the idle and low speed jets/ports suffered blockages. It was initially erratic... misbehaving then going OKish then running badly again before finally doing the needing full throttle to start thing then dying as soon as it was dropped to a speed low enough to engage gear.

The one simple "did you" I'd add would be... did you open the tank air bleed?

Edit: Willk just beat me to the tank vent.

willk · 21 August 2019, 22:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fenlander

Edit: Willk just beat me to the tank vent.

...and I ask only because I did this recently

tom534 · 21 August 2019, 22:18

Yep, tank air bleed valve was open. Yes brand new, was tested by the Marina I bought it from before I took it away though.

Locozodiac · 21 August 2019, 23:36

If only using the internal tank, close lever at front fuel cock side, remove the hose that exits the fuel cock and place a rag under it, remove the tank's cap and move the fuel lever back to ON/start position.

Fuel should exit with no restrictopn whatsoever, if restricted unscrew the round filter located under the fuel cock and clean it to immaculate clean cond. Re assemble flter back, test motor and report if starvation issue was totally cancelled.

Debris could have made its way down with fuel clogging the internal round filter, a good procedure to start fuel starvation troubleshooting.

Happy Boating

Nos4r2 · 22 August 2019, 00:36

It's brand new. It's warrantied.

Take it back before you void the warranty.

Last Tango · 22 August 2019, 09:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

It's brand new. It's warrantied.

Take it back before you void the warranty.

+1

This is their problem not yours...

jeffstevens763@g · 22 August 2019, 10:26

yep take it back [ can you blow through the fuel cap when its off the tank to prove its venting]

tom534 · 22 August 2019, 19:16

Thanks for the replies everyone! Took it to the mechanic today, he said it was running too rich, leaned it out and cleaned the spark plug.

Took it out today for about 4 hours and all was well, so hopefully its all sorted now.

Thanks again

jeffstevens763@g · 22 August 2019, 19:38

Not a very good PDI then

Fenlander · 22 August 2019, 20:33

And that is odd because as far as I was aware all the idle mixture screws are tamper capped these days. Perhaps it had a faulty float height or something.

tom534 · 25 August 2019, 17:15

OK, so I took my parents out today and the outboard kept cutting out on idle. This happened after about 1 hour of use, it seems to be related to how hot the engine is, if that is possible.

Wont fire up again without full throttle. Even after it seems to be running 'rough' and sounds strange.

What are my options for just getting a refund? Can it be described as not fit for purpose?

I have lost all confidence in it now and want something reliable with kids especially.

Thanks

Pikey Dave · 25 August 2019, 17:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom534

OK, so I took my parents out today and the outboard kept cutting out on idle. This happened after about 1 hour of use, it seems to be related to how hot the engine is, if that is possible.

Wont fire up again without full throttle. Even after it seems to be running 'rough' and sounds strange.

What are my options for just getting a refund? Can it be described as not fit for purpose?

I have lost all confidence in it now and want something reliable with kids especially.

Thanks

Exactly how long have you owned the engine?

tom534 · 25 August 2019, 17:28

I've had it just over a 1 week, been out 3 times, 1st time had to get towed back by a narrow boat, 2nd time was fine after taking back to place of purchase where he said it was running rich, today keep cutting out and sounded 'different'.

btw - today I was using an external fuel tank, so the issue happens with both internal and external tanks.

Fenlander · 25 August 2019, 19:45

>>> lost all confidence in it now and want something reliable with kids especially.

I get like this with outboards... mind you I've been very lucky and even old ones have been good to me.

The most trouble I've ever had was with a newish Mariner 9.9 4-stroke as mentioned above... it was super sensitive to contaminated fuel in the carb.... where old 2-strokes would have spluttered a bit but coped but this became almost unusable and ruined a day out.

The contamination wasn't the outboard's fault as such but the way it misbehaved was dreadful.

As it happened I wanted to upgrade the HP so didn't have to see how it went as it aged.

Pikey Dave · 25 August 2019, 19:46

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom534

I've had it just over a 1 week, been out 3 times, 1st time had to get towed back by a narrow boat, 2nd time was fine after taking back to place of purchase where he said it was running rich, today keep cutting out and sounded 'different'.

btw - today I was using an external fuel tank, so the issue happens with both internal and external tanks.

Under the Consumer rights act 2015, you have 30 days to return it for a refund if it’s not fit for purpose. You don’t have to accept an exchange or credit. You have been reasonable in allowing the vendor to attempt to rectify the problem. Don’t hang about.

Poly · 25 August 2019, 19:47

I think you could certainly argue it is not of satisfactory quality given it has broken down 2/3 trips and you need near perfect reliability from an O/B. Don’t be fobbed off with they will ask them manufacturer the vendor is legally responsible. Ordinarily with something like an O/B I’d be inclined to give them a final chance to fix it - but there is no need to do so. Where it could get difficult is if they can’t repeat the fault.