96 150 hp possible fuel issue

[kevinclark93]

I have a 96 150hp carbed mercury outboard. Last night on the way to slaughter some fish i reved up and got on plane. The boat was running good and then it acted like it was not getting fuel and i lost power and the motor died. I gots it cranked several more time but it would not stay running without giving it a lot of gas. Twice i got it cranked and I had full power again and we got on plan for a few seconds then it died.

I think or a hope it is a fuel filter issue. I justed wanted to get some feedback before I start trouble shooting. Also I check compression not long ago and it was good across all 6.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

Check compression again. It's really hard on them to starve out at speed. Can burn down in seconds.

Check for fuel delivery problems. Throw in a fuel pump kit and filter, and inspect the fuel line and primer assembly for leaks. If it still acts up, get serious about tracking down fuel pressure and air in the fuel.

hope it helps
John

 

[kevinclark93]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

that sounds like a good road to go down... I hope i can get is lined out soon before the spawn is over

Thanks for the feedback

 

[kevinclark93]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

Just to follow up on this issue. I poored my water separator out and it was about 3/4 water and 1/4 gas. I then use the primer bulb to pump some gas out of the tank into a milk jug. The milk jug was about half way full with about a inch of water in the bottom. I thin drained the tank and filled it up with 55 gallons of fresh gas. It took three credit card swipes and two different cards. The bank shut one of the cards down because they thougt it was fraud. Anyways the boat idles great now on the muffs, I will get it in the water this week for the real test.

 

[j_martin]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

Goes to show ya a water seperator isn't much use unless you actually dump the water out once in awhile.

Change the filter before you bank your life on it.

hope it helps
John

 

[CharlieB]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

Water in the carbs is till there, it may seem to run fine on the hose but once you get it under load in the water you may find it still acts sick.

You may want to pull the carb bowl drain plugs one at a time and pump the primer bulb to flush the water out of the carbs before you launch the boat.

 

[kevinclark93]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

I am not a carb expert. Which screw is the drain???

 

[j_martin]

Re: 96 150 hp possible fuel issue

I am not a carb expert. Which screw is the drain???

Neither is Charlie.

The main jets screw into the carbs low on either side. If you remove the cover plug, it'll drain the float bowl.

Water in the fuel over time usually involves some bacterial sludge buildup. If this were my engine, I'd go through the carbs just to be sure they're squeaky clean. Just be sure you have new gaskets and seals on hand when you go in.

It doesn't take much to lean out the mixture and burn a piston. Maybe that is what the original failure was.