Jerry,

This is a very helpful and explains what is probably going on.  I have no
problem with starting or running at mid to high speeds, only low speeds and
idling.  I will buy some Seafoam and ethanol free gas as long as the station
I found on line today actually has it.  They were closed on Sunday so I will
be calling tomorrow.  Apparently Home Depot sells it as well but very
pricey.  And I will start leaving the gas line disconnected after use.  I
will report back on my success or not.  If the idle jet is plugged, how does
one solve that other than replacing the carburetor again?  The mechanic at
the marina has adjusted the idle higher, but then the motor revs so much
when in neutral that I find it disconcerting.  And my speed, when in gear,
is higher than I want to maneuver through the marina so I have to keep
putting it in neutral just to slow down. I just want things to be easier!!!

Susan

-----Original Message-----
From: Rhodes22-list [mailto:rhodes22-list-bounces at rhodes22.org] On Behalf Of
cjlowe at sssnet.com
Sent: Sunday, June 18, 2017 4:10 PM
To: The Rhodes 22 Email List
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Re: Ethanol problems

Susan,

What size (hp) Mercury do you have? I have the 6 hp Nissan, which is a
rebranded tohatso same as Mercury. I have chased this problem,myself. The
biggest problem with ethanol is it traps water and when you leave the boat
for a week or so,the gas evaporates and the water sits around in a little
pool and corrodes the pot metal that the carb is made of. This corrosion
looks like little grains of salt, that do not dissolve the next time you
come to the boat and hook up the fuel line. But they do get washed around
the fuel bowl of the carb and tend to build up and plug the fuel jets of the
carb. The fuel jets are what meters the gas to mix it with the air in the
proper proportion. There are usually 3 jets, low /idle speed,mid speed,and
high speed. the jets are very small holes that meter the fuel, idle jet is
the smallest,and plugs the easiest. On two stroke motors, the jets are a lot
bigger,they burn about twice the fuel as a four stroke motor. That and the
fact that they mix oil with the gas, and that oil has additives in it for
that purpose, they seldom plug up.
What is your specific problem? Won't idle? Won't run good at all speeds?
Hard starts ?
At splash this year,my motor didn't want to idle and once I got up to half
throttle,it start to choke up like it wasn't getting enough gas. I'd have to
cut back to 1/4 throttle to keep it running. I changed the spark plug and
the motor ran good,but still wouldn't idle. I adjusted the idle speed screw
to make it run a little faster, and now it is dependable and won't stall
even in gear. I believe that the idle jet is still plugged,but I have the
idle set high enough that the mid range jet is making up for the plugged
idle jet.
If I were you ,i would change the spark plug first. It the cheapest thing to
do $3.00 at auto zone. I use sea foam additive for the gas. Highly recommend
non ethanol fuel with seafoam.
I think you may be adding to your problems by reconnecting the fuel line
after you let the carb run out of fuel at the end of the day. There is still
pressure in the line, enough to fill the carb back up,so your running the
carb dry was all for naught. Plus,when the tank warms up with tomarrows
sun,it will put pressure on the fuel line once again filling it back up.
Once you dock and tie up, disconnect the line and leave it disconnected
until you go out again.

 Something to chew on,
Jerry Lowe




> Hi Susan,
>
> There is no such thing as ethanol build up.  Instead, the ethanol is
> probably dissolving your fuel line or even your gas tank.   Be sure your
> fuel system is ethanol tolerant and the ethanol will actually keep 
> your engine clean.
>
> If you have a gas station that now sells ethanol free gas, that will 
> probably not last long.  With the new EPA mandate for 15% ethanol, 
> corn producers are going gang busters and the supply of ethanol will 
> soon be overwhelming.
>
> Rick
>
> On Sun, Jun 18, 2017 at 2:14 PM, Susan Crane <scranevmd at verizon.net>
> wrote:
>
>> I posted a query last fall about the problems I was having with my 
>> Mercury outboard and received several very helpful replies that 
>> basically indicated that my problems with stalling and erratic idling 
>> were due to buildup of ethanol residue in the carburetor.  So I have 
>> tried unplugging the gas line and letting the motor run till it 
>> stalls, but I am still having problems.
>> This is probably a silly question, but when one does that with the 
>> gas line, do you leave it unplugged until the next time you use it or 
>> do you reattach it after the motor stops, or does it matter?  Just in 
>> case anyone wonders, I have been adding fuel treatment to the gas.  
>> Next question:  I have found a local gas station which sells ethanol 
>> free gas and am going to switch to that.  Will using it help clean 
>> out the carburetor or do I need to have it cleaned or replaced?  I 
>> had a new carburetor put in last summer and the motor ran perfectly 
>> for a few outings before the problems recurred.
>> Obviously, I know nothing about outboard motor functioning and the 
>> mechanic at my marina has been less than helpful.  He doesn't seem to 
>> believe that it is an ethanol issue.  I am trying to avoid buying a 
>> new outboard, but am at my wits end with this.  Just the stress of 
>> the motor stalling while docking takes some of the fun out of 
>> sailing.  Any help will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> Susan Crane
>>
>> s/v Whimsy
>>
>> Bohemia River
>>
>> Chesapeake Bay
>>
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