merc not running right

mnmike3

Seaman
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
68
We have a 1987 (i believe) mercury outboard. serial # is B136681 and the motor says "classic fifty" on both sides, the cover says 45 but we are not sure if its the original cover fro the motor.

we've had a bunch of problems with it since we bought it quite a few years ago but it always seemed to run better after a little while. This week we are on a fishing trip and the motor doesn't want to start up very good at all. We have to choke it every time and also put it up on high idle to get it to start. once it runs for a little bit it will idle ok but after trolling for an hour or so the motor will die. when at full throttle it takes a little while to actually rev up all the way but untill this morning it always got up to fukll speed, today it just would not run right and when opened up all the way it would only get the boat up to about 18mph instead of the normal 26-27.

we pulled the plugs and cyl#2 was pretty wet so we tried a new plug which did not make a difference, then decided maybe the coil was bad and replaced that but it still runs the same. any thoughts or suggestions? since we are at the lake for the week we have very limited tools and can't do much troubleshooting other than what weve done so far.
 

Wingedwheel

Lieutenant Junior Grade
Joined
Jun 16, 2009
Messages
1,071
Re: merc not running right

Sounds like a carb problem. Do you know when the carbs were last serviced?
 

Coloradolakeboy

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Jun 21, 2010
Messages
197
Re: merc not running right

My guess would be the needle might be stuck open on the carb that services cylinder #2 flooding it. Is it smoking more than usual?
 

mnmike3

Seaman
Joined
Apr 14, 2010
Messages
68
Re: merc not running right

My guess would be the needle might be stuck open on the carb that services cylinder #2 flooding it. Is it smoking more than usual?


it is smoking a little more than usual but not too bad. I kinda thought it might be a carb issue but wasn't sure. we will have to take it apart and clean the carbs when we get home I guess
 
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