Mercury outboard reservoir oil cap replacement

[who4ever]

Hi all.  Need some help/advice.  Have a Osprey 215 DC with a Mercury 200 2 stroke outboard.   The cap on the reservoir oil tank (the one under the cowl) is cracked, leaking badly and needs to be replaced.  Doesn't look like a tough job but I am a boat rookie.  Seems to be 2replaced twisted wires going through the top and then 1 or 2 cylindrical objects on a short shaft and round star like axle hub at the end holding it all in places.   Can anyone give me a rundown on how to get the old one off and the new one on and the parts I need to get and the tools I need?  Thanks so much.  Dave

[who4ever]

Where I wrote "2replaced twisted wires", I meant "2 twisted wires".

[Blue Agave]

I assume that was the source of the alarm problem you were having, correct?  Did you check the fuel water separator?

[seabob4]

Does that "cap" look something like this?

[who4ever]

To Blue Agave: I am hoping it was the problem.  No, I did not check the fuel/water separator.  I do not feel capable of doing this without making matters worse.  I am a rookie.  
To Seabob4, yes, that is what it looks like.

Thanks to both of you.

Dave

[Blue Agave]

To Blue Agave: I am hoping it was the problem.  No, I did not check the fuel/water separator.  I do not feel capable of doing this without making matters worse.  I am a rookie.  
To Seabob4, yes, that is what it looks like.

Thanks to both of you.

Dave

Dave, the fuel water separtor is very simple don't be afraid.  I can walk you through it.  I'm going to send you a pm, feel free to call me.

[seabob4]

Dave,
Interestingly enough, on that motor (225 ProMax), the customer decided to go the pre-mix route and get rid of all the oil injection hardware.  After I took that pic, I pulled off the reservoir and capped off the lines...

The reason being is that those older Mercs are pretty much bullet-proof, however, should there be an oil pump failure, they can blow up in a heartbeat.  With pre-mix, you'll never have to worry about that.  From what I understand, the oil pump is driven by a plastic gear that has a habit of breaking as it gets old...

[Blue Agave]

Is you motor carburated or an EFI (electronic fuel injected)?

[who4ever]

Carburator

[Blue Agave]

Carburator

In that case, you should not have a fuel water separator under the cowling and therefore this could not be the cause of the alarm.