Starter question w/ pics, 150 Optimax

[NFA]

Hey everyone, I'm pretty sure my starter is shot, just wondering if anyone has a model number for it? The starter sounds terrible and weak. It's struggling to push up the top cylinder to spin the flywheel. Batteries are full and all other systems are good. The motor runs great when it's on, but the starter sounds really weak. I'm guessing the brushes inside are done. I took a quick look at it and it's. A simple swap out, four bolts and done.

The engine is a 150 Mercury Optimax, V6, oil injected.

Also, on a side note, when I pulled the cowling to take a look underneath, I noticed this plug not going anywhere. Any ideas where it's supposed to go or what it's for? Or is it okay as is?

 

[NFA]

No Title

Sorry if they came out sideways.

 

[DavidMoore]

Take it off, there are 2 through bolts to remove and it should come apart, be careful not to loose the brush springs.
Get rid of all the corrosion, especially all the metal on the stator magnets, blow out all the carbon dust, remove the blue tarnish from the copper, if the brushes are less that 6 mm replace. Put it back together respecting the alignment marks (that might be difficult to see but they are there). A flat piece of stiff plastic with a groove cut into it will keep the brushes in place to help assembly. Be amazed at the difference.

 

[NFA]

Thanks Dave. I've removed it and am just thinking of replacing it with a new one. Problem is, there isn't a model / part number on the starter itself so I'm not sure where to start looking for one? I see a lot of similar looking ones online, but how do I know if it's the correct starter. Mercury wants $600 for a factory one, but that's ridiculous when I'm seeing them online for less than $100.

Would you know the model number, or what the starter is actually called? Any website links to buying the proper starter, or...?

Thanks.

 

[DavidMoore]

Try https://webapps.brunswick.com/literature/literatureSearch.do

Enter your serial number or year and horsepower and you can find a complete breakdown of your engine including part numbers.
Then find an aftermarket replacement.

 

[NFA]

Thanks again Dave, I've used that site, but the problem is I don't know the year. I've narrowed it down to somewhere between 98 and 99, but not sure on the exact year.

I found this starter online which fits the basic dimensions of the engine (150, Optimax, 2.5L, DFI)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...ilpage_o01_s00

Going to pick it up tomorrow, I hope it fits and all is good.

 

[Ant-Knee]

Hello,

I have a 98 merc 150, 2.5...v-6... You probably have the same starter as I do..
My part number for the starter is 79472 - $241.00 from **********
Also saw them on E-bay for $50.00 and up...

Ant...

 

[NFA]

Hey Ant, thanks a lot. I definitely have specs similar to yours. Would you have a picture of the starter? I was quoted $600 from Mercury, but also quoted $250ish from a dealer in town here. I went through Amazon and tracked one down. The listing online showed that it fits a variety of Optimax motors and mine seemed to be in there. I think the one I got will work. I'm picking it up today after work and I'll put it in and see what happens.

The one on Amazon was $85, a lot cheaper than $600, lol.

 

[Ant-Knee]

Yup, Here ya go...
Hope this helps ya..

Ant....

 

[NFA]

Awesome. That looks very similar to the one I posted above. The sticker on it looks exactly where my sticker should be. But it's not on the starter, hence the problem with trying to track down the proper one.

Also, on one of the pictures I'm holding a lead that doesn't seem to go anywhere on the motor. Any idea what it's for?

The pictures are located above in a previous posting.

Thanks for that! I'm sure I ordered the right one, just have to wait and see.

 

[Ant-Knee]

Motor looks little different from mine,
Probably the same starters tho... You should be ok there...

As far as the wires in ur hand in photo, Looks like a diagnostics wire plug in...
Is that fuel injection? I have 3 carbs on mine... Your motor looks little newer then mine.....
I am guessing that's a 98 or newer...

Ant....

 

[Dukedog]

only used that starter two years...'98/'99 I believe... not like tha regular V6 starter... part number for both should be tha same..

833153 2

833153 2 '98
833153 5 '99 no physical parts difference, jus tha number 5

there will be a build date stamped on tha block half, port side, at tha base of number two cylinder or on tha block half flange in tha same area.. it will be 1/8" number M/D/YR.. might be hard ta see but its there...

 

[NFA]

Thanks Duke.

