Hi, this is a question about my 2003 Mercury 2-stroke (3cyl) 90 HP Saltwater Edition.
My boat has sat idle for the past couple of years and I tried starting it last spring with old fuel. It started and quickly died. This happened several times and then the battery gave out. I charged the battery and put her back to sleep for the summer.
The stripers are running, the bathroom renovation needs to be finished, and I need a day off. I tried starting the boat again, with new fuel this time, and I'm experiencing the same thing. She starts, with choke, runs for a few moments (maybe fifteen seconds) and then dies. I generally don't like to use the throttle when starting boat engines but I've tried in this circumstance thinking it may help move the old fuel out. Same thing, except with the throttle and some adjustment I can get her to run for almost half a minute or so, then she dies.
This engine has always run great and I think I hurt it by trying to run it on the old fuel last spring.
I think I've run through this starting procedure enough to get the old fuel out. What's next?
I'm looking for the simplest step here as there are too many other chores in the way of a major repair. Any quick checks or possible solutions you can think of would be fantastically appreciated.
And no, I'm not going to take it to the mechanic... yet.
Thanks,
Dennis
My boat has sat idle for the past couple of years and I tried starting it last spring with old fuel. It started and quickly died. This happened several times and then the battery gave out. I charged the battery and put her back to sleep for the summer.
The stripers are running, the bathroom renovation needs to be finished, and I need a day off. I tried starting the boat again, with new fuel this time, and I'm experiencing the same thing. She starts, with choke, runs for a few moments (maybe fifteen seconds) and then dies. I generally don't like to use the throttle when starting boat engines but I've tried in this circumstance thinking it may help move the old fuel out. Same thing, except with the throttle and some adjustment I can get her to run for almost half a minute or so, then she dies.
This engine has always run great and I think I hurt it by trying to run it on the old fuel last spring.
I think I've run through this starting procedure enough to get the old fuel out. What's next?
I'm looking for the simplest step here as there are too many other chores in the way of a major repair. Any quick checks or possible solutions you can think of would be fantastically appreciated.
And no, I'm not going to take it to the mechanic... yet.
Thanks,
Dennis