Outboard Motor shuts off?

Mercury 2.5 2 stroke outboard troubleshooting. Does your outboard motor shut off while driving your boat? In this video I cover the basics of understanding, troubleshooting and diagnosing problems with my small Mercury outboard engine. I found the problem with my engine and it turned out to be a simple problem that is easily resolved. The fuel vent valve is essential and an easily overlooked potential problem that can impede fuel flow and your engines ability to start or run properly.
If your outboard engine is shutting off this video might help you identify the problem and determine a solution. Small outboard engines are not very complicated but if you do not complete all of the steps or perform each step properly, you can have problems starting or operating your outboard motor.
Timestamps
00:00 Introduction
00:39 Small 2 stroke outboard motor starting process
01:25 When your outboard shuts off on the water
02:24 Diagnosing what went wrong with my Mercury 2.5 2 stroke outboard
02:51 Gasoline engine basics
04:01 Potential things that might have caused the problem
05:15 What was wrong with my small outboard engine
08:00 Starting the Mercury 2.5 outboard motor
09:38 Conclusion
#outboardtroubleshooting #mercury2stroke #smalloutboardproblems
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Sound effects and additional music is copyright free from iMovie

[@christopheranderson5963]

This video really helped me with an incredibly frustrating issue with my new boat. Thanks very much.

[@darenfitzpatrick1270]

I had the same thing happen to me on the maiden voyage of a skiff I put together. Got out into the river and ran around a little bit and then all of a sudden the motor bogged down and shut off. What was worse my wife was with me and thought I built the boat badly and was worried about getting back. Luckily I quickly noticed the bulb valve on the gas line had collapsed. I realized there was a vacuum in the line and I loosened the air intake on my fuel tank. She started right back up and I earned my wife's respect and admiration for figuring out the problem and fixing it.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Glad it worked out! We don't too many chances for our significant others to gain back our trust on the water!

[@evinrudej]

Spun prop hub bushing thankfully I had the trolling motor but man did it take a while to get back wish I had my spare prop. Lesson learned

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Dang - it's challenging to try to think of everything you need when you're out on the water!

[@leerichy6489]

Spot on film again Wayne, always honest which helps more people. Fuel filters are another thing neglected by many people. I still miss the music....

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank you!! I'll have music in next week's video!

[@hburnham67]

Thank you for taking the time to make videos like this. As a new-ish boater (This summer was my first summer owning a boat) with a 2001 Mercury 125 2 stroke outboard, videos like these are invaluable!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thank YOU - great to hear! There is a lot to learn and it never seems to end.

[@miguelvalenzuela]

Thank you! I just got my first outboards, just like this one, for my little Javelin sailboat. Had a similar issue and could not speed up the boat, only in low power, but also I didn’t open all the away the vent. Will try that next time

[@drittgaming2350]

Been watching your vids for research. Thinking about picking up a sun dolphin 12 American and a Coleman 5hp outboard. Great vids man. Wish I could do boating vids, maybe eventually

[@lehappydog]

Amazing video Wayne!!! You just made my day!!! 👍

[@orlaocarroll4386]

Your videos are excellent - Top class

[@Revviews]

Enjoyed this mate, its fun for me to learn about this stuff.

[@mycoolo304]

I bought a slightly used 3.3hp merc's the other day for my dinghy. The seller had only used it a hand full of times and just had it serviced. I had the exact same issue when trying to start for the first time. I thought I bought a dud but after 15 minutes of analyzing I realized it was the air flow valve wasn't open far enough. After that it ran like a dream. Glad to see I'm not the only one. Great outboard, love it! Great Video.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Thanks! I just wish these could shift into neutral!

[@mycoolo304]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy Do you mean reverse? Reverse gear would be nice.

[@TPoirier]

Great video - I've also seen it where the vent vibrates itself closed while running!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I have an old Evinrude 2 with a metal one that I totally could see that happening!

[@mikeingeorgia1]

My friend had this exact same issue with his generator. And of course it was storming, the commercial power was out and the wife and kids were all fussing about how long was it gonna take before they were comfortable again lol. There’s a lot of tasks that have to be handled for a successful day on the water. Very easy to overlook something, especially if you’re at a public ramp that’s busy, and everyone is waiting to launch or retrieve boats. You try to hurry so you don’t have the ramp traffic backed up and overlook something.

