Give me a break

[uncle bert]

I have a 1989 115 L6 Mercury Power trim. I purchased the boat with motor last year and everything has been great till last week. I have noticed that the last few trips to the lake that the motor has been getting harder and harder to start. At first I thought that I was priming it too much and just flooded it out. Well after this weekends trip to the lake it took a good 20 mins of cranking and sitting and cranking and sitting to finally get it started. Once started I had to let it "warm Up" because it would die once I would try to put it in gear. Once we got it going it was fine and I was a happy camper. Till we decided to just travel the lake and just boat around. After we stopped for a few mins the boat did not want to start and then ran real ruff so I took it back to the ramp and called it a day. Well I replaced the sparks plugs just because they looked dirty which after comparing them to the new ones they looked fine. Well now it will not start. It will crank over and over again without a problem. I have no idea where to start. I can work on engines I have to knowledge and do all my regular maintenance myself but I have no idea where to start. I checked the wires and they are in great condition and tight. HELP why all the sudden was it running ruff and now why is it dead?

 

[skimmer]

Re: Give me a break

I'd try spraying some fuel into the carbs first, see if its fuel related, if no response Get your hands on a multimeter if you don't already have one and test your voltage at the battery and the starter, and take it from there.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Give me a break

The FIRST thing to do is a compression check.Then a spark check.Do that and get back.Jerry

 

[JB]

Re: Give me a break

Uncle Bert.

By failing to state your problem in the title of your thread you do at least two things wrong.

1. Many helpers who are looking for problems that they have answers to will bypass it because opening it would probably be a waste of their time.

2. Helpers who do open it and don't have good advice will waste their time opening it and be annoyed.

Please read this: http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=250874

Also, go to the Engine FAQs and do the troubleshooting in "Outboard won't start". Let us know what you find, and good luck.