new to the site, previous boat owner

[rasbury]

Morning!
I have a 3.0L Mercrusiser set up....having a couple of issues. Motor only has about 30 hours on it...

First, it starts up fine no issues. Once it's warmed up, it does not want to start unless I advance the throttle. Not crazy about the automatic choke set up. Is there adjustment needed for this or is this just the way they operate? runs fine otherwise and when I do restart with throttle advance, after a min I can put it back to idle and all is good.

Only other issue is the fuel tank gauge stopped reading- it goes to empty when you turn the power off, goes to full when you turn it on but does not go down with fuel usage. Any links to how to trouble shoot the gauge? I'm sure it's a common problem.

Thanks, look forward to exploring this site!

Rick

 

[Bondo]

Re: new to the site, previous boat owner

Morning!
I have a 3.0L Mercrusiser set up....having a couple of issues. Motor only has about 30 hours on it...

First, it starts up fine no issues. Once it's warmed up, it does not want to start unless I advance the throttle. Not crazy about the automatic choke set up. Is there adjustment needed for this or is this just the way they operate? runs fine otherwise and when I do restart with throttle advance, after a min I can put it back to idle and all is good.

Only other issue is the fuel tank gauge stopped reading- it goes to empty when you turn the power off, goes to full when you turn it on but does not go down with fuel usage. Any links to how to trouble shoot the gauge? I'm sure it's a common problem.

Thanks, look forward to exploring this site!

Rick

Ayuh,... Welcome Aboard Rick,...

Having to advance the throttle is pretty common on carbed motors...
Although you might have a Carb/ Choke issue, donno...

Fer the fuel gauge,...
Power goes to the gauge, the sender wire goes to the tank sender...
Pull that wire,at the tank sender, open circuit, it should read empty...
Ground it it should read full...
That'll tell ya whether it's the gauge, the wirin', or the sender in the tank...

 

[rasbury]

Re: new to the site, previous boat owner

Thaks Bond 0- I think I'll change the plugs etc....I wonder if the ethanol is part of the problem as we move into the "summer blend" of fuel....I'll check out the guage as well...getting ready for a trip to the south west coast of fl for a week and want to make sure I can keep goin! Staying on an island for a week that is boat in only....

Rick

 

[jimbo_jwc]

Re: new to the site, previous boat owner

Same problems I went through with 30hr 1 owner boat , Took carb apart 6 times ps mark all rods and ends with paint pen cleaned and then rebuilt . The fuel venturies in bottom w/three screws was clogged , cleaned fuel pump ,still wasent geting gas right ,blew out with air , Choke fuse was broke but not seperated , replaced plugs , filed points and closed a little . Set choke to measurement . Still started hard . Found the anti siphon check ball in fuel line fitting at tank wasent opening so I cleaned . Bent carb tang like mercruiser sugested .
Fuel gauge intermittent . checked with meter and was open circuit. removed and sprayed with cleaner and resistance there now . Replaced lower unit water impeller after running in tank after WOT . Spplash test noise
in hard stearing turns and trimed up . pulled lower unit greased universal brgs and gimble brg . Runs like a top
Wife didn't know why I bought something else I would have to work on before using but it has been a labor of love Boating. Hope this will give some direction . 1987 Boat to me is like brand new! good luck and these guys here are more than willing to support new boaters .

 

[rasbury]

Re: new to the site, previous boat owner

thanks for the tips....guess I'll have to get out there and just mess with it. I do have a friend that is a certified mechanic as a back up. The boat is a "new" 2007 that had sat all this time. Is there anything in the fuel tank mechanical that just might be gunked up? The guage goes to emty when you turn it off, goes to full when you turn the power on so I'm thinking it's not the gauge itself....???

Rick

 

[Don S]

Re: new to the site, previous boat owner

Rick, if you look over in the Electrical forum, there are a lot of posts on fuel gauges and how to troubleshoot them (with diagrams).