Loss of power, 50 hp Merc

[ragdoll]

Looking to buy a 14' FG boat, comes with an 86 Merc 50, 3 cylinder.

When wet testing it, it ran fine, started great, idled great, but once out of the channel and giving it some throttle, it had very little power. Owner knew right away something was wrong and we turned back.

He has checked plugs (spark) all ok. Fuel and filter are fresh.

What other items should be checked?

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Loss of power, 50 hp Merc

Looking to buy a 14' FG boat, comes with an 86 Merc 50, 3 cylinder.

When wet testing it, it ran fine, started great, idled great, but once out of the channel and giving it some throttle, it had very little power. Owner knew right away something was wrong and we turned back.

He has checked plugs (spark) all ok. Fuel and filter are fresh.

What other items should be checked?

I was having the same problems with my 66 50 hp. A rebuild of the carbs and fuel pump took care of it.

 

[ragdoll]

Re: Loss of power, 50 hp Merc

I was having the same problems with my 66 50 hp. A rebuild of the carbs and fuel pump took care of it.

Thanks, so you think it's a fuel starvation issue?

 

[Cpt.Justice]

Re: Loss of power, 50 hp Merc

I had the same issue on my 1964 Merc 500, rebuilt the fuel pump and problem fixed.

 

[Andy in NY]

Re: Loss of power, 50 hp Merc

Thanks, so you think it's a fuel starvation issue?

Im not sure, to be honest. I just had posted the same question here and that was the response i got. It wasn't expensive, so I just went ahead and did it.

I suspect the 2 main issues were the fuel filters on the inlets for the carbs were pretty full with gunk, and the 1 way check valves in the pump became 2 way valves...

The only problem I ran into was that one of the float bowl covers was cracked and I had to replace at about $70.

 

[ragdoll]

Re: Loss of power, 50 hp Merc

Thanks everyone for your responses, I'll be sure to post back here when we determine the exact fix