1997 Ocean Runner 225 issues

[cdoyal]

My trim/tilt motor bit the dust this spring so when the mechanic replaced it ($1300)  :( , I also had him replace the plugs, fuel filter, fuel line bulb, and Raycor filter. I mentioned to him that it was a tough start when cold and he said the primer cover was cracked and it was spraying fuel all over. He replaced it and it seemed to help a bit. But today, it still took 5-10 minutes to get it started after not running for three weeks or so. Anyway, once I got it started, it ran fine except every once in awhile it gave an extremely brief hiccup both at idle and 1/4 throttle or so. Probably did it three times over a total of an hour and a half total running time. It's never done that before and it makes me nervous. Is this anything to be worried about? It only lasted a second or less but still...
Thanks for any help!
Chris

[Circle Hooked]

Can't help on the hiccup, but the hard starting ,my 97 200 has done that since day one when it sits awhile,and I've had it since new,i always thought the fuel in the line was going bad because once you seem to get past that it runs fine,i always start mine on the hose the day before and run it for 5-10 minutes if it's sat awhile and that seems to do it,plus less back pressure from not being in the water helps to start it to.

[Aswaff400]

every johnny'rude i know of is cold nature. i always run mine on the hose right before i head to the ramp. less time at the dock trying to start it and less chance of batteries going dead at the dock from cranking. also saves everyone the frustration at a busy ramp if the boat wont start.

[John Jones]

The '93 225 Oceanrunner I had was hard to start when it had not been run in a few days no matter how hot or cold it was outside.  The rest of the day it would be fine.

[cdoyal]

Guys-
Can't thank you all enough for your responses. I don't feel alone now! I'll try starting at home first. That will save the anxiety of will it/won't it at the ramp.
As far as the hiccup, it ran fine all day today without a stutter.

Just out of curiosity, do you guys use muffs or just hook the hose to the pee valve?

[John Jones]

I always used muffs just because it's easier to hook up.

[Circle Hooked]

muffs

[cdoyal]

Well, I've been trying the 8-second push lately and it seems to help. I started up today on the second turn of the key.

However, a new "issue" popped up today. I was doing a lot of idleing and the check engine horn started going off. Had plenty of oil and a good pee stream. When I opened her up, the light went off. It went this way all day. Any thoughts?

[Circle Hooked]

The check engine light will come on if fuel flow is restricted,i have a fuel shut off valve and if it's off the engine will run off the fuel in the line but the light will come on,thats when i go oops and switch it on.

[cdoyal]

The check engine light will come on if fuel flow is restricted,i have a fuel shut off valve and if it's off the engine will run off the fuel in the line but the light will come on,thats when i go oops and switch it on.

A guy on my boat thought it might be something like that. But I've never touched the switch and it goes out at WOT. I noticed a bit of blue smoke at idle (not at start up) and wondered if I might be burning more oil than normal.

[cdoyal]

I read the manual (what a concept!) and it stated that a check engine light on my motor means a fuel restriction. I read up on primer bulbs and think I have way too much fuel line between the motor and the bulb - at least 20". The bulb and a bunch of fuel line just lay in the bottom of the motor well. My theory is the fuel pump sucks enough at high speed but can't at low speed with all that excess line. Sound plausible? With the arrow pointing up on the bulb, it primes nice and hard but won't when it lays on its side.

[flounderpounder225]

Read through this link, http://continuouswave.com/whaler/reference/VRO.html before I had to get rid of the 97 Ocean Runner because it was beyond "economical repair", I did a lot of research on the VRO system, my decision was to rebuild with it, or without it.  This article seems fairly written and dispels quite a few of the rumors of VRO.  I have a VRO system on my family's pontoon boat, and it works great.  you may find some of the reading related to your particular issue?  Good luck
Marc

[fitz73222]

Here is $.02 from a Mercury guy who had the same issue. My 60 Bigfoot on my flats boat had a constant problem with running out of fuel at idle. I replaced everything from the fuel tank back, still had the issue. I took this engine off my other flats boat and installed a brand new water seperater on this boat when I changed over to the current hull. One day when i was replacing the element, I read in the instructions about the fuel line barb should match the ID of the fuel line. I had 1/4" ID barbs with a 3/8" ID fuel line. I replaced the barbs on the water seperater to 3/8 ID and never had the problem again. So I guess that the fuel line ID being larger than the barb ID would allow the fuel to collapse in the line from not enough volume through the 1/4" barb. I could not believe this was the solution. I dealt with this for years! This was only an idle problem and anything above idle was fine. check your fuel line ID to the water seperater fuel barb ID and make sure they match. This is not the barb OD but the ID.

[cdoyal]

This is all good info and I appreciate it but why would a fuel restriction just start now? Nothing's changed as far as parts on the boat. I've got plenty of hours on the boat since the primer bulb, Raycor, and fuel filter were changed this past spring.

[Circle Hooked]

I would almost guarantee it's not to much fuel line,I'm gonna dig out the shop manual in the morning and see what i can come up with.