[@twizzler3b]

This was the first mystery I encountered when I got my first boat back in '99. I was 19 and didn't even know what a vent cap was :D

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah - we don’t encounter a lot of this stuff until we’re boating!

[@clydeespinosa6286]

Wow this thing happened this weekend on the lake. I could have sworn that I also tried to start it with the cap off and it still wouldn’t start. I think The motor I have is a little older than yours and has a red engine stop button but no pin or lanyard I’m real frustrated. Thanks for the video for me thinking

[@garycleaveland2645]

Been there... done that 😂 Enjoy your videos. Thanks.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Welcome!

[@PickleballBatman]

Great video it happens to me too that second day I took the boat out

[@Latin__boy]

Great video

[@micheal6935]

Tks bro for the sharing ur experience

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

My pleasure!

[@revolverdon]

Thank you

[@jacquespoirier9071]

it is true for any trouble shooting, the culprit is very often the most simple item that is overlooked.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Couldn’t agree more! Thanks

[@OleYoule]

Great tutorial !!! Like number 717 👍

[@glennroberts3069]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!

[@Mascotal]

Drove me crazy too. However, I found that my vent didn't work at all for my 2.5hp Merc. I took apart the fuel cap and I found the factory had put a rubber plug in the air way that prevented air flow. Pulled out the plug and now the vent works just fine.

[@claysaroundtown]

Good to know

[@stanleybest8833]

2 cycle motors? My No.1 rule is I don't leave fuel in the tank overnight. I pour the mix back then run the carburetor dry, always. I just bought an air cooled 4 cycle. Tiny and smooth. I'm going to love it.

[@greybone777]

Mercury uses the loop lanyard. Old fuel kept mine from starting and yes I've had them vent lock.

[@beardedbiker333]

Thanks. I just got a 14 foot jon boat with that same motor.

[@abnergarcia6252]

The exact same thing happened to me a couple of weeks ago. But I am brand new to boating. But I have a 2015 Tohatsu 5HP with an external tank. But it did it after I had ran it for a while. At first I had no issues and then it started bogging and shut off a few times. I’ll would wait a few second and it would start right away. I managed to get back to the ramp and when I was home I noticed the tank was squished inwards. I opened the cap and heard “psssssss” sound. Like air breathing in. Turned out that was my issue. I took it on the water last Saturday and had no issues. I didn’t know I was supposed to have that breather port open. I had closed it a day prior.

[@dalerew8497]

Definitely know how that feels I was in the st. Johns River and my motor stopped and the current was pulling me out throughout my anchor luckily I got picked up by the US Boat Club

[@shanemcintyre3281]

How do I adjust the tilt on a little motor 2.5 model mercury thanks

[@kawasakiwaverunning]

thanks Wayne ! i have a beginner question is my 2.5hp outboard, when i go fishing on my dingy, i always do stop and go to find the candy spot, while the engine is off and i am fishing in that spot for 10-20mins, should i leave the fuel cap valve open and the choke open, and fuel switch in open for my next quick and easy start to my engine? many thanks in advance, learns many boating knowlege from your channel!!!

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I usually don't turn off the fuel or close the vent until I am done for the day. You shouldn't need the choke once the engine is warmed up - unless it has trouble starting.

[@kawasakiwaverunning]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy appreciated the very valuable information & the lighting fast response! Thx!

[@yourmomsdildo3938]

I have this exact motor and can't find what type of gasket I need to order for the top of the foot. It's leaking gear oil there and I wanna fix it before I put it on the water. Any suggestions?

[@yamahaevo]

Got a yamaha 90 2 stroke. Starting right away when its warm. As soon it get cold you have to crank for a while to get it going. Carburators clean, tank has no water, also it sometimes dies on idle. Any guesses? ;)

[@frankdiaz8387]

Dude, thanks for the videos. You like Norm McDonald.

[@markdevant32]

I had an issue one time where I had accidently bumped my engine into gear with the engine off while I was fishing. When I went to restart the engine it wouldn't start because it was in gear. Drove all the way back to dock with my trolling motor before figuring out what happened.

[@USA4thewin]

thank you ,, I think I am having the same problem ill check tomorrow

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

good luck - hope that's all it is!!

[@USA4thewin]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy exactly what it was big thanks

[@nancyrew1703]

Your engine seems to start in gear. Does it not have in gear or neutral? I have a Mercury 3.3 which I bought new in 2016. I always seem to be fixing it. Mostly it starts on 3 pulls when cold. Re-starting when warm is a big problem. I'm close to giving up on this motor but I really like that it's not too heavy for me to lift off and on my dinghy.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah this motor has no neutral or reverse it’s always in gear. If warm starts are an issue, have you tried different choke settings? Mine sometimes like a little choke when starting warm and other times it likes the choke fully open.

