Howdy ,boy could I use some help to solve a mystery.
I have a 82, 90 horse Mercury, inline 6 cyl. Outboard on a '73, 24' pontoon boat, just an old cruiser, right? Ok. So here's the deal. Since I bought it two summer's ago, I can't get the thing to preform at high rpm or even get to high rpm under a load. When it's not in gear, it runs like a scalded dog with massive rpm. Put it in gear and try to go somewhere, it will only reach moderate rpm and reaches a massive speed of about 5 knots. I can walk faster. Take boat out of water, start engine and put it in gear, it runs like a Ferrari. As soon as you put under load, it simply will not build rpm AND consumes fuel at world record pace. I've never seen anything drink that much gas, with almost zero performance. This summer I've had all three carbs rebuilt, all fuel and rubber hoses of any kind replaced. Bought new fuel tank, line, connectors and ball pump. New fuel pump , plugs and wires. The only tangible results from those replacements is that the engine starts and idles better, but they made absolutely no difference in either performance or fuel consumption. Let me add this: There are moments while under way where the engine will jump, as if hit with the paddles you would use on a heart attack patient and it will launch the boat ahead and you can feel real power, if only for a second and then it returns to its him drum moan. Couple days ago I had a conversation with a guy who suggested it could be an issue with something called a stator, located under the flywheel. I'm hesitant to spend another dollar on this thing, and I've already poured more than I should have trying to get it's heart pumping as it surely should!!
I realize this is an old boat with an old motor, but the Dang thing should flat out run way better than it does. I mean, I'm the slowest thing on the lake and it's not a heck of a lot of fun when you have guests on your deck. I'm not lookin to set world speed records here, but I would like to cruise along nicely, without needing a tanker following behind me. By the way, I'm running a Quicksilver 14-13 aluminum prop, suggested by prop shop.
Thanks for reading this and thanks for any and all input! If this doesn't work, I'm pretty sure this boat has a torpedo in its future!!
Thanks!
I have a 82, 90 horse Mercury, inline 6 cyl. Outboard on a '73, 24' pontoon boat, just an old cruiser, right? Ok. So here's the deal. Since I bought it two summer's ago, I can't get the thing to preform at high rpm or even get to high rpm under a load. When it's not in gear, it runs like a scalded dog with massive rpm. Put it in gear and try to go somewhere, it will only reach moderate rpm and reaches a massive speed of about 5 knots. I can walk faster. Take boat out of water, start engine and put it in gear, it runs like a Ferrari. As soon as you put under load, it simply will not build rpm AND consumes fuel at world record pace. I've never seen anything drink that much gas, with almost zero performance. This summer I've had all three carbs rebuilt, all fuel and rubber hoses of any kind replaced. Bought new fuel tank, line, connectors and ball pump. New fuel pump , plugs and wires. The only tangible results from those replacements is that the engine starts and idles better, but they made absolutely no difference in either performance or fuel consumption. Let me add this: There are moments while under way where the engine will jump, as if hit with the paddles you would use on a heart attack patient and it will launch the boat ahead and you can feel real power, if only for a second and then it returns to its him drum moan. Couple days ago I had a conversation with a guy who suggested it could be an issue with something called a stator, located under the flywheel. I'm hesitant to spend another dollar on this thing, and I've already poured more than I should have trying to get it's heart pumping as it surely should!!
I realize this is an old boat with an old motor, but the Dang thing should flat out run way better than it does. I mean, I'm the slowest thing on the lake and it's not a heck of a lot of fun when you have guests on your deck. I'm not lookin to set world speed records here, but I would like to cruise along nicely, without needing a tanker following behind me. By the way, I'm running a Quicksilver 14-13 aluminum prop, suggested by prop shop.
Thanks for reading this and thanks for any and all input! If this doesn't work, I'm pretty sure this boat has a torpedo in its future!!
Thanks!
