Mariner 2hp oil mixture

[nyx2k]

ive just been given a 2hp mariner that looks to be late 80's.

i was told to run it on 50-1 ratio but when i went out on the dinghy this morning it was badly smoking and not revving much above 2500-3000 rpm.

i know nothing about boats or engines and just use the dinghy with an old seagul to potter in the estuary and local rivers. the seagul is way too loud and was hoping this mariner would be better but so far its not good. is there any basic checks to do on this engine or just bite the bullet and save for a 3.5hp tohatsu or similar

regards nick

 

[NPMR]

I was told, only last Thursday, that a bit of smoke was better than a seized engine - he meant that too much lubricant was better than too little. At least you can 'thin' it down a little and see what happens.

The rpm could be affected by the load - when our prop starts cavitating, because we have too many people in the front of the dinghy, the revs shoot up and vice versa - it really slows down when we have it deep, with a big load.

Reliability seems to be the strong point on ours - it just seems to be bullet proof.

 

[aztec]

i'd agree..

i'm on my 2nd one now, really good little engine.

i can't remember what i put in it but 50:1 sounds like too much.

mine does smoke a bit though, more likely to be me adding too much rather than mixing it properly.

i was told to run the carb out of petrol (close the tap) before storing the engine as oil/varnish will form...

also keep the plug clean...

maybe a good carb clean/service may be required, but like i said iv'e never had any problems on either one iv'e had... lives in the shed untill i need it, then normally starts after a couple of pulls.

 

[Ben998]

I'd agree with the 50:1 mix, its what I run mine on. Doesn't smoke though.....

 

[nyx2k]

just been running it in a wheelie bin to rid it of salt water and noticed that the tell tale isnt a constant flow, more like a constant splutter..smoke and water are exhausting from it. is this the impellor ive read about on other posts and if it is where abouts is it situated so i can get to it to have a look see.
kind regards nick

 

[Katouf]

I think you'll find it's 100:1
I'll check tonight and let you know for certain tomorrow - mine's in the garage at home and the mixture is written on the side of the casing

 

[nyx2k]

Katouf ..
that would be great if you could check for me..it appears your only a mile down the seafront from me. the casing on mine is in a poor state. its been overpainted several times.. ive just had the plug out and cleaned it..realy dirty so will get new plug tommorow..

aztec
if i remove the carb bowl is there anything in there to fall out except fuel.
all replies gratefully received
nick

 

[Rustyknight]

My Mariner 2 booklet says 50-1.

As for the carb, nothing will fall out if you take the bottom off. Inside there's another little screw that holds the float and needle valve in place.

 

[wizard]

I run mine on 100:1 - revs well and no smoke (yet !! )

 

[jerryat]

Hi,

I've had two mariner 2's over the last 23 years - on the second one currently - and was told by the engineers from whom I bought the first to ignore the petrol/oil recommendations and always use a lower ratio.

The second one came with a very firm recommendation - do NOT not 100:1 but 50:1 and your engine will last forever. The 100:1 ratio is a 'requirement' to meet exhausts targets etc, but is not good for the engine!!

Well, as the first lasted 17 years (and was still fine when I sold it) that's good enough for me.

Like others here, I always follow the 50:1 regime and have no smoke from the motor.

 

[andy_wilson]

Just wondered how you knew how many revs.?

Anyway, is the fuel fresh, and what type of 2 stoke oil are you using?

Old fuel mixture can smoke badly, as can the wrong oil, and both will hamper performance.

Up to date TCW-III oil burns very cleanly and lubricates quite satisfactorily at low to medium revs at 100:1 mix. I use OMC or Quicksilver oil at 100:1 in my 3.3Hp Johnson.

It's now 16 years old, mine from new, and has no problems associated with that fuel mixture. Starts great and has just had it's first pair of plugs changed. They have never been dirty enough to warrant cleaning and were only changed because the electrodes were visibly worn.

If you regularly run flat out, go for 50:1, the higher engine loads make it worthwhile, and anyway, the increased smoke (and carbon) are well dispersed at higher revs.

If you don't know the engine, give it a serious shot of tune up treatment (OMC or Quicksilver) followed by a good, long, hard run. Then see how it starts and runs etc.

 

[weaver_fish]

50:1. Try running it in a dustbin with some car radiator descaler in the water... I ran my old one up and all sorts of crud came out and now the water flow is great.

 

[nyx2k]

i was guessing the revs as i have an old seagull that revs really well upto 5000 and the mariner is very lumpy and revs nowhere near as high as the seagull but of course the seagull is even more smoky.
id like a little more power like a 4hp or similar as boat will take upto 6hp but these seem a little heavy. just moved house though this may have to wait till end of summer when got some more money.
i will go to the chandlers tomorow and get some more oil to a better spec aswell

 

[sophie4]

I have just bought a 2 stroke Mercury 4hp saildrive and although it has 100:1 next to the fuel connector it says 50:1 in the handbook. I contacted Barrus and they said that they now believe 100:1 to be too lean, and now recommend 50:1 The smoking in yours could be oil residue left from not emptying the carb. , something it stresses you must do in the instructions. I also have an older 3.3 mariner which has 100:1 on the side but which I now run on the same fuel as the new Merc.

 

[aztec]

i seem to remember that you have to take the bolts out from the shaft beneath the engine casing, then dissasemble the shaft.

iv'e done it once on the older engine. there's a gasket in between the engine casing and the leg casing. if you're lucky you might get away without replacing it... i'd rather have got one first.

the impellor is under a casing held by two set screws on top of the gearbox, these on mine were hard to undo... so plenty of plusgas or simmilar to free them... there's a gasket there too.

i remember having trouble with the pipe for the water.. getting it located can be tricky... but not as tricky as a merc blueband!!!

good luck...

must remember to make sure mine's on 50:1 from now on!

steve.

 

[pampas]

100/1 for pleasure users. 50/1 for heavy use ie. commercial, thats what my manual says, so I run mine on 60/1 as it has no smoke and starts better when cold.

 

[chippie]

Impellor

Some of the 2hp motors have the impellor behind the propellor, secured by a flange with 2 bolts.

 

[sinbadfk9]

Re the water flow. Before you go pulling it to bits, get a piece of soft (copper) wire and with the engine running in water, push the wire up and down the tell tale spout for a couple of inches to loosen any salt/crap up there.

 

[RivalRedwing]

well worth checking the impellor regardless - I checked mine over the winter and found two blades about to come off (last serviced in 2002). Water flow was ok before but now much improved

 

[Katouf]

Sorry! /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif duff information and a 'senior moment'.
My outboard is a Yamaha 2, not a Mariner, but the mixture on the casing definitely says 1:100.
I would tend to agree with other posts about erring on the 'more oil' side if you're using for longer periods - you don't want engine failure any where near Southend Pier! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Alan