225 optimax trouble

[flhawley]

Bought new 2000, 28 pursuit/225 optimax's. Had 7hrs on them by dealer. 1st trip port eng. quit 3 times at idle. 2nd trip port eng ran for 2o min. quit and would not restart. Shop said cause was low fuel pressure and I may have run it low on fuel (I had 200 gal. onboard). I got boat back and

• started it at home. Engines ran for 15 min. and port engine quit. Tried for 10 min. and it restarted and sounded fine. Next day tried again. (we have a july 4th trip planned with the boat) Both started but port quit in 10 min. I checked fuel to engine/ok. I switched tanks/didn't matter. Port engine misses/stutters every few seconds but not regularly. It does not idle as does starboard eng. It continues this stutter throught the rpm range. It will not start now. I'm worried local guys will not diagnose the problem. I'm also worried that maybe I shouldn't have a mearcury. Your input will be appreciated. Thanks in Florida.

 

[JB]

Re: 225 optimax trouble

Howdy, Smile.<br /><br />I am not a Merc-spert but I think your problem is OptiMax. I wish I could be more encouraging.<br /><br />I would expect EFI or carbed Mercs to work better, make more smoke and smell and use a lot more fuel. Of course the OptiMax don't use any fuel at all unless they are running, a desirable feature in an outboard.<br /><br />I would go to 225 4 strokes, Yamaha or Honda are both great engines. 225 Yammy 2 strokes are another option. They work.<br /><br />Others will be along to dispute me, but since it is only an opinion, I guess it doesn't matter.<br /><br />Good luck.

 

[clanton]

Re: 225 optimax trouble

Check www.screamandfly.com there was a discussion about running to cool. One other board was discussing throttle position sensor. If you have 2 engines, 1 fuel tank, would not both run out of fuel at about the same time. I would try to get Mercury involved.

 

[hondon]

Re: 225 optimax trouble

These engine not only need a clean supply of fuel , but they absoloutely require a clean source of voltage.If your battery cables make a long run to get power back to those engines, consider moving the batteries or going to larger cable.Make sure that the batteries you are useing live up to the criteria for this engine.That's some pretty hefty criteria.I would suggest that you run each engine on it's own starting battery.

 

[clanton]

Re: 225 optimax trouble

Minimum 1000 marine cranking amps, or 750 cold cranking amps for 1998 200/225.