Mariner 4hp 4Stroke, overfuel and Forward gear problem

the_branflake

the_branflake

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 Jul 2010
Messages
240
Location
Crewe, Cheshire
Visit site
Hello,

I've recently purchased a Mariner 4hp 4 stroke (2006) and i'm having a couple of issues. After starting it fine at home i took it down to the lake at the weekend and fuel is basically flooding out of the carb. It appears that something is blocked and i can stop this happening by closing the fuel tank on/off tap and controlling fuel flow to the bowl.

I tried to clean the carb at the lake but its not really helped. Float seems fine (not stuck down), so i'm guessing its a blockage on the jet now/float switch?. I've found the diagram from another post, does that sound correct?

The other problem i need help with is the gear selector. It seems very sloppy, and can eaisly click itself into forward. Finding neutral is a real guessing game. It also seems like the start preventer has been removed (to stop the pull cord being used in gear). Could that be it?

Thanks for any help,
Mat
 
At the risk of stating the obvious, it sound like your motor is in need of a bot of TLC.
As you stated, the operation of the valve operated by the float switch maybe impaired, I would imagine from one of two things that immediately pop into my head, gumming up or foreign body. Gumming up will be caused by petrol evaporating and leaving a sticky residue and can be cleaned with carb cleaner of neat petrol either way make sure it clean and dry before reassembly, foreign body will removal etc. Strip it down, clean and rebuild!

Gear selection position is usually defined a spring loaded ball bearing sitting in a dip in the gear linkage shaft - though I have to admit I am not familiar with your particular outboard!

Get the Seloc manual and you will be able to fix both problems as well detailed tune up, winterisation/de-winterisation procedures particular to your engine!
 
Last edited:
Can't help much with the gearshift snag, but the flooding fuel has 'stuck float' written all over it.

I note it's a 4-stroke so not oil, but modern unleaded petrol is notorious for gumming up, over a relatively short time like a couple of months; our local garden centre does a roaring trade in servicing mowers etc thanks to this.

If the petrol is not absolutely fresh, I'd lose it and clean out the system, at least it will take out one variable.

Also check for any dirt in the fuel & system which would have the same effect.
 
Fuel flooding out of the carb is due to the float valve not closing when the fuel level in the bowl reaches it normal working level due to a defective or sticking float or the needle valve not seating properly. There may be dirt on the seat or the needle valve could be damaged.


Regarding the gear shift. There is a detent ball and spring which should give a positive feel to the gear lever itself operating between the various postions.

The shift rod between the gear lever mechanism and the gear box is in two parts with a clamp which is accessible after removing the rubber plug on the side of the vertical drive shaft housing. Check this clamp. It sounds as though it may have come loose.

You may have to experiment to get the two parts clamped correctly in relation to each other.

Once the two parts of the shift rod are correctly clamped together you should with luck be able to return the start lock-out mechanism to normal operation
 
Thanks for all the info. I've managed to get it running now at home anyway! The full test will be at the lake side i guess.

When i tried to clean it at the lake, the float valve or needle has a spring loaded pin on the bottom which i could move but the valve itself needed a little tug to get it out when i came to clean it all at home. I didn't remove that at the lake due to the small clip at the bottom (on the float) and thought that with the spring moving all would be ok... wrong! :D

Gear shifting - I've added a little grease to the ball bearing and also started to use the shifter properly... I think in my haste to try and keep the thing running i wasn't shifting far enough back. So thats much more positive now.

One last question - where do you normally get parts from? That Boats.net site or do we have the equivalent in the UK?
 
I look after three evinrudes of varying sizes and two OMC Cobra's either for myself or family/friends and I find (taking into account OMC are no more) but eBay.com is usually cheaper and a lot of the time quicker than UK suppliers, though as I haven't had that much luck in the UK I gave up looking!

HTH
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top