Advice on 6HP engine I just picked up.

[GrahamWebb]

Hi I bought a 6HP mariner long shaft outboard to go on my Orkney Spinner.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152099412939

£316 auction on ebay as listed as running well and the seller was very local to me in chichester so I went for it, we had it running in a bucket in his garden but it has been sitting for a while so could do with some fresh fuel. I have only used a little 2.5hp mercury before and this engine makes that look like a toy.

I have been looking over the engine and notice it doesnt have a kill cord and just a red run switch so was going to look into options for fitting one.

I tried putting the serial number into a few websites but it is coming up as serial number not found so any ideas?

The motor comes with a couple of manuals but none specifically reference the year of the motor although the manual is copyright 1999. The seller said he bought the motor as a backup for his RIB in 2010 and I have a reciept for a £400 service he had done at that point but he has not used it much since then however he said it did save his bacon at one point and has not let him down.

Lots of stuff done on that service including

The carb was stripped down with new new gasket kit and float needle fuel pump was rebuilt with new diaphragm kit.
Gear oil was replaced noting it was very dirty.
waterpump was stripped and cleaned and and rebuilt with new impellar.
Thermostat checked and refitted with new gasket.

The seller recommended I get another plastic fuel tank as the metal one that comes with it has seen better days, also that it might benefit from a service. Basically he thinks it needs a good run with fresh fuel.

Thanks Graham

[Ianfs]

From a distance the engine should be fine, as far as I know they're fairly robust units. I couldn't see a tiller on there though which indicates to me that it was used remotely, hence the remote "run" "stop" kill switch.

I'm not very good with these engines but I would guess you might be able to fit a kill cord switch fairly easily. I'm not sure how you would adapt a tiller though, unless you are planning on using remote controls.

[shibbs]

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/152099412939

I have been looking over the engine and notice it doesnt have a kill cord and just a red run switch so was going to look into options for fitting one.

Thanks Graham

The engine does have a kill cord switch fitted, the switch with "run and stop" is the kill switch. The cord you need is this below...

http://www.force4.co.uk/force-4-kill-co ... 039kfkrKUk

These are the same as i use at work. Basically, if you put the switch to off, the cord hook sits over the top of the red bit then you flip it up to run. If the cord gets pulled, it flips the switch to off and turns the engine off. Very simple and effective.
Let me know if you struggle getting a cord, i may be able to help.

[GrahamWebb]

Hi thanks Ian I have the engine and it does have a tiller and the throttle is controlled by the tiller.

Thanks Shibbs for the link to that kill cord switch that makes sense something so simple right under my nose

I have ordered a new plastic fuel tank for it as well and some quicksilver marine 2 stroke oil so will fire it up with fresh fuel in a dustbin and run it for a while like that.

When you use them at work what fuel mix do you use the seller said 50-1 but I am noticing unburnt oil from the exhaust with a bit of black oil dripping down the skeg but that could be just down to the very old fuel that was in the tank when the seller was demonstrating it to me well thats what google searches have come up with anyway.

[BruceK]

It's a two stroke. If you do not see any oil dripping down the skeg is when you get worried. 50:1 for that age is about right. Mine came out with a OEM 100:1 rating but was recanted for 50:1. after too many seizures. So 50:1 seems a bit excessive but better safe and doesn't seem to affect the performance one iota.

[BruceK]

Another thing watching the ebay vid. Don't run it in a bucket. It aerates the water excessively and the engine cannot efficiently cool itself also leading to impeller damage. Get a wheelie bin if must but muffs are preferable.

[shibbs]

Yes as Bruce says, 50:1.

[GrahamWebb]

Thanks Bruce, I will take a look at ordering some muffs then and will keep to the 50/1 mix.

[BruceK]

If on muffs, never run in gear. The gear teeth have backlash and the spinning prop must ALWAYS be loaded. The least of your worries will be a broken prop shearpin.

[Ianfs]

Thank you guys, I was pretty useless I'm afraid, great advice from you.