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Mariner not starting when trimmed down

M

Martin-louis

New member
Hi, i have a 1991 Mariner 200hp. When my kids fall off a tube or the skis, i simply cannot just start the motor at the same level as when skiing or tubing. Am i missing something, is this normal? I have to trim the motor out of the water completely to where even the prop is no longer in the water for it to start. When in the water the motor turns over a couple of times, but then makes this weird noise as if something in the system hinders the start, like a safety feature... i dont know how to explain the noise. This is frustrating.
 
Are you chopping throttle when they fall? If so the backwash could enter the lower cylinder hydrolocking it. That could be reason you have to trim up and starting noise
 
Thanks for the quick response. Truly appreciated, I dont think I reduce speed that much to run in the backwash. Next trip out I will test this, and update. Thanks a lot.
 
Or along the same lines water could be leaking into a cylinder from a bad head gasket or leaking exhaust plate. Your test would be to pull the spark plugs and then try to crank to see if water spits out
 
Quick update, So we took the boat out again today. I tested if it could be the backwash suggestion.
1. Had the motor on earmuffs at home before going to the dam, started on the first turn with trimmed down motor.
2. Put boat in the dam, trimmed motor down to same level as prerun test at home. Starter just keeps on going but motor does not turn over and start. And eventually makes the same strange noise as if out on the dam and i have to trim the motor out completely.
3. When tested on the water during normal operation, i slowed down so gradually it was getting rediculous to such a point i was worrying about the time it took getting back to my son, trying my best and ensuring backwash does not reach motor. Now the starter does not turn for a long time like in bullet 2. Again like mentioned before, 3 turns max and then the strange noise again. I will make a short video next time and share.

Will pull the sparkplugs tomorrow and update.
 
Check for a clean sparkplug on any cylinder (and piston crown) expected of water intrusion. Water in a combustion chamber is detergent for combustion byproducts.
 
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