Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

I just got done talking with a guy that has probably had more experience with outboaurds than anyone I know of, Racing and mechanicing. He is absolutly convinced that its reeds. He says to go ahead and change the jets, but it wont make any difference either. He said when I get done messing around to put in a set of Boysens and Ill be done with it. He seemed to really know his stuff, we will see. That was going to be my next step anyway, but it was reasuring to talk with him. He said that if they are week that they will flutter at low RPM and cause the problem Im experiencing. He also sais that older Bass Boats have this problem because they are run so hard most of the time and it makes the stock reeds week over time.
 

KCLOST

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Jun 22, 2002
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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

I wonder if replacing those reeds is something that should be done after a certain amount of years running? I'd hate to have a piece break off and cause internal damage....
 

mellowyellow

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

dang LD... more $ on more parts eh? not to say he<br />ain't right, but all the "expert" advice has not<br />done squat IMO... maybe a shadetree, but still<br />leaning towards air infiltration MYself.<br />gonna post a new topic to test the waters ;)
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Fortunatly I havnt spent a lot of money on this problem yet. With the carb kits, fuel lines, spark plugs, filters and now the jets, Its been pretty cheap. The stator was something else intirely. Its just taken a lot of my time, and its been frustrating. I have to admit to figuring that it was as you suggest also, but I feel I have done what i can to check all of that. I suppose it wouldnt hurt doing the preasure test though. Ive always heard that the boyesen reeds are better anyway all the way around. Lets see what people have to say about doing a preasure check.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Thanks gss036 for the bump, Im sorry for keeping you all in the dark for so long. I replaced the jets, the stock Idle jets were 56s, I drilled the 48s I got to 54. (smaller is richer as they are air jets). Then the rains came, then I got a cold, then the rains came back to to make a long story short, I havnt had the boat in the water yet to try it. Im hoping this will help some, but I really think that the problem is reeds now. Good winter project, and time to save money.<br />------------------------------<br />Funny thing about these gears, the farther you look to the right or left, the slower they go and finally stop. Weird.<br />
factory_gears_md_wht.gif
 

gss036

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Jan 18, 2003
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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Amazing how time goes by. I put a new ss prop on my 200 about 5 weeks ago and it still sits in the pole barn. Probably will take it out the 1st of July for opening days for salmon in our area. Right now the only thing open is rock fish and you are only allowed 1 a day, so really not worth putting the boat in the water for and gas is starting to come down again.
 

Maximerc

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Jun 26, 2003
Messages
292
Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Hey Lube Dude ! I have the Fiberglass reeds in my 150 BMax you cannot beleive how much diffrent it runs ! I do the 10 second hold on the "choke" just a hint of throttle and you just about cant let go of the starter fast enough! very quick off the line and smooth all over.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

I know I have expressed this before, but thanks everyone for sticking with me on this.<br /><br />I made a fitting and put a guage on it and hooked it to a bicycle pump. Disconnected the fuel line at the carbs and pumped 10#s preasure in the line with the fuel line pluged at the other end and found no leaks. I also bought some clear plastic 3/8 line and temporarily replaced all the fuel lines from the tank. No air and ran the same. Then replaced the lines as it wasnt actually fuel line. This is why I am thinking that it must be reeds. I have looked at them the best I can through the intake ports, but you really cant see them well and they look fine, they all appear closed tight. Hopefully I can get the boat on the water in the next few days to test the jets. Not expecting much though.<br />-------------------------<br />
factory_gears_md_wht.gif
 

Trent

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Nov 17, 2001
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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Hey Lubedude... You got access to a borescope? If so look in the sparkplug hole and take a peek.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Take a peek at what??? and why?<br />-------------------------<br />
factory_gears_md_wht.gif
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Originally posted by MNMarineMan:<br /> Don’t over look the recirculation system!
The what?? :confused: <br /><br />Are we starting to have fun now? :D :D <br />--------------------------<br />
factory_gears_md_wht.gif
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Finally got a chance to take the boat out last evening. Wife met me when I got home with dinner in the cooler and fishing pole in hand.<br /><br />The jet changes did make a slight difference. The sneezing and coughing are gone, and it will take fuel from start once in a while. The actuall throtle responce is much better, as it used to sputter a couple times first, but dosnt do that anymore. I can run slightly above Idle where I couldnt before. Its not perfect, but better. I will change the reeds next spring most likely, I think the all around performance will be much better. I may also raise the engine a hole sometime. Untill then, to quote KClost, Im going to "fish my A$s off".<br /><br />Oh, and we did catch some nice Bass. Usually wife out fishes me in #s, (she uses lighter tackle), but I usually catch the biggest, (not allways), this time I did better, but not by much. I love seeing her catch fish so I generally let her cast into the best places first. It seemed she woke them up and I caught them.
 

mellowyellow

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

that's tuff LD, was hoping I was wrong :( <br />never had bad reeds, so don't know symptoms.<br />can't help thinking it's some stupied/silly thing<br />we are overlooking.<br />no matter if she get's u to where the fish are<br />though, right?
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Right now, its just a minor inconvenience, the only thing that could be a problem would be pulling the kids on the tube. That may not be a problem either, it depends how much of a yank so to speek it will be giving it full throtle to get going. It may prove out that with the Smart Tabs that It will get on plane fast enough that it wont be an issue. I did notice that when I one hammer it, I can actually back off rather quickly and still have throtle control, so we will have to see how it works out. I think it will be ok with the older kids, but I may pass with the little ones, Come to think about it, What little ones? They grow so quickly.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Interesting thing now, It seems to run fine sometimes, about every other time. it will take off like it should. Also, It will take off and seemingly run fine at about 3000 RPM, ans then all of a sudden it will seem to smooth out even more, no change in RPMs, just sounds like the desibles dropped. Like someone rolled the windows up.
 

LubeDude

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Re: Merc 150 wont take fuel (UPDATE)!!!

Wow, this has been going on for allmost two years!!!!!!!!! :eek: <br /><br />Anyway, Its all better! :cool: <br /><br />After replacing the reeds, intake gasket, different carbs all together, rejetting for sealevel both Idle and main, timing set on both ends and getting everything link and synched, the engine runs so good Its unbeleivable. So thats what a Merc 150 is suppose to run like! :rolleyes: :D :D :D <br /><br />Yes, Im estatic, but I still dont know what was the problem for sure???????????????????????? :confused: <br /><br />If I had to guess, I would say that it was a combination of several things.<br /><br />As things were today, it ran 55.2 GPS at 5,700 RPMs. Im going to do a bunch of testing later, but it runs strong right now. I do know that I need to raise my engine if I want the most I can squeeze out of it, but its just too much trouble right now. I also need to lighten up on the Smart Tabs.<br /><br />Im a happy camper because I didnt do all that work for nothing. :D
 
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