Newly tuned Merc 225-HP 2-stroke runs rough, stalls

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  Newly tuned Merc 225-HP 2-stroke runs rough, stalls

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Author Topic:   Newly tuned Merc 225-HP 2-stroke runs rough, stalls

Frank O posted 12-28-2008 06:21 PM ET (US)
Earlier this month I took my 1995 Outrage 21 with 1994 Mercury 225-HP 2-stroke outboard in for annual service. When I got it back in the water to move it to its slip, it seemed to run fine at harbor speeds. Then it sat in its slip for a couple of weeks during bad weather.
This morning we took it out. Seemed to run normally getting out of the harbor and to our first fishing site. We then trolled for 10 minutes or so at 5-6 knots. At the end of this time it hesitated and died. It wouldn't start up with the throttle in the normal neutral position. If I pushed in the button on the side of the throttle and advanced it so that it was set to high throttle but out of gear, it would start up. When it was time to head back to the harbor, it seemed to hesitate when I moved the throttle up. At fast speed it ran, but made sounds every few seconds like a missing cylinder. At harbor speeds it stalled a couple of times, and I had to do the thing about taking it out of gear and advancing the throttle to get it to start.
The outboard shop that did the annual service on it is currently closed for the holidays. Any suggestions on what to investigate? I've usually used the procedure with advancing the throttle out of gear when the engine's been flooded. Would these symptoms be consistent with a stuck needle in one of the carburetors? One side note -- by our Southern California standards it's been very cold lately (30's Fahrenheit when we get to the boat).

Stevebaz posted 12-29-2008 03:03 PM ET (US)
Check the simplest things first like a loose spark plug or loose plug wires.
Frank O posted 12-29-2008 03:06 PM ET (US)
Thanks, I'll do so. Someone also mentioned checking the fuel-water separator filter for possible water in the gas. Do any other relatively simple checks come to mind besides that?

nick7141 posted 12-29-2008 03:35 PM ET (US)
was there any warning buzzer or horn associated with the problem or did it just quit.
i don't think this engine has a carb so make sure that the bulb is pumped up and check the connections from the tank to the fuel filter are tight. check the connection at the stern as well. also if the tank has been low on fuel or was just filled you might change the fuel filter and see if that helps.
nick
Frank O posted 12-29-2008 04:06 PM ET (US)
Nick, no warning buzzer/horn -- it just started running real rough after a few minutes trolling at 5-6 knots.
Actually this engine is carbureted. The gas tank's been at about 3/4 full.
I did get a flooded bilge after refloating the boat following its annual service, though, so I'll check the fuel-water separator filter to make sure water didn't get into the tank.


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Author	Topic: Newly tuned Merc 225-HP 2-stroke runs rough, stalls
Frank O	posted 12-28-2008 06:21 PM ET (US) Earlier this month I took my 1995 Outrage 21 with 1994 Mercury 225-HP 2-stroke outboard in for annual service. When I got it back in the water to move it to its slip, it seemed to run fine at harbor speeds. Then it sat in its slip for a couple of weeks during bad weather. This morning we took it out. Seemed to run normally getting out of the harbor and to our first fishing site. We then trolled for 10 minutes or so at 5-6 knots. At the end of this time it hesitated and died. It wouldn't start up with the throttle in the normal neutral position. If I pushed in the button on the side of the throttle and advanced it so that it was set to high throttle but out of gear, it would start up. When it was time to head back to the harbor, it seemed to hesitate when I moved the throttle up. At fast speed it ran, but made sounds every few seconds like a missing cylinder. At harbor speeds it stalled a couple of times, and I had to do the thing about taking it out of gear and advancing the throttle to get it to start. The outboard shop that did the annual service on it is currently closed for the holidays. Any suggestions on what to investigate? I've usually used the procedure with advancing the throttle out of gear when the engine's been flooded. Would these symptoms be consistent with a stuck needle in one of the carburetors? One side note -- by our Southern California standards it's been very cold lately (30's Fahrenheit when we get to the boat).
Stevebaz	posted 12-29-2008 03:03 PM ET (US) Check the simplest things first like a loose spark plug or loose plug wires.
Frank O	posted 12-29-2008 03:06 PM ET (US) Thanks, I'll do so. Someone also mentioned checking the fuel-water separator filter for possible water in the gas. Do any other relatively simple checks come to mind besides that?
nick7141	posted 12-29-2008 03:35 PM ET (US) was there any warning buzzer or horn associated with the problem or did it just quit. i don't think this engine has a carb so make sure that the bulb is pumped up and check the connections from the tank to the fuel filter are tight. check the connection at the stern as well. also if the tank has been low on fuel or was just filled you might change the fuel filter and see if that helps. nick
Frank O	posted 12-29-2008 04:06 PM ET (US) Nick, no warning buzzer/horn -- it just started running real rough after a few minutes trolling at 5-6 knots. Actually this engine is carbureted. The gas tank's been at about 3/4 full. I did get a flooded bilge after refloating the boat following its annual service, though, so I'll check the fuel-water separator filter to make sure water didn't get into the tank.