New Member

[fleschs]

Hello all,
New guy here, glad I found this board. I fish mostly JPP and Nickajack being in Murfreesboro. I am a new to me boat owner. A 1989 Tracker Magna 17 with a 60hp Mercury. I Know the original owner and have fished this boat many times. It has always run great, and still does, but it also has been hard to start over the last 5 years, and still is. My friend and previous owner is not a great mechanic and did very little to help this since it never left him stranded, he was good. I'd like to get it to a easier starting state. I changed plugs and shot some seafoam deep creep in the cylinders as well as run some seafoam thru it. It now runs at the top end much smoother but still hard to start. Any ideas? Is this just normal for a 25 yr old 2 stroke or does it sound like dirty carbs?
Thanks in advance.
Sean

[Alphahawk]

Welcome to the forum. I am sure TK will have some good info about your motor probs.....he is a very good boat guy.

Regards


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[Halli]

Welcome,

I had a 1985 16' Bass Tracker with a 4 cly 50hp Merc and loved it.

It was a cranky old gal and I learn that If I fired her up once before putting in that it would fire right up. Now of course they say that this is bad for the impeller but I never had a problem but it was also an electric start.

Also I'm not sure why but with my 89 200hp merc It starts better when I store it with the motor level but it could just be in my mind... haha.

[dannys07]

Welcome to the forum I have a 2007 50 hp mercury bought brand new always been rough to start just thought it was cold starting engine starter was giving me problems after the fourth time bought a new one and starts on the first try now I use my boat a lot that starter has been cranked no telling how many times so I seem to think it was the starter the whole time got a buddy with the same motor and his boat sounds the same way mine did so it could have been a bad started all this time it cost $ 250 might be worth a shot very easy to change can do it in less than 10 minutes hope this helps

[dannys07]

Got 7years out of it guess that was good

[Buccaneer]

Welcome to Team FishingTN. Keep running Seafoam and Startron treatment. Get some Mercury Quick Kleen aerosol and folow the directions on the can. This is some of the best carb cleaner ever made.

[wormdunker]

Could be many different things. Does it start easily after the initial start and run? If the carbs have never been serviced, probably would be a good idea to at least replace gaskets and check floats and needles. Could very well be an ethanol related problem. My old '85 merc 50 did not do well after the introduction of ethanol. Messed with the floats. Have always run non-ethanol since then even if I have to drive way out of the way to find it. I'm sure TK will chime in with better info, he knows outboards.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by fleschs

Hello all,
New guy here, glad I found this board. I fish mostly JPP and Nickajack being in Murfreesboro. I am a new to me boat owner. A 1989 Tracker Magna 17 with a 60hp Mercury. I Know the original owner and have fished this boat many times. It has always run great, and still does, but it also has been hard to start over the last 5 years, and still is. My friend and previous owner is not a great mechanic and did very little to help this since it never left him stranded, he was good. I'd like to get it to a easier starting state. I changed plugs and shot some seafoam deep creep in the cylinders as well as run some seafoam thru it. It now runs at the top end much smoother but still hard to start. Any ideas? Is this just normal for a 25 yr old 2 stroke or does it sound like dirty carbs?
Thanks in advance.
Sean

Sean, trouble shooting outboards on a forum page is like me trouble shooting one over the phone ... I very seldom do it .. I like to feel it see it hold it and taste it ... No wait a minute that is a cold bottle of Miller High Life ... You have got to remember I am getting old ..

If everything is working properly there is no reason why this motor shouldn't start at the touch of the key ... No Matter OMC/Bombardier Johnson/Evinrude Mercury, yammy's etc. ... 2 stroke/4 stroke etc. ... Since the 70's I have owned 15 new and used Merc motors ... from a 2.5 HP to my last one a 250 HP ... in 2007... If properly set up and proper maintenance maintained ; There should be no starting issues ... Merc was my preferred motor all of these years ... Until I retired and started working and restoring outboards ... Is yours the 3 cylinder or 4 cylinder model ...

I agree with most of the guys that has posted ... With a 25 year old motor that has Carbs and a two stroke and dealing with ethanol ... I would recommend going through the carbs with new kits which includes new needle and seats and floats ... Merc's use a Fiber or plastic float ... ..

