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Allan Leonard
Member
Username: a_leonard
Post Number: 71
Registered: 06-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 01:26 pm: | 
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Here’s one for ya.
Customer called stating that he purchased an 86 Bass Tracker w/ 35 Merc 2cyl A987786. He said that the motor starts, idles, and runs fine up to about ½ throttle, then dies out, but always restarts. Will run fine all day if kept below ½ throttle. He discussed the problem with the person he purchased it from and was told that he had it in to a Merc dealer who replaced the fuel pump but this didn’t fix the problem. The boat was dropped off to me and I noticed that all was in very clean condition, well taken care of, and had very little use for its age. I started with a compression test, both cyls @ 140 PSI, excellent. Ignition output ½ inch at cranking speed, perfect. I continued the ignition test all the way through to full advance expecting a possible bad trigger wire from the constant bending, a problem I have experienced in the past many times, no problem. I then did a visual inspection for vacuum and pressure leaks in covers and hoses. All tight and dry, but this caught my eye. New fuel hose, bulb, and bayonet fitting. All new fuel lines and filter from start to finish. The carburetor had been removed, disassembled and cleaned, as there wasn’t a speck of dirt on it. The switch box looked brand new, it was obviously replaced recently. I then took a closer look at the ignition coils and they looked like they had been replaced also. “Well” I thought to myself, this is going to be interesting. Next, I tested the fuel pump output and was surprised to see just a trickle of flow. AH! A bad new pump. I removed, disassembled and inspected the pump, all gaskets, the diaphragm, the check valves, all of it, in perfect working order. Hmmmm, something is amiss here. I then took a closer look at the transfer port cover and the light switch came on. I removed the cover and could tell that it had already been removed and a new gasket installed. But they failed to notice the problem. The following pictures will tell the rest of the story.
I removed the flashing from the casting and all was well. |
JB
Senior Member
Username: beckerjs
Post Number: 1732
Registered: 11-2005
| | Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 02:16 pm: |
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Nice find, but what was the piece of crud? Looks huge. |
Allan Leonard
Member
Username: a_leonard
Post Number: 72
Registered: 06-2008
| | Posted on Thursday, June 25, 2009 - 02:56 pm: |
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JB, it wasn't a piece of crud, it was a piece of aluminum flashing that hadn't been removed after the part was cast. If you didn't know that you would assume the part was fine, but in fact, it was missing a necessary hole. |
Benjamin Jones
Advanced Member
Username: benjamin_jones
Post Number: 262
Registered: 04-2008
| | Posted on Saturday, June 27, 2009 - 03:18 am: |
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Just to think that the previous owner would never touch a Merc again, such a pity.
These things happen with cars too, had my "new" car replaced by the dealership last year due to poor panel fitment. The second one was not much better, had to accept as such due to signed deal.
On the flipside, you've found the issue on a "low hour" motor. In a nutshell, your client might have picked up a bargain due to another man's frustration. |
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