2 Stroke runnin on 1

[foreverstrung]

Well I didn't have time to check the fuel for separation or cloudiness, but I did pull the cover to check the carb, thinking of doing the carburetor kit thing. Well, it's got 3. 2 barrels each. One barrel per cylinder. I've rebuilt a few auto carbs in my time, but three is going to take a bit. My back hurts just thinkin about being hunched over. Are they way detailed? Or is most of the work going to be in the remove/install portion of this event?

[wingtime]

Yup three two barrel carbs.  They are pretty simple to rebuild.  Here is a link to a video on how to rebuild them. http://youtu.be/sjr27WOvvPU   You may or may not have WMV carbs on your motor.  Just read your manual and you will be fine.  Some of the jets may be different sizes.  You have a Mercury service manual right?

[foreverstrung]

Yes, I have a Mercury manual and they are WMV carbs. would I get a kit from West Marine or some such place?

[wingtime]

You need Three kits!  Buy them from a local Merc dealer or online.

[foreverstrung]

Nice video wingtime. Watched all 3 with coffee this morning

[GoneFission]

Have you checked for an ignition problem?  It would be sad to rebuild the carbs and not fix anything. :cry:

[Skoot]

Well I've got my Merc 200 manual, going to change out the fuel filter seperator, rebuild the carb and then, since I'm at a about a half tank, I'd like to top it off with the good stuff with maybe some fuel treatment. This sound plausable or would you all just dump the gas?

Dont top off that tank just yet, you might be wasting alot of money.  Go with all the above responses first.

[foreverstrung]

I hear you scott. I'm going to try to get by the boat tonight and pump a bit of fuel and check for cloudiness and separation. I found no receipts or fuel records my Dad kept. He has all the maintenance and work receipts, but nothing fuel related, so I can't even guess on whether or not he used ethanol. And I will go through all the suggested items throughout this thread. They are all greatly appreciated. I don't expect the carb rebuild to be the only issue here, but it's probably due. I don't think he was out on it much at all since last summer and it apparently does not even have a fuel water separator installed. So I intend to do all these things, at least, before taking her back out again

[foreverstrung]

OK, I broke the connection in the fuel line at the primer bulb and drained and pumped about one quarter cup of fuel from the line. It was definitely cloudy, but it did not separate. I'd probably need a bit more to get an accurate look, but I was short on time and not too clear on how to pump a greater amount quickly.
As always, appreciate your thoughts

[foreverstrung]

So I wanted to give an update on my discoveries this far on the health of my Boat/motor. As You may know, from my previous threads, I've got a '00 215 Explorer with an '01 Mercury 200, carberated. She sat for a bit and I believe the gas may have turned.
Yesterday I brought a 5 gallon portable tank and ran the motor off this. It stalled a dozen times before it actually idled awhile. I took it out for about 20 minutes. She never went too fast. Whenever I'd hit the throttle, she seemed to bottom out and almost come to a stall or at least loose most of it's punch. When I got her back to the slip, she stalled just as we were docking. She never did do more than 10-12 mph. I was mostly trying to get that fresh new gas to run through. If the gas is bad, I'm sure carb rebuild is necessary. Later today I'll swap out the plugs, or at least check them. The maintenance charts my Dad kept show that a tune up and new plugs were installed in '09 and though that may have been awhile ago, my Dad, I'm pretty sure, didn't log that many hours.
Always appreciate your comments.

[Unclebob]

Carbs need to come off for cleaning. Sooner than later. A plugged carb jet can ruin your engine, and your day. Remember if a cylinder isnt getting adequate fuel, it isnt getting any oil either..

I wouldnt run it again until you're sure carbs are clean. Once you get that done, then you can run on your portable tank. If you want to get the bad fuel out of your boats internal tank, put an ad on Craigslist for free gas, and you'll have someone at your door with a hose in no time! Remove the fuel sender for em if you're real polite..

[GoneFission]

I'm still thinking ignition problem...

[foreverstrung]

I appreciate the comments.
1st and for sure, I'm going to pull those carbs and rebuild them. My schedule such that I should be able to have them remounted by next weekend. (This is assuming one of the many marine shops in the area have 3 kits in stock, or if ordered, can get here by wednesday), I do realize it's not a race. I really get how seriously I can damage these cylinders if there not gettin lubed from a clogged jet in a carb. Thanks for pointing that out Bob. I hadn't considered this until today.
After a carb rebuild and running on fresh, premium gas, if she's still running poor, I'll look at ignition, plugs, wires, etc.., But logically, it came here from southern California, 1st always in thinking green, I suspect that ethanol fuel is what's in the tank and it's been sittin for a bit. This seems to me to just be the logical 1st step, rebuilding the carbs.
It's the journey, right? Not necessarily the destination

[wingtime]

Without a doubt clean the carbs.  Like I said before and Bob said if you have a lean cylinder you can fry that thing due to lack of oil.  At least you will know you have when your done.  When I get a new to me boat I service EVERYTHING that way I have a baseline to start from.   I rebuilt my carbs by doing one each night.  I'd tear it down..  let the parts soak overnight... Put it back together the next night... then tear the next one down.  Make sure you have a good set of screw drivers.  You dont want to bum up a jet or something.  I think you may need a set of hex key drives to unbolt the carbs.

Once you get it running right I suggest you replace the water pump, thermostats, and the poppet valve.  That along with the fuel filter and water separator and you'll be good for a while!

[foreverstrung]

So I'm kinda concerned about any damage I may have caused by running this motor with dirty fuel. If I have damaged a cylinder, would I loose compression and I would think that if I had truly buggered it, It would have seized, right? I won't run it anymore, but what's the worse I may have done to it so far. Other than sounding a bit lethargic, there were no other notable sounds. No knocking.