Outboard owner maintence tips

[dlandersson]

Nice article in the Sept 2017 issue of Boating on outboard engine maintence. The guy in charge of the Bass Fishing Tournament Outboard Engine maintenence.

1. The arrow on the primer bulb should point up

2. Use fresh, non-ethanol fuel.

3. Spark plug caps work loose - check them often.

4. Transom bolts stretch - check them often (I did not know this)

[NiceAft]

.

Transom bolts stretch - check them often (I did not know this

You're not the only one. Go to the end of a long line. I did not know this either.

Ray

[Highlander]

That,s because these guy have really big engines on small boats that r constantly doing big fast hole shots & then constantly running W/O on rough water to get from one fishin hole to an other or to weigh in their catch before everyone else
the results r stressed & stretched transom engine bolts same as the racing boats

If u r getting more vibration than usual u should check them for looseness & if they r loose meaning more than 1/2 turn on the nut to re tighten them , then they should b removed at some point & inspected & if they look good but r old I,d replace them anyway while they r out , because it would b a pita to go through the messy process of resealing them & have the bolt snap & break on u just as u have them torq,d up or another thing is if the threads r stretched the nut usually seizes onto the bolt threads at that location when re-installing & now u got a big nut & bolt that u cannot tighten up or remove without having to cut it off
If they really loose loose they should b replaced immediately because as in my boat the bottom eng bolts r at or below the water line which means if u r not leaking water into the stern u will b shortly
Just sayin That,s All

J

[Catigale]

I've never heard of properly installed spark plugs or transom bolts coming loose.

I also don't get the primer bulb pointing up reference? The arrow points towards the motor, ie , in the direction of fuel flow.

[K9Kampers]

I also don't get the primer bulb pointing up reference? The arrow points towards the motor, ie , in the direction of fuel flow.

The article was about the get-up-and-go-fast tournament bass boats, a vessel in which the fuel tank is lower than the OB it feeds. The fuel hose / primer bulb is in more of a vertical orientation than what our boats are familiar with.

[Tomfoolery]

I also don't get the primer bulb pointing up reference? The arrow points towards the motor, ie , in the direction of fuel flow.

The check valves in the primer bulb often don't work when the bulb is empty unless the arrow points up. With the arrow up, gravity holds both of them down (closed) while the bulb is squeezed and released (alternating valve operation). Especially when there's air in it.

I have to do it that way when I use an old fuel line with primer bulb to empty the tanks in the spring (stored off site for emergency generator use) in preparation for refilling with fresh fuel. It won't pull into the bulb unless it's oriented with the arrow up.

[Catigale]

Ah - so when priming , hold the rubber bulb so that the arrow faces up.

I am one step closer to Enlightenment today, but will eat a pizza tonight.

[Tomfoolery]

If it's empty and you shake it around, you'll hear the little flappers in the two check valves rattling around. Or maybe they're balls. But either way, until there is a liquid load on them, they don't do much unless gravity helps. So yes, arrow up when pulling a prime, at least until the bulb is completely full.

[dlandersson]

Ah - so when priming , hold the rubber bulb so that the arrow faces up.

I am one step closer to Enlightenment today, but will eat a pizza tonight.

[kurz]

They told me that the two fuel filters hat water in.

So I installed a water seperator/fuel filter.

To not disturb I found a place direct INSIDE the outboard.

It is at the same plase the original was, I could even use the stock holder, just adding 2 wholes to place better.

Worked well since this summer.

[Seapup]

Or maybe they're balls. But either way, until there is a liquid load on them, they don't do much unless gravity helps. So yes, arrow up when pulling a prime, at least until the bulb is completely full.

Just my opinion, but I like KISS with boats and feel the bulb is more likely to be a maintenance issue as they age than skipping it all together. When I was chasing fuel line issues on my DF90 & (inner fuel line collapsing under vacuum was the ultimate issue) I eliminated the bulb and leak prone quick disconnects. Ultimately went with 1 piece fuel line connected to permanent barbs at 12gal tank & motor. Connected the DF20 the same way, never took any extra crank time. I figured gas tank at deck level & gravity helped on the . I have my other boat set up the same way though & its carbureted with the gas tank mounted below the boats waterline

[Catigale]

The best tip I can offer Mercury 50 HP Bigfoot owners is to change the undocumented fuel filter that you cannot see under the engine, encased in a rubber sleeve, more often than once every 15 years...your engine will run better with fuel.

[eodjedi]

And always keep a spare fuel filter onboard. The minute that gets clogged, it's all over.