O/B No Go - Woe!

[lateral]

Ok cut the chase....what preventative gunking measures do you guys do to your o/b's if you are not using them?
Yesterday went to inspect a mooring, dragging along a foggy head full of flu,
and thought I would take the 15hp as it was some distance. This motor would have done all of 5hrs & looks brand new; bought new in 2001 but just not used.
Started second pull, warmed, proceeded thru a fleet of returning gbe's & class boats to die right in the middle of them!
Would idle, but under load, would just give up. I have had o/b's all my life and never had to clean out jets from gunking up.
Is it the current fuel or modern motors? I should have taken the 80's Yammy 4hp that never gets any attention at all but wont get the rib to plane.
This is the first mercury I have owned. All omc & Yamaha previously.

[Cormorant]

There are several threads like this in the archives if you poke around. I think the general takeaway from most of them was:

-- Use Seafoam or similar fuel additive
-- Disconnect the gas line at the motor and run it dry after each use if you know it will be unused for more than a week

I know there was a lot more advice, but that's what stuck with me. . . .

[Travelnik]

I use Seafoam in everything...Outboard, cars, motorcycles, lawn equipment, etc. It has always worked for me.


YMMV

[lateral]

Thanks, I will give seafoam a try before pulling the carb.
I have always been reluctant with two strokes to run them dry. Maybe just
a fish wifes superstition.

[Cormorant]

Before I put mine (Nissan 9.8 HP 4-stroke) away for the winter, I also pull the plugs and spray fogging oil into the cylinders. You can fog the carb as well.

[Adelie]

Actually sounds like you were pulling a vacuum in the fuel tank. Was the tank almost full and the breather shut or clogged?

[lateral]

Originally Posted by Adelie

Actually sounds like you were pulling a vacuum in the fuel tank. Was the tank almost full and the breather shut or clogged?

Tank 1/2 full new gas.
Vent wide open, tried primer bulb pumping no difference.
Ran better with primer knob out, but no power-under-load.

I think the carbies gone out in sympathy. (My hooter is blocked to hell)
Maybe I sneezed onit.
Damn these modern apliances; you only have to look sideways at them
& they throw a hissy.

I'll strip it now & blow out the slow annd fast jets.

[perchance]

I always keep a piece of tag wire in the tool box for poking out the tiny holes in the jets if compressed air is unavailable which is not unusual on the boat.

[SkiprJohn]

It's the new improved fuel mandated by our government!!!!
Sorry for the rant but it's the truth.
I run things dry when I'm done with them and they don't fail me on start up again. Johnson 4 hp, chainsaw, weedwhackers and anything else that has a small two-cycle engine.
kind regards,

[Lake-Effect]

Gas is the #1 issue. I use ethanol-free gas, add stabilant and good 2-stroke oil, and in the fall I burn any old boat gas in the truck, and buy fresh gas in the spring. Carb inspection last year showed that the carb and bowl are staying clean and free-running.