Hi all,

I got my first boat and promptly took it to a mechanic to check it and fix any motor issues on my 1997 Mercury Mariner Force 90-hp motor. Took it to the lake and it started out great, but as the day went on I noticed that it was harder and harder to generate speed to get on plane and get started in neutral. On the final run, I had to start it with the throttle out of gear and forward. To get going, I pulled it back to neutral and quickly put it in gear because if in neutral it died. Coming back, I had the throttle all the way down and was barely going but it did get me back. In neutral the engine would die. I did detect the smell of fuel.

I've got coming a motor maintenance guide in the next few days and really want to learn to fix this myself, but does anyone have any idea what I should look for? Compression was good on all cylinders and I really like this boat and motor. Research of the motor was very positive. I just don't want to pour money into something I might be able to handle and truthfully I really want to learn about this.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Some are better than others, but if you found a lot of positive things about a Force outboard it sounds like you either didn't look very hard or in the right places.

It had good compression before or after you took it to the lake?

You put oil in the gas correct?

LOL. Good compression before I took it to the lake. Oil was placed in the gas. Gas was fresh as well. I really am jazzed about learning how to fix this and I can honestly say that I did research the boat and motor a lot. Still, I did see some who were not too up on the motor. I'm hoping that I can learn a bit about this one to at least be competent. Besides, it's like REALLY cool!!!

JBird if you need a good Mercury mechanic after all, the best in this area is at Two Guys Marine at Amistad.'Bink'(owner)is and has the best folks around.

You detected the smell of fuel? Check all of the fuel lines in the back compartment and under the cowling for leaks.

And pump the ball! Sounds like a leak/low fuel pressure.

forkduc, I always do and will again. I can totally see myself forgetting that. Slabslayer, that's first on my list as it wasn't doing that before in the driveway. I can kinda localize the leak judging where I noted it coming out when the engine was tilted. It's was a slow drops coming across a horizontal piece of metal in the front. I'll check that first.

I would replace the fuel lines with newer ethanol resistant lines. You can get it at ant auto parts store.

Could be a pinhole in your line under the cowling, catching air from a leaky carb gasket (also causing the leak), clogged jets. With fuel related issues the possibilities are endless

+10 on Two Guys at Amistad!!!!!!!

I had a Force 70hp on my first boat. Several people told me they were junk motors, but my ran great the entire time I had it.. Good luck getting it fixed.

Could be a number of things: Cowling insulation come loose and restrict carbs, dirty needle-seat, fuel line leak or a bad manual fuel pump diaphragm. Have seen the bottom bolt that holds the bowl on the carb get loose. Had a 90hp Force that had broken reeds.

wouldnt account for the fuel smell but if your gas tank has a vent screw that you forgot to open before running it will cause those problems too.

How long did the boat set up before you bought it, and what type of fuel do you have in it? You could very well have deteriorated fuel lines because of ethanol. The fuel lines will literally loose chunks of rubber that clog fuel filters. Sounds to me like the motor is starving for fuel.

THIS ^^^^^

It sounds like you are starving for fuel and the old lines would deteriorate with the new ethanol gas. Read the following link i posted.

http://www.bbcboards.net/mercury-3-liter...stem-first.html