Recent content by MercGuy

  1. M

    2 cycle oil in primer bulb

    I have a 1998 115 with oil injection. I installed a clear fuel filter just after the primer bulb and it has always had 2 stroke oil in it after sitting for a day or 2. I assume that is because the oil pump and mixing with fuel happen at the bottom of the engine. Then there is a fuel line that...
  2. M

    Is there a better gear oil pump out there?

    I have been filling my lower unit from the top with a pump style oil can since I bought the engine new in 1998. Many here will squawk about how that won't work and how it will damage the lower unit, but I've been doing it for 22 years and 1,350 running hours on this engine without a single...
  3. M

    Battery, is one ok?

    Chris, No, I've never rope started an I6, I've only rope started a late 1950's 35hp Evinrude Lark and my current 1998 I4 115. I've rope started my I4 115 about 4 times over the last 20 years of ownership. Once when I first bought it just to see how difficult it was to do, and 3 times when I...
  4. M

    Battery, is one ok?

    Does your engine have the provision to rope start it ? My 1998 2 stroke 115 came with a section of rope and a wooden handle for emergency starts. It's much like an old lawnmower. I've used it before and it's a life saver. Starting a 2 stroke 115 with a rope pull is not difficult. If you...
  5. M

    Mercury 2+2 introduced?

    Thanks for the tip Texasmark. I notice that the OEM plugs (BP8H-N-10) are a heat range 8 vs the plugs you recommend are a heat range 6. Is there anything to be concerned about with that difference ? I looked at the NGK website and they mentioned that going colder is safe, but going hotter can...
  6. M

    Mercury 2+2 introduced?

    I bought my 1998 115 2+2 new in 1999 as a package on my 18 foot SeaRay bowrider. I have over 1,300 hours on it and as others have said, it has been bullet proof. The only thing I've ever done that I would consider out of the ordinary is I replaced the exhaust cover gaskets. Other than that a...
  7. M

    Changed impeller, now tell tale is weak

    Hi everybody, I have a 1998 Merc 115 2+2 with 1,125 hours on it. It has always run perfectly. This spring I replaced my water pump impeller as normal maintenance. Everything was fine before the change, but after installing the new impeller I've noticed a few things: 1) The tell tale stream...
  8. M

    Questions about replacing prop shaft seals

    Hi all, I plan to replace the propshaft seals on my 1998 Merc 115. Per the attached photo I plan to use a 2 jaw puller to remove the bearing carrier. However, I'm bothered about the sentence "take care not to lose the cam follower or 3 metal balls in the end of the propeller shaft" My plan...
  9. M

    Boating in Canada, what do I need to know ?

    Hello All, This summer I will be trailering my boat to up North, through Michigan and I will end up boating in Canadian waters (Launching in Sault Ste Marie). Does anybody have any advice as to what laws and or regulations I need to be aware of ? First thought on my mind is that I'm not sure...
  10. M

    Safety Question - Auxiliary fuel tank

    I have an 18 foot Sea Ray bow rider with a Merc 115 outboard. I am taking a long trip this summer and I want to extend my cruising range beyond the built in 20 gallon tank. I've purchased an auxiliary tank to mount on the rear swim platform. I would like to semi permanently mount the tank. If I...
  11. M

    Water in LU oil - How bad is this ?

    Hi All, I have a 1998 115 2+2 with 1,100 hours on it. I used to be very meticulous about maintenance, but I must admit that I've slipped a little in the last year or 2. I recently changed my lower unit oil for the first time in 2 years (I used to religiously change it at the end of every...
  12. M

    1998 115 2+2 rolls over 1000 hours !!

    I bought this engine new as a package with my 18ft SeaRay bowrider. Since I've owned it I've put spark plugs in it, changed 2 or 3 impellers (can't remember now), Renewed the oil seal on the drive shaft under the water pump, and replaced the exhaust cover plate gaskets. That is it over 1000...
  13. M

    1998 175 Sport - Non std fuel sender ??

    I have a 1998 Sea Ray 175 Sport that I bought new, and has been a great boat. This year the fuel sender failed. A little research led me to believe that fuel tank senders are standard and any "universal" sender will work. So I bought a sender from Bass Pro and took the old one out of my tank...
  14. M

    Why doesn't the fuel tank sender cause and explosion ?

    After 11 years of service I'm replacing the fuel tank sender on my boat since it isn't working properly. As I look at the new one I've got to wonder why all of our boats don't explode in a giant fireball. The sender has a reostat and a spring loaded "wiper" that rubs across the reostat as the...
  15. M

    Drum Brake stuck and got hot - replace bearings ?

    This weekend when I returned from a boat outing I noticed a very faint smell of hot brake lining. Sure enough my right side trailer brake was pretty dang hot. Both the drum and the hub were too hot to touch. There was no smoke and only a little smell. So, I obviously need to pull the hub and...
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