Mercruiser Wont Start

[VA.LAKEMAN]

Hello Guys,
Im Kinda New To Boats And Want Some Opinions On What I Should Look At.my Boat Hasnt Been Started In About 2 Years And After A Weekend Of This And That,i Cant Get It And Need Help.there Are Also Sereral Questions Also That I Have.the Titled Motor Is A 1986 185hp 4 Cly #8600291.although It Has A Sticker On The Engine In It Saying 165,not Sure What That Means.any Way,it Will Do Everything But Run,it Fires,almost Runs But Just Wont.i Ajusted The Points,new Wires,plugs,oil Change,and It Has Great,even Compression And I Just Cant Figure It Out.i Guess It Might Be The Carb,but Im Clueless If Its Not.any Help Will Be Great......thanks In Advance

Also Is There Any Available Links To Manuals And Wireing Diagrams I Might Be Able To Use?and The Boat Is A 1986 Sea Ray Seville 19' If That Helps.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

Have you verified that you are getting spark? How did you adjust your points? Verify that spark plug wires are in the correct firing order?

If you pump the throttle can you see fuel squirting into your carb? One problem is that you are dealing with 2 year old fuel. You are also dealing with a carb that has been sitting for 2 years with 2 year old fuel in it and may need to rebuild it.

 

[rndn]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

Welcome to the iboats forum!!

 

[dcg9381]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

After 2 years, I'd strongly suspect that you've got carb issues and maybe fuel issues.... Can you plumb in new fuel?
Is your accelerator pump working?

 

[Fishermark]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

Plus, instead of adjusting the points I would suggest going ahead and replacing them. They get glazed over and do not work as well.

In regards to the gas, try running it on a temporary portable fuel tank and see if that helps clear it up. If it does, that will help narrow down things a bit.

 

[PINESOL]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

ya know it probably is fuel related ... but why not all new tune up stuff .?. just new wires and plugs is not enough ..cap, rotor and new points and condenser wouldnt hurt .. could be a corroded contact set or a bad condenser ...

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

You have a 470 style engine. It's a 4 cyl, 165 hp motor.

Check for spark, probably won't find any as the points are probably glazed over. You can always squirt some gas into the carb and see if it starts.

 

[VA.LAKEMAN]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

You have a 470 style engine. It's a 4 cyl, 165 hp motor.

Check for spark, probably won't find any as the points are probably glazed over. You can always squirt some gas into the carb and see if it starts.

THANKS EVERYONE FOR YOUR HELP!TO AWNSER A FEW QUESTIONS AND GET US ALL ON THE SAME PAGE,I DID POUR SOME GAS JUST NOW STRAIGHT INTO THE CARB AND IT MADE NO DIFFERENCE..STILL STUMBELED AND ALMOST STARTED BUT DIDNT.AND ACTUALLY THE POINTS MIGHT NEED CHANGING AS THATS ANOTHER GOOD IDEA.PROBLEM 2-I DONT KNOW WHAT PART NUMBER THEY WOULD BE OR IF THE LOCAL AUTO PARTS COULD MATCH THEM?NOW PROBLEM 3 HAS CAME,IT ACTS LIKE FROM TURNIG IT OVER OFTEN THE SELONOID IS GOING BAD.CLICKS SOMTIMES AND WORKS SOMTIMES,CAN THOSE BE CHANGED SEPERATE FROM THE STARTER?I PROMISE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED AND SORRY IF MY QUESTIONS SEEM STUPID,BUT I ADMIT,IM NOT A BOAT MAN,YET!

 

[Don S]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

Help isn't the problem, there is plenty of that here, but reading your posts is a problem. All caps and caps on the first letter of every word makes it very hard to read and try to understand.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

First - no appologies, that is what this forum is all about. questions and answers.

Second - what lake does Va. Lakeman call home??

Third - (although it probably should have been first ) Welcome to iboats.

 

[Haut Medoc]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

HMMMMM.....
Take your time to ask your questions in a lucid manner....
You have a 470 engine or a mutation thereof...
Pull your distributer cap & look at it's condition...
Run a small piece of crocus cloth over the points & clean them with a little alcohol...
Pour a little as in the carb.....
You might want to chang the water separating fuel filter, in fact you might want to get a one gallon tank & plumb it in temporarily with fresh gas & see what happens....​

 

[VA.LAKEMAN]

Re: Mercruiser Wont Start

First - no appologies, that is what this forum is all about. questions and answers.

Second - what lake does Va. Lakeman call home??

Third - (although it probably should have been first ) Welcome to iboats.

AGAIN THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR THERE HELP.I WILL TRY A FEW THINGS IN THE MORNING AND GO FROM THERE.....

LAKE ANNA,SOME OF THE BEST CATFISHING IN THE STATE!COME ON UP SOMTIME....