How long has it been since the water imp has been replaced and the lower unit serviced ?? (Which has nothing to do with your starting issue) ..

Since it runs well after the initial hard to start ritual ... I am going to suggest this and this holds true to all carbed motors not Fuel injected ... Halli touched on this subject ... When trailering the motor it is usually tilted or on a motor totter ... Okay think about this. These carbs have bowls some fuel is lost and the floats fall ...

What you need to do before launching is lower the motor as low as you can get it in the Running position while it is still on the trailer ... Vent the tank and pump your fuel bulb until it is firm ... Raise the motor if it has T/T to a safe transport/launch position ... I do not recommend the starting of the motor out of the water ... The reason being the unlubricated dry blades take an excessive wear at the open and bend point in the water pump (Yes I have done it tooooo!!) But the main reason not to do it is because when the motor fires the driveshaft thrusts vertically and will burn the upper part of the impellor which opens up a larger gap in the pump which reduces the pump flow action of the pump ... Now if you replace the imp every year you won't see a problem any longer than that you are really taking a chance of frying a motor ...

Also after launch and before starting the motor ... Lower the motor and pump the bulb firm before you start it ... Now some Mercs have chokes some have a pulse primer injector .. When the motor hits, don't choke it any more .. Try starting it again with out the choke ... (A continuous choke floods the motor) If it doesn't start choke it once more until it hits ... Hope this helps ... <'TK><

[fleschs]

Yes, it starts up easyier after the innitial start. It is tough to restart if I get on the fish for a few hours but never like the first time of the day. I knew of a ethanol free place in the boro by hooters but it closed. Not sure I know of another one here, I'll have to search. I'd be willing to replace the starter if I knew that was it. How much is a carb rebuild on something like this? Thanks for the support guys. TK it is the 3 cyl and the lower unit oil was changed first thing. The impeller was new mid season last year. I understand about troubleshooting online. I don't want to take it out of commission during prime time crappie which is my quarry of choice. Ill try the quick clean, ethanol free and starting recommendations and see if that helps. If not sounds like ill be making a trip to a mechanic in the fall.

[creekcrappie]

Welcome.

[tkwalker]

Originally Posted by fleschs

Yes, it starts up easyier after the innitial start. It is tough to restart if I get on the fish for a few hours but never like the first time of the day. I knew of a ethanol free place in the boro by hooters but it closed. Not sure I know of another one here, I'll have to search. I'd be willing to replace the starter if I knew that was it. How much is a carb rebuild on something like this? Thanks for the support guys. TK it is the 3 cyl and the lower unit oil was changed first thing. The impeller was new mid season last year. I understand about troubleshooting online. I don't want to take it out of commission during prime time crappie which is my quarry of choice. Ill try the quick clean, ethanol free and starting recommendations and see if that helps. If not sounds like ill be making a trip to a mechanic in the fall.

The electric starter has nothing to do with it ... If it turns it over faster than you pulling the recoil rope ... It is good ... My reference is recoil pull ... If it does not start within three pulls of a rope it does not leave my shop !! To a mechanic ?? Thanks ... Who? Sean, check the banner at the top of the page ... I guess I am wasting my space there ?? <'TK><

[fleschs]

I of course meant you, it was tongue in cheek. I guess you could not see me grin when I said it LOL.

[jaycee]

Farmers Co-op has non ethanol gasoline. Also a couple of places in Smyrna. One is the place that sells minnows at the corner at the intersection of Jefferson Pike near Gillsville. Another is toward Smyrna from the police station. I live in the Blackman area of the 'boro and use Stewarts Creek most of the time. Also fish NAJ above and below the dam. Look for me, a PF175 G3 boat.

[XxthejuicexX]

Originally Posted by tkwalker

I like to feel it see it hold it and taste it ... No wait a minute that is a cold bottle of Miller High Life ... <'TK><

TK, I am no beer snob but..... we need to work on a better beer selection for you. If it's a cost issue we could start a " Help TK buy better beer fund"

[TNBronzeback]

If it does not start within three pulls of a rope it does not leave my shop !!

i can attest to that, that old 1961 seahorse of mine hasnt took more than 3 pulls since TK overhauled it! Runs like a champ!