For the outboard mechanics.

[Baconbits]

Sorry guys I'm new here. Found the website while looking up some information about a problem I'm having. Lots of helpful guys here so I wanted to post this question...

I just recently bought a 1988 Mercury 35HP 2-stroke motor along with a boat and trailer. While purchasing the package, the guy told me the motor runs despite its looks (1988) and that I need a battery with "some juice to it" in order to get it started. I didn't ask much because I don't want the motor. However, I'd like to sell the motor so I'm trying to get it fired up.

Yesterday I grabbed my battery off of my 99 Evinrude and ran down to where I'm storing this Mercury. I hooked up the Mercury cables to my battery and turned the key, the flywheel turned very little then stopped. I noticed a little smoke coming off the Black cable where it connects to my battery... So then I decide to hook jumper cables from my truck battery, to the boat battery, while the Mercury cables are connected. Then the flywheel started spinning pretty well but still noticed smoke coming off the Black cable connected to the battery. So I quickly stopped. Then, I decided to hook the jumper cables from my truck, straight to the motor cables. Turned the key and got a large spark, so I stopped that too...

Anybody know what's going on? Why would I need a battery "with a lot of juice" to start this thing? Is something on the motor going bad like the starter?

Any help is greatly appreciated. Wish I knew more about outboards but I kind of just learn as I go.

Thank you,
Nick

 

[ondarvr]

Sounds like bad battery cables on the motor.

 

[MH Hawker]

or bad connections

 

[Baconbits]

This is a start, thank you guys! Either tomorrow or Monday I will check both ends of the battery cable for the motor and try again. The end that hooks up to the battery looked fine to me the other day but I will make sure everything is sound on both ends.

Anyone else please feel free to chime in.

I was reassured today that the motor ran fine once he got it started. He also used a AGM gel cell battery but said it was tough to start

Thanks a lot guys I appreciate it

 

[Texasmark]

The heat tells you where to look. Periodically it's a good idea to take all your high current connections loose, shine them up, put them back nice and tight.....considering the size of the hardware of course. I thin like to use the battery connector spray to cover them all up and keep the elements at bay.

When you finish all that, if you are still having a problem, pull the plugs and rotate the engine by hand in N. It should turn freely. Then using the starter spin it, it should spin up fast with no smoking. If you get it, time to check out a new starter and might as well get a new starter solenoid also as you probably pitted the heck out of the insides of the one you have.

 

[JDusza]

Welcome. Posting here will be the best thing you've done today.
The site is unbelievable. Stick with it.

 

[Baconbits]

Thanks guys for the help. Ran over to the boat today to do some work and cleaned the two battery connections coming from the motor, hooked it up to my battery and the thing started spinning perfectly with no heat or smoke. Next up is to take it for a spin.

Motor says "oil injection" but the guy told me it's a 2-stroke and he believes the oil/gas ratio is 50:1

Does that make sense?
Will do some of my own research later today
Thanks guys

 

[jbcurt00]

Oil injection means you shouldnt have to add 2stroke oil to the gas tank (pre-mix), there should be a 2stroke oil reservoir tank and the motor auto-mixes the oil and gas.

 

[Baconbits]

Yea I was familiar with that but he told me 50/1 when I asked what the oil/gas ratio is.... I will look under the motor cover today and try to find the oil reservoir. Is it possible it's missing or not connected and now you must mix oil?
Or better question, will I damage the motor running it with 50/1 gas oil mix?

 

[ondarvr]

You will not damage anything running at 50:1 along with the oil injection, and it's recommended to do it this way when you get a new motor and you don't know if the oil injection works.

 

[Texasmark]

Yea I was familiar with that but he told me 50/1 when I asked what the oil/gas ratio is.... I will look under the motor cover today and try to find the oil reservoir. Is it possible it's missing or not connected and now you must mix oil?
Or better question, will I damage the motor running it with 50/1 gas oil mix?

On the larger engines you can't miss it. It holds 2 quarts on the 90 and the fill cap is on top of the cowling, accessible without removing it. I know the 60 has the fill cap too but don't know the size of the tank. At 50:1, 35 hp, 3.5 gal per hour, 2 hours, 7 gallons, one + tank, 1+ pint for a size.....oil is blue.

 

[Baconbits]

Texasmark I'm sort of confused by your last sentence however I looked around the motor yesterday and did not find any oil resvioir at all... So tomorrow I will hopefully start the motor and run it with the 50/1 oil/gas mix
I hope all goes well

 

[Texasmark]

Fine. One more test to prove it because when oil injection first came out, I bought an '88 115 tower and it had it but the tank was in the boat and mixed the oil from the gas tank on the way to the engine....no tank in the engine. No tank in YOUR engine.....no tank in YOUR boat, pre-mix 1 pt. TC-W3 outboard oil to 6 gallons unleaded gas.....aka 50:1....actually it's 1:50 but everybody refers to the gas first and calls it 50:1.

 

[Baconbits]

Awesome, thanks for clarifying that Texasmark. I appreciate it!
Hopefully tomorrow I'll get to take it for a spin and will post the results

Thanks again!

 

[Texasmark]

As Sea Rider says...."Happy Boating!"

 

[Baconbits]

Sorry guys for the delay. I trailered the boat to the ramp and after three turns of the key the motor fired right up, and ran great the whole time... All that needed to be done was clean the battery cables from the motor... Easy fix! Just how I like em!

Thanks guys for the help. Next up will be a question about the structural support to this aluminum boat. I will post pictures but not sure which forum I will post the question and pictures to, haven't scouted the site much.
Thanks again for the help guys