maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

[garymack777]

HI folks,firstly i would like to say what a brilliant website this is,full marks,anyway,im new to boats and have just purchased a mariner 115hp speed boat,ran fine the day i bought it(did 10 miles at sea-no problem)however there was an issue with it going into reverse,i was informed that the clutch dog was the trouble and it was indeed fixable,so i proceeded without reverse and launched, the tide was almost out and the engine scutched off the ground a bit,but we got it to deeper water and had a grand spin-(20 mins),we then brought it back in cut the engine,but when we restarted we had no forward gear,after some messing around it went into gear,but we basically had to kill the engine again due to our proximity to another boat,anyway we could not get it back into gear at all,is it just a cable?is the prop damaged from the shallow water previously?or is it the gear box,how can i tell?
im also looking to buy a repair manual but am not sure what year it is,the serial number is:5077261,i saw the swedish website and it says it is 1978?is this accurate?my swedish isnt great(",)
finally is the oil\ fuel ratio for this engine 50:1 or 20:1 its 6 cylinder 2 stroke?,sorry for the long winded question ,i really will appreicate any help you guys can give.thanks a million from a frustated first timer!:^

 

[Plainsman]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

Welcome to iBoats!!

1978 is correct, part # for the manual is 90-79812. 50:1 is the right gas mix.
Sorry, I can't help with the other stuff.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

your problem could be as simple as the shift rod connection being loose or the cable going bad and streching, have some one shift the controller, watch the shift mechanism, youmay have to turn the prop with your foot while trying to shift, so it engages. next disconnect cable at engine, and shift the engine manually, this will help eliminate the cable, start with the easiest and cheapest first. really doesn't sound like a cllutch dog, as it didn't clunk on the 20 minutes spin, and forward usually goes first not reverse.

 

[garymack777]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

your problem could be as simple as the shift rod connection being loose or the cable going bad and streching, have some one shift the controller, watch the shift mechanism, youmay have to turn the prop with your foot while trying to shift, so it engages. next disconnect cable at engine, and shift the engine manually, this will help eliminate the cable, start with the easiest and cheapest first. really doesn't sound like a cllutch dog, as it didn't clunk on the 20 minutes spin, and forward usually goes first not reverse.

thanks folks for all the help,i just bought the relevant repair manual,ill read that and ill report back with any progress,i have noticed there is a slight crack near the propellor that looks new(its not rusted)so im thinking /hoping something just got knocked out of place
The damn nuts to take off the lower unit look badly worn, so ill have a job opening her up...anyway
thanks again,rgds

 

[garymack777]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

hi again folks,i think have good news for myself?,i started the engine on muffs in the garden,and it engaged both forward and reverse gear straight away?
im wondering now why it would not engage either gear in the water yet it engages both on the muffs?if any one has any idea whats going on please let me know,thanks!

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

No load on the lower unit when on the muffs. Try it in the water and see how it goes...

 

[Texasmark]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

Very curious problem. Shifts on muffs, not in the water. Hmmmmm Will have to think about that as there is no mechanism as I see it from here at the current time for what would differentiate between the two.

Mark

 

[garymack777]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

Very curious problem. Shifts on muffs, not in the water. Hmmmmm Will have to think about that as there is no mechanism as I see it from here at the current time for what would differentiate between the two.

Mark

hi again folks,
i got the manual and realised that its quite complex so i bit the bullet and dropped it off for repair seeing as end of season is nigh(in ireland)
the mechanic informs me that there is a crack in the gearbox,which he is reluctant to open it up as it may not go back together correctly?he says that forward gear is worn and so is reverse,and that he doubted i was actaully driving it at all!,and maybe i need a NEW engine!
this sounds very negative to me as a i know i was driving it and at half throttle it was flying,the problem was just getting back into gear.im just running the situation by you guys here for maybe another perspective on it! as you can imagine im a bit pis**d of as its my first boat and the thoughts of needing a new engine is terrible.
Q:are there known issues with the 6 cylinder mariner 115 as opposed to 4 cylinder versions?
Q:are those mariner gearboxes liable to crack easily?
Q:surely a new lower unit would render the engine perfectly useable?

thanks again folks

 

[Bob_VT]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

Ebay.... I would purchase a lower unit for it and be done with the problem. Absolutely worth the repair.

Mariner and mercury are the same and no they do not crack easy unless they hit somnething hard or have not been maintained properly.

 

[gungalunge]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

if i can answer that the shift cam is hammered . if you pu a new one on it it will run for a while . but go deeper find out why it got hammered .i am doing all my stuff on the lower for that

 

[garymack777]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

i think i have got my head around this situation now,it got a bit of a knock the day it went out ,and it has a slight crack near the propellor which in turn let water into the gear housing,diluting the gear lube, not allowing it back into gear....maybe the fact that there was no pressure on it out of the water allowed it onto gear on the muffs?
the answer im told is a new lower unit,as to remove everything from the lower unit now means it may not go back in correctly due to the crack..so now my question is:
Q:would a mercury 90 hp lower unit fit this mariner 115?
if so ill fit that and ill be back in business!

thanks again!

 

[garymack777]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

sorry i should have said mercury 90hp gearbox...not lower unit...pardon my ignorance..im only learning!

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: maiden voyage trouble,mariner 115 2 stroke

What year is the gearbox?