Outboard problem please help

[ShipsWoofy]

Someone here might have an answer for me.

I am currently changing spark plugs on my mercury 2.2 around every 5 months. Will run perfectly well until the day it just wont start. I bought another new plug this morning and wham, starts first pull after 20 minutes of nothing on the old plug and a dead arm!

Could it be getting too hot and damaging the plug. The timing seems ok, if it wasn't how can I check timing on a 2 stroke o/b. I think I should be getting 18 months per spark plug.

Any ideas?

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>

 

[BrendanS]

Re: scull!

and that doesn't mean take a scalp!

<hr width=100% size=1>Me transmitte sursum, caledoni

 

[DepSol]

2 stroke outboard arent they very un environent freindly ?

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS Making boating more affordable

 

[pissativlypossed]

Try using a different grade of Sparkplug, if i remember rightly, from my motorbiking days, plugs were available that ran hotter or colder, sometimes discribed as hard or soft. You can tell which one you need from the appearance of the deposit on the electrode, if it is white it is running too hot, black and its too cold, the deposit should be grey in colour. Only a rough guide but it should give you some pointers.

<hr width=100% size=1>"Open Another Bottle"

 

[Dave_Snelson]

When you change the plug, have you tested the old one? Take it out and hold the metal body against the metal of the cylinder and crank the motor. The spark should be bright and bluey-pink.

Another obvious is the type of plug - are you fitting the manufacturers recommended plug? Have you tried fitting the equivalent from NGK?

If the plug has stopped sparking, it could be that the one you are fitting is running too cold and becoming oil contaminated, and talking of oil, are you using the right mix? i.e. 100:1 or 50:1 - whatever the manufacturer states. Also the right oil - TCW3 standard from a good manufacturer like Quicksilver.

Plugs should last for ages - so back to basics. 1) right plug or its equivalent in NGK. 2) right oil mix with good oil. 3) check the engine isn't running too rich and sousing the plug. Don't take for granted that whatever was in the engine when you got it was right - check manufacturers specs.

Cheers
Dave

<hr width=100% size=1>Madoc Yacht Club
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk>http://www.madocyachtclub.co.uk</A>

 

[ShipsWoofy]

The last plug I eeked out a couple more trips by cleaning and wet and drying the contacts. But once it had started going bad the motor felt lumpy. So I got an extra fortnight up until yesterday morning when I could not start it. I also cleaned the shaft in case there were losses due to contamination on the ceramic. Like drawing a carbon pencil line on spark plugs to stop em working.

The plug is an NGK from Llyn Marine, he had previously looked up the correct plug for me and advised on the gap.

100:1, I did buy new 2 stroke yesterday as well and mixed with new petrol, there may have been a petrol problem, but this spark plug problem has been going on since 2002 so it can't be just down to mixture. Though this is the first new bottle of 2 stroke oil I have bought since then. The two stroke I had was supposedly for outboards, but was a lot cheaper than the one I have just bought from the marine engineers. Could it be 'bad' oil?

I think the HT lead might be original, I wonder if it is worth replacing that? One replacement plug during the time was a champion, so I am not convinced it is a manufacturer issue.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>

 

[ShipsWoofy]

No it isn't and I never once said I was an angel. I bought a manky ol' second hand engine to hopefully deter thieves. Yes I would love a swanky new motor, but I can't justify costs and don't think it would stay mine for long enough with the way a leave mine about.

And yes I know how to scull, which is lucky as I am crap at rowing, but sculling like a mad man against the current to my mooring takes the edge of a nice weekend. It will knacker me for the whole weekend, so I avoid it.

<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.topcatsail.co.uk>Woof</A>

 

[DepSol]

LOL know the feeling got fed up with having twenty thousand people on board who all wanted to got to the shore at once.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS Making boating more affordable

 

[andy_wilson]

True environmental cost.

What cost to the planet to manufacture a whole new engine and dispose of the old one?

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[cliff]

"2 stroke outboard arent they very un environent freindly ? "

Not as unfriendly as the diesel guzzling mobos!

<hr width=100% size=1>

 

[DepSol]

Re: True environmental cost.

Not alot as there are thousands of them already made waiting for sale /forums/images/icons/smile.gif but your right thugh the amount of pollution going into a making a "green" engine is a joke.

<hr width=100% size=1>Dom

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.soltron.co.uk>the website</A>
MMS Making boating more affordable