60HP 2 stroke Mercury Bigfoot choke problem

[nannon94]

Hello all,

I am hoping for so insight into my problem with my 2000- 2 stroke - 60HP mercury bigfoot (oil injected), hard to start, believe there is a choke issue.

I am a new boat owner (and female) and had someone look at my boat and I just want to be sure that I am not going to get "taken for a ride". Here is what I gathered from the guy who looked at it.

It has a push to choke on the ignition key, when pushed, there is no clicking no movement. However it was able to manually choke it and fired right up. I have only had the boat since July and it was always difficult to start, had to keep cranking the engine and it would eventually take. So the choke problem makes sense.

I would just like to know from your experience what low cost things should be checked first?

I am trying to figure out if there is a choke solenoid that should be checked for corrosion, if it could be the ignition switch itself, or ignition wiring to the choke.

The guy mentioned wiring as a guess, he only briefly looked at it and wants to bring it to his shop.

It was also suggested that i have the carbs rebuilt, he did not get into the carbs, just said they had not been touched.

I need help from you experts out there. Please ask any questions that you need.

Thank you in advance for any info you can provide.

 

[Dave1027]

Re: 60HP 2 stroke Mercury Bigfoot choke problem

First of all, are you pumping up the primer bulb till full and hard before you begin?

How did you manually choke it? With your hand over the carb? These motors don't have a choke they have an enrichment valve that spews fuel into the intake.

http://www.crowleymarine.com/mercury-outboard/parts/3371_80.cfm

The enrichment valve is part# 30. It should make a click when you push in the key. You can manually operate the valve by pushing the button on top of it. If no click then it's like a wiring bad connection. You should get 12 volts on the yellow/black wire when you push in the key.

 

[nannon94]

Re: 60HP 2 stroke Mercury Bigfoot choke problem

Thank you for your reply!

The bulb was primed and fules was flowing through the line. he checked that first, actully removed the quick connect on the fuel line (engine side) and direct hooked the line to the motor before he noticed the enricher issue.

He pushed something ( I didn't see what it was) to manually "choke" it then it fired right up like never before.

There is no clicking at all when key is turned to the push to choke and pushed in.

In your opinion, since there is no clicking, is that more likely to be wiring that needs to be replaced and NOTthe actual solenoid needing to be replaced???

 

[Dave1027]

Re: 60HP 2 stroke Mercury Bigfoot choke problem

My opinion is the mechanic you had looking at it knows what he's doing. As long as he's not gouging you I think you should let him fix it.

You can check for a bad solenoid by applying 12 volts to it. If it clicks it's ok and the problem is somewhere else. Could be a bad connection in the ignition switch or some other place. Need to take a volt meter to chase it down.

 

[nannon94]

Re: 60HP 2 stroke Mercury Bigfoot choke problem

Great advice. Thanks! I am goning to let him take a swing at it. I serouisly appreciate your help.