LOW to NO Power with a '73 Mercury 115 hp I-6 on the side of Lake Sidney Lanier!

[GA Paramedic]

I have a '73 Mercury 115 hp I-6 on a ski boat. I put it in the lake today and it started right up. I ran it from one cove to another (apx 5-10 mins) and it jumped out of the hole great. I idled it down and started to take off again. It jumped out of the hole great and then began to loose power. It slowed down and eventually came to a stop and died. I cranked it back up, idled it a while and started again. Same result. Great hold jump, then low on power. It kept getting worse and worse until it wouldn't even crank. I was towed to the shore (right in front of our camping spot thankfully!) and the electric tilt/trim couldn't even work. I D/C the battery and charged it up. I put the battery back in a few hours later and the tilt/trim works flawlessly. I went to start it up and I heard one click. Not even turning over. Afterwards, the tilt/trim wouldn't work again. I have to D/C the battery for a while before I can hook it up again and expect the tilt/trim, bilge pump or lights to work. But still no motor action at all! What the heck just happened???? I'm still camping at the lake and I have a dead boat on the shore.

 

[Joe_the_boatman]

Re: LOW to NO Power with a '73 Mercury 115 hp I-6 on the side of Lake Sidney Lanier!

How old's the battery? Heat kills batteries, sounds like a maybe a cell or 2 went out. Put a voltmeter on it.

Sounds like you have a good setup on Lanier. I launch at Allatoona.

 

[GA Paramedic]

Re: LOW to NO Power with a '73 Mercury 115 hp I-6 on the side of Lake Sidney Lanier!

The Battery is good. I was taking the battery out to charge it up last night and I found some bare spots in the wiring harness going from the battery to the engine. These are massive wires and the insulation is broken in a few places. I assume they they might have shorted out and caused some issues. I have seperated them and temporarily reparied the broken sections with electricial tape. The engine now cranks and runs. Just moments out of the hole, is boggs down and eventually dies like it did yesterday. It seems to flood out and never seems to run smooth. I think I have some fuel problems with the carbs or such... It's back on the trailer and going home on Monday. I'll be ordering a wiring harness when I get back and then I'll try to figure out my fuel problem. Just thought I would handle the safety concern first. If anyone knows of a good place to get the wiring harness at a decent price, let me know. (Part # 45876.... possibly replaced by 18-5511)

Nathan H. Wood

 

[GA Paramedic]

Re: LOW to NO Power with a '73 Mercury 115 hp I-6 on the side of Lake Sidney Lanier!

Sounds like you have a good setup on Lanier. I launch at Allatoona.

I actually live closer to Marietta. We just took a family vacation to a campground on Lanier. The campgrounds on Lanier seem to be nicer for the family than Allatoona. But when I test the boat out from the house, Allatoona is my lake choice.

Nathan