Help 115 Merc Trouble

[Bill Stovall]

Hey guys I just join a few days ago and boy I'm I glad. I bought a 1996 180 TF W / 115 Merc. from a friend of mine for $3500.00. Yea i know, he just wanted to get rid of it so i jumped on it like stink on you know what. It's been sitting up about a year and half under a boat cover. Took it home drained the gas tank (never knew how hard it was to get rid of 30 gals of gas), pull the bowl drains, and work the Berryman Carb Cleaner tube in to the high speed jet and sprayed it out good, did the same with the idle jets on the top 2 carbs, and the bowl vents in the throat of all 4 carbs. Filled the oil tank and marked the level, filled the tank with 12 gals 50/1 mix and Quicksilver carb cleaner just in case the oil injector pump is not working correctly. Charged all three batteries and hooked up to the hose. She purrs like a cat on the hose about 8 to 12 psi on water pressure gauage (no temp gauage)and water streams out the motor tattle tail hole. Took her to the lake adjusted the carbs on the trailer in gear just so i would have a starting point. I had to back the idle mixture screws out an additional turn and a half to get it to run in gear but hoped that would work its way out with some running. Stayed close to the ramp and she ran great, planed out great so i headed across the lake, turns about 4800 rpm at 45 to 48 mph trimmed out(speedo no GPS yet) turned around headed back to the ramp and then the trouble begins. Started losing power and bogged all the way down and died. I'm thinking feul problem pulled the cowl the filter is full, squeeze the primer and try it again, when i turn the key on i get a beep then a constant buzz, now i'm thinking over temp its full of oil and theres mix in the tank so thermostate? Thank God i charged the trolling motor batteries took an hour to get in. The only way i could get it to run was by pumping the throttle handle up and down after it cooled awhile. When i got home i bumped the key and it fired right up. I'm on the right track (over temp water)or could it be something else. Sorry for the long story but wanted ya'll to get the whole picture, any help would be great.



Thanks,

Gunner

 

[Richard Whittemore]

I'll have to leave the real trouble shooting to the guys who really know. One thing I did notice was, you said. "Filled the oil tank and marked the level, filled the tank with 12 gals 50/1 mix and Quicksilver carb cleaner just in case the oil injector pump is not working correctly." If you injection "syphon(?)" system is working, you were overloaded on the oil I would think. Did you run enough to see if the oil inj. worked? If it does, go without the mix and carb cleaner. Turning only 4800 is either all the oil or you need a lower pitched prop.

Let's wait snd see what the other guys say when they wake up.

Good luck.

 

[Greg Meyer]

Gunner... Welcome. You would not happen to be the same "Gunner" with the Abu reel service....?

 

[Rich Stern]

Richard, 4800rpm at WOT is acceptable with that motor. Redline is 5250.

 

[Bill Stovall]

Richard, no not long enough to tell really on the oil tank



Bob, Thanks, I was leaning towards the carbs but was trying to touch all bases, is it more cost effective to rebuild the fuel pump or just replace it? What would cause the alarm to sound after it shut down any idea,(high speed jets clogged causing lean mixture during the run?)



Greg, No, Gunner was rank I held in Marine Corps (CW02 Cheif Warrant Officer 2)Warrants got the nick name Gunner from the helos



Rich, thanks thats what the tech manual shows

 

[Carlos Hathcock III]

Gunner,

What squadron were you with?

I was with HMM261 for a spell.

Carlos

 

[Bruce Freeman]

I would check the fuel filter since I did not see wear you replaced it? I have had same type of problem before on my Mecr 60.. There is some type of gel type stuff that I beleave is from the oil a had been running and it would alway clog the high speed jet. I have gotten to the point where I carry a can of carb cleaner in the boat with me so when it acted up I could spray back through the carb vent and clear it out.

BF

 

[Bill Stovall]

Carlos,

I was with VMFA 112 out of Navy Dallas, but we supported HMH 777 also. OIC for Aviation Ordance Shop, got to build bombs and work on the weapons controls systems. F-4, F-18, and Av-8B Harrier outta the Point and the occassional F-14. Have you been to Yuma and 29 Palms you know it's getting to be lovely this time of year, (yea right) It's always fun to pull MOP level 4 in 115 degree heat (in the shade). First time I ever poured sweat out of a glove!



Semper Fi,

Gunner

 

[brooks williams]

Welcome Gunner. I run a 94 180 FS, 115 and those numbers- 48@4800, 8-12psi are very close to what it get with mine. Not sure about your problem (mechanically inexperienced). Only time I've had it lose power and shutdown I was running on fumes (gotta fix the darn gauge). I only run 87 octane in mine (recommended), and have heard high octane can cause the engine to run hot. Good luck!



Shot in the dark -- Any relation to William G. Stovall in Houston?

 

[VA Chris]

This may not be it but it sure is an easy check. A couple years back my 75 merc ran like a champ until I cranked it to about 90% throttle then it would bog down until it died. It would start right up again and run fine until I started to wind it up again. Same thing happened. I pulled the plugs, cleaned them up and it has run perfectly ever since.

 

[Scott Hammer TOXIC]

Hey VC!!



When we gonna do that little lake???????? You been out there lately?



TOXIC

 

[Bill Stovall]

Thanks Brooks that gives a base to work from.

No on the relationship but i've heard you can trace all the Stovall's back to one guy(where a busy lot)



Chris i tried that even replaced them thanks