UPDATE - I installed the new starter and it works beautifully. Engine fired up no problem.

But now I have an intermittent beeping that starts as soon as it cranks and turns over, and keeps going until I shut it off. I've looked up warning beeps for the Optis and it looks like most intermittent ones have to do with oil pressure, oil levels. I purged the oil reservoir on the engine, removed all air from it and let it overflow a bit, as I had that problem in the past. But I still have the beeping. My main oil reservoir is 3/4 full. I have oil there, but not sure why this is happening now. Any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[Ant-Knee]

Glad to see the starter is taken care of...


You can try and remove the oil cap on the reservoir on the engine,
check to see if the slider/float is stuck, Slide it all the way to the top of the cap and see if it stops the beeping...
If that doesn't do it you can unplug it, and if it stops could be a faulty cap...

I removed my oil injection on mine, Just cause I have heard many horror stories about the system failing...
I just mix it in my tank now.. Little bit of a pain in the *** but I know the oil is getting to the engine that way.....

Ant...

 

[NFA]

Thanks Ant. Do I need to remove the whole oil reservoir in order to check the float / slider? Or can I do it without removing the reservoir? I watched a video online where a guy stuck a clothes hanger in there and jimmied the float / slider, and that fixed his problem. Not sure if that's what I'm looking to do or...?

I'm going to fire it up again today and see what happens. Weird because as soon as I replaced the starter and fired it up, I had no beeps. Then I put the cowling on, went to fire it and had beeps immediately. And I've had beeps since. So not sure what caused it? But I'll try it again today after it's sat overnight, may or may not get beeps. I'll be sure to report back.

Thanks for all the help.

 

[NFA]

Motor looks little different from mine,
Probably the same starters tho... You should be ok there...

As far as the wires in ur hand in photo, Looks like a diagnostics wire plug in...
Is that fuel injection? I have 3 carbs on mine... Your motor looks little newer then mine.....
I am guessing that's a 98 or newer...

Ant....

My engine is DFI, direct fuel injection. I believe it's either a 98 or 99.

 

[Ant-Knee]

No you do not need to remove the oil tank itself, Just the cap...
Underneath the cap is where the float sensor is, It's attached to the cap and If I remember correctly should have 2 wires going to it..

If that doesn't take care of it check the wiring maybe when you put on or took off the cowling you separated a plug or something....



Ant....

 

[NFA]

I thought of that...maybe disconnecting or loosening up a connection. It is pretty tight in there with everything and I know I rub wires and whatnot when I slide the cowling off and on.

So the cap to the in-engine reservoir tank has a sensor and wires attached to it? This seems logical. I had this problem before where I had to purge the air out, and the beeping stopped. I think it's something minor like this.

Also, another update. I tried firing it today after letting it sit overnight. It fires beautifully, the starting issue is taken care of. But I still have the beeping. So I'm trying to diagnose this one now.

Thanks for your help Ant.

 

[NFA]

No Title

I had some time tonight so I looked at the in-engine oil reservoir. I removed the black cap, but there's nothing to it. It's just a cap with two prongs holding it in place. Nothing to do there. Put it back on nice and tight.

I checked just to the left of it and noticed a screw holding a washer in place. This washer looks to hold two wires in place with a plastic sheath covering the wires as they come out of the oil reservoir. I removed the screw just to take a look and the sheath can be pulled out if I wanted. I removed it and mucked with the wires a bit. Obviously I didn't pull them out too far, but I wanted to see how much play I had with them. I had a bit. Not sure about the float and whatnot, I couldn't see inside. But is this what you were referring to? Or am I in the wrong ball park altogether?

On a side note...once I jimmied with the wires and put everything back together, I fired it up without the cowling on. It started and I had no beeps. I shut it off for a bit, and then fired it back up. No beeps again. I thought I had it by playing with the wires and either freeing up the float or just having the magic touch.

But when I went to put the cowling back on, and tried to fire it again, fired no problem, but I had beeps again.

So that's where I'm at so far. Any ideas or info on the reservoir tank? I've included some pics to clarify.

 

[Ant-Knee]

Ok, That tank little different from mine, On mine the float assembly was on the cap...On that tank where the 2 wires go into it... There must be
a float assembly below it.. If you can unplug those 2 wires at the connector , do so and see if it stops the beeps...


Ant...