[@craigh2299]

My boat is tied up on the river Bank now stranded waiting for the mechanic, Yesterday I ran aground on some rocks so I checked propeller that seems fine spins freely but the engine won't start. I tried starting it with choke on and it starts and runs fine but as soon as I turn off choke engine cuts out and won't restart unless choke is on. Any ideas?

[@TheArtmartin32]

I got a similar outboard, but mine is 3.3hp 2001, am new to the game, when you first start the outboard and set the choke, after it has been running, do you undo/put the choke back to off? Mine starts and it has some white smoke, old gas that the old user had? Any suggestions?

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Yeah as it is warming up - push the choke back in. Give it just enough choke to keep it running. After a couple minutes it shouldn't need any choke and when you re-start it within an hour or two it might not need any choke. The smoke is normal - it's a 2 stroke. Just be sure to mix your gas/oil properly.

[@TarpeianRock]

Thank you : I just could not understand why my Merc 2,5 wouldn’t start, the breather on the cap was open but…..not enough !

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

It really should just pop open when we pull the cord!

[@j.r.w6623]

What year is your motor shown in the video?

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

I think it's a 2004

[@donanderson2264]

Not new to this, but I had the problem. I noticed that you opened the vent ALL THE WAY. Just cracking the vent doesn’t do it. The way the cap is designed, it can require the vent to to cranked all the way open. Thanks.

[@swimmerdawg123]

Yup same thing happened yo me a few weeks ago... wait till a sheer pin breaks and you are panicking thinking the work you did on the lower unit broke the shifter...

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

You just never know what's going to shut you down!

[@24hrMusic]

Yup... done it more than once.

[@darrylmcleman6456]

OFTEN with a remote tank and fuel line with primer bulb they develop air pockets in the 6 or 8 ft.fuel line especially when not run for 2 or 3 weeks and you need to let the air out. CHEERS from Canada

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

Great point!!

[@brucefrye2292]

I don't know how many times I've been yanking my starter rope, then realizing my kill switch was on, on my four wheelers!

[@zahoor3160]

Hello brother so i have a MERCURY 7.5hp and it has been sitting for a long period of time and like the head of the motor it doesn't rotate left or right what should i do brother ✌.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

First try pulling the spark plug (or plugs) and spraying some lubricant in the cylinders and let it sit for a day or two.

[@zahoor3160]

@@WayneTheBoatGuy thank you so much brother

[@garymacpherson7355]

Pour 2 cycle oil down cylenders

[@wittelarry1]

👍

[@Diesr]

My list of backup plans😂 Backup plan 1: fuel and choke (elbow grease) Backup plan 2: take the thing apart on the water feel with finger for spark and see if it’s wet reassemble and more elbow grease Emergency plan: row home like a normal person 😂

[@elprofesorchingon9281]

I went to the lake today my boat shop running I'm thinking that would be the same problem

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

hopefully that's all it was for you!

[@dmc9492]

Thanks for the "simple straightforward" advice, I to forgot to vent my gas tank the first time out & it shucked all the air outta my tank & stalled (rather alarming the first time out) common sense isn't so common.....😒

[@DaydreamAboutNiceThings]

😂 that just lets you know how fuel efficient the motor is 😂 I didn’t think it was ever going to quit.

[@vincentconnolly109]

👍🎣⛵💯

[@vincentconnolly109]

Is power running out of gas starved for gas ⛽

[@TheNockingPoint]

At 8:56 I thought. of the SpongeBob accented narrator.....

[@TheNockingPoint]

I just learned about these sayings. this year.... my teenager thinks I am so behind the times.

[@TheNockingPoint]

My teenager did not think it was funny when I used the 1-hour version after he finally got a stud out of a 30-year-old exhaust manifold he was trying to save.

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

"Three Hours Latahh" lol

[@garymacpherson7355]

Head gasket is bad

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

That's a really interesting thought! If I ever experience this again in the future - and it's not the vent - that's a really solid suspect.

[@sartorst3376]

Darn took you 10 minutes to say. Open your vent 😢

[@paulpuglia8480]

Why do you have white axes spray painted on your trash cans

[@WayneTheBoatGuy]

For yard waste!