"Hey guys, I am new to the boa
"Hey guys, I am new to the boating community. Back in October last year I was a given a free boat. I restored the boat and was told the best bet for my money regarding an outboard motor was to purchase an older 4 cylinder Merc 50-65 HP.I purchased a 1971 mercury 500, (50HP).
I had someone do the rigging (install the motor), change the fluids, change the water pump, and go over the carbs. I have had it on the lake three times (within the last week) since it has been completed. Each time I go on the lake, I learn a little more and more about the motor. I am a younger guy and my friends don't have boats. My father had an evinrude back in the 60's and is lost as much as I. I dont really have an instruction book to start and stop, but, Im looking for some info.
Starting: What I am doing right now to start (right off the trailer--cold) is pump the gas into the motor with the hand pump till the bulb gets hard, move the warmup lever all the way forward, hit the choke, and turn the key. This is what has worked for me so far after trying a few combinations. I'll let the lever down gradually when I think its ready to go....
Stopping: when its time to stop the motor and drop anchor for a swim, I push the warmup lever forward again to burn any kind of oil that may interfear with the carbs letting it high idle for a minute and then push it down to the "off position" and shut off the motor...
Restarting: this has been a problem for me and I dont know if this common for these old mercs, but some have said to me its important to do what I described above while shutting off.... It seems that if I were to prime the motor again after an hour or even a half hour, I'd flood the motor....what are your experiences? Is the warm up lever needed again to start?
Sometimes even after I get the motor running and ready to go, when I kick in the control to go forward, it dies out.... If I try to go in slow or fast, it dies out and am not sure why....this was un-nerving for me yesterday being stuck out on the lake during a passing thunder storm...
I know this post may seem elementary to 90% of you guys here, but, this is my first craft and I rather not learn the hard way, although, I realize a lot of this will need to be found out with trial and error.....
I have put four new plugs in the motor and, am running 50:1 mix with 94 octane fuel. 6 gallon to one pint.... any of you guys running 87 octane? I was told by the guy I bought the motor from to use the high octane gas.
Any help on starting, stopping and general operation is appreciated.
Thanks again,
Pete"
"Hey guys, I am new to the boating community. Back in October last year I was a given a free boat. I restored the boat and was told the best bet for my money regarding an outboard motor was to purchase an older 4 cylinder Merc 50-65 HP.I purchased a 1971 mercury 500, (50HP).
I had someone do the rigging (install the motor), change the fluids, change the water pump, and go over the carbs. I have had it on the lake three times (within the last week) since it has been completed. Each time I go on the lake, I learn a little more and more about the motor. I am a younger guy and my friends don't have boats. My father had an evinrude back in the 60's and is lost as much as I. I dont really have an instruction book to start and stop, but, Im looking for some info.
Starting: What I am doing right now to start (right off the trailer--cold) is pump the gas into the motor with the hand pump till the bulb gets hard, move the warmup lever all the way forward, hit the choke, and turn the key. This is what has worked for me so far after trying a few combinations. I'll let the lever down gradually when I think its ready to go....
Stopping: when its time to stop the motor and drop anchor for a swim, I push the warmup lever forward again to burn any kind of oil that may interfear with the carbs letting it high idle for a minute and then push it down to the "off position" and shut off the motor...
Restarting: this has been a problem for me and I dont know if this common for these old mercs, but some have said to me its important to do what I described above while shutting off.... It seems that if I were to prime the motor again after an hour or even a half hour, I'd flood the motor....what are your experiences? Is the warm up lever needed again to start?
Sometimes even after I get the motor running and ready to go, when I kick in the control to go forward, it dies out.... If I try to go in slow or fast, it dies out and am not sure why....this was un-nerving for me yesterday being stuck out on the lake during a passing thunder storm...
I know this post may seem elementary to 90% of you guys here, but, this is my first craft and I rather not learn the hard way, although, I realize a lot of this will need to be found out with trial and error.....
I have put four new plugs in the motor and, am running 50:1 mix with 94 octane fuel. 6 gallon to one pint.... any of you guys running 87 octane? I was told by the guy I bought the motor from to use the high octane gas.
Any help on starting, stopping and general operation is appreciated.
Thanks again,
Pete"