Hello everyone, new boat owner here. Two weeks ago I bought a 2002 Key West 1900CC with a 2002 Mercury 115hp 4cyl outboard. Over the last two weekends I had a few issues that I thought I'd ask about.
The motor typically doesn't start on the first try, sometimes the idle can be a little shaky and it won't stay running without some attention after a week of sitting on the trailer. Do I just need to find the right amount of choke until it warms up enough?
As far as the starting issues, I wanted to flush the motor yesterday, so I had the hose all hooked up and primed the bulb, but when I turned the key it just clicked. The gauge on the console was reading 12-14 volts, the battery connections appear tight, but the positive terminal connection looked a little rusty/corroded. Is it simply a battery issue, or could it be the starter? Turning the key enough times got it to crank, twice, but the idle issue kept it from running more than 60 seconds. I've replaced car starters, if it comes to that will I find any surprises on an outboard vs a 4cyl auto engine?
I gave up after 30 minutes because it was about 107 degrees outside, could the heat have had something to do with it? When I bought the boat it had been sitting for a while, could I just be working out the cobwebs from it being unused? I should point out that when we were out on the water it didn't give me this much trouble (it would crank on the 2nd or 3rd try if not the first). But I remember a used Accord I got that started fine for the first month before I realized the starter was on its last legs and I had to knock it with a hammer to get it to turn over. Could this be a similar situation?
I'm going to have to re-pack the bearings on one of the trailer wheels this weekend (lost the dust cap and losing all the grease), I figured I'd get a battery terminal brush to try and clean that up too. If I still have starting problems I'm going to assume its the starter. Anything else I should look at?
Thanks,
Adam
The motor typically doesn't start on the first try, sometimes the idle can be a little shaky and it won't stay running without some attention after a week of sitting on the trailer. Do I just need to find the right amount of choke until it warms up enough?
As far as the starting issues, I wanted to flush the motor yesterday, so I had the hose all hooked up and primed the bulb, but when I turned the key it just clicked. The gauge on the console was reading 12-14 volts, the battery connections appear tight, but the positive terminal connection looked a little rusty/corroded. Is it simply a battery issue, or could it be the starter? Turning the key enough times got it to crank, twice, but the idle issue kept it from running more than 60 seconds. I've replaced car starters, if it comes to that will I find any surprises on an outboard vs a 4cyl auto engine?
I gave up after 30 minutes because it was about 107 degrees outside, could the heat have had something to do with it? When I bought the boat it had been sitting for a while, could I just be working out the cobwebs from it being unused? I should point out that when we were out on the water it didn't give me this much trouble (it would crank on the 2nd or 3rd try if not the first). But I remember a used Accord I got that started fine for the first month before I realized the starter was on its last legs and I had to knock it with a hammer to get it to turn over. Could this be a similar situation?
I'm going to have to re-pack the bearings on one of the trailer wheels this weekend (lost the dust cap and losing all the grease), I figured I'd get a battery terminal brush to try and clean that up too. If I still have starting problems I'm going to assume its the starter. Anything else I should look at?
Thanks,
Adam
