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About Everett Peacock
Expertise
Marine repair questions

Experience
35 years experience boatmansbargains.com

Organizations
Taught Marine electronics at NOVA CC IN ALEXANDRIA VA

Education/Credentials
certified, Yamaha outboards,yamaha stern drives, Mercury outboard, Mercruiser, Evinrude. Johnson, Mariner, suzuki, Volvo Penta, Honda,

Awards and Honors
service exelence award ( yamaha)

You are here: Experts > Recreation/Outdoors > Boat Repair > Boat Repair > Cylinder not firiing

Boat Repair - Cylinder not firiing

Expert: Everett Peacock - 10/19/2009

Question
QUESTION: My 1987 25 H.P. Mercury outboard quit firing on one cylinder about a month ago. I replaced both plugs and it ran fine. Now it quit firing on on cylinder again, but replacing both plugs didn't solve the problem this time. I believe that the bottom cylinder is the one that is not firing judging by the amount of wet oil on the end of the plug. How should I proceed? Is this something that a non-mechanic can trouble shoot or do I pull the motor and take it to the repair shop?

ANSWER: could be a bad coil or the fuel pump could be bad..

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: In talking with other residents at the lake this weekend, I discovered that there has been a lot of problems with water in the gas. It appears that the water is in the gas directly from the pumps. They have check the gas from the pumps using a "water funnel" that traps water but lets the gas run through.
First of all, will water in the gas make my outboard run as if only one cylinder is firing?
Second, once there is water in the gas and in the motor, is replacing the gas with good gas enough, or does the carburetor need to be taken apart and cleaned of water?
Thirdly, do these water funnels really work or are they just another gimmick?

Answer
water could be your problem....there should be a drain screw on the frount of the carb..with good gas connected pull the plug and pump the bulb..that will get the water out...water funnel??? no idea what that is....a water seperater will let only fuel go thru and will catch the water....

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