6 HP Mercury

[COLINFLTENG]

Keep it simple is still true just use my dingy with 6 HP Mercury four stroke it would run one to two minutes max then flame out went to dealer one week plus parts to fix not good trouble shoot more check all ideas dealer had clean carb a adjusted carb still no luck lucking talk Jamie local retired fisherman he suggested spark plug change it did not make sense OK at this point had no other ideas installed new plug two pulls started and runs great starts one pull
Some times you have to go with the simple ideas at less I cleaned carb and checked very things on motor
Cheers Colin

[SkiprJohn]

I'm glad you found the answer simply. Those old fishermen learned by experience so it is good to listen to them.
kind regards,

[COLINFLTENG]

I agree I listen to old time fishermen true was simple after the fact I pulled on that starter cord for two and half days Cheers Colin

[Tellie]

Yeeeeeah, those small Merc 4strokes. My 5hp Merc 4stroke is nothing but a constant pain and carb re-builds.

[COLINFLTENG]

Engine running great starts easy and runs great
Hope it keeps that way
Colin

[foggysail]

I'm going to push against the grain here. One of my friends first suggestion anytime any of my outboards gives grief starting, his first and usually only suggestion is "change the spark plugs!" I cringe!

Most small outboards use a magneto ignition which is one of the oldest most reliable ignition systems. Even my old Kohler 7.5KW generator uses a magneto. And again my friend has even suggested "change the plugs" on that when the problem was a defective fuel pump that I took apart and repaired. I loath changing spark plugs. Clean them yes on occasions. Gap! A good gap is something around .025" that I make using my eye for measuring. I find it just isn't critical!

OK, I know I have just opened a pot of poop, I cannot however go with the "just change the plug" gang

Foggy

[Capt.Don]

I keep an extra spark-plug, already set with the proper gap, along with extra fuel-filters, belts,.... in our spare-parts.

[foggysail]

For outboards, I am a big fan of extra fuel filters! Even spare spark plugs are nice, who knows, one could accidentally drop the golden device overboard doing maintenance. Inboards-- hard arguing against spare belts or spare anythings if you have storage space available. I have a friend that carries more spares than I can get into my cargo van at any one time! One never knows what poop can happen.

Foggy

[charliehows]

i always check the sparkplugs first when my diesel inboard plays up

[COLINFLTENG]

Spark plug on your diesel engine?

[COLINFLTENG]

Point for fixing engine you must know what to change the engine would run for one to two minutes which would lead to that engine was getting spark it was breaking down after it got hot and yea I agree to checking fuel system first as I did but after checking complete fuel system I had to go back to the plug which in this case worked going with the old fisherman and change the plug very year and keep the old one
Cheers Colin