150hp Merc 2.0L Mid 90s - Where to start?

[britdawg89]

Thanks for letting me join! I've got my first "big girl" outboard, last weekend I traded up from a 12' jon w/15hp Merc to a 21' Wellcraft with a 150hp merc. I want to give the motor a good once over to diagnose what all it needs done but I'm just not sure where to start. I've ordered the service manual but I was curious if anyone has a standard sort of "order of operations" of where the best place to start and work your way from might be.

I've been looking over the forums and see so many mods/upgrades/opinions, etc. but I'm trying to put all this info together into a checklist of sorts. I'd love to hear what other folks process is as far as first thing I'll do is xyz, then move on to this area or that one, etc.

I would appreciate a *little* grace while I learn all the lingo, I promise I'll catch on. I'm not a mechanic by any means, but for the most part, unless there's specific equipment one may ONLY find in a marine shop, I can do repairs and upgrades myself and prefer to because then I learn more. I've never come up against anything that I haven't been able to understand thus far and I'm not so proud that I won't send something to someone else if it's too far out of my league.

[rock]

Welcome to the site. Get it cleaned up so you can see what is what. I always start with a compression test. If it's a carb motor and has sat for any length of time you should probably at least clean em out if not maybe a kit. Water pumps are almost always ignored so pick one up and help your motor live. Gear oil must be looked at and likely changed. Everything is more or less common sense and if you have some mechanical background or at least the desire to learn you will do fine. Have fun.

Rock

[britdawg89]

Thanks Rock! I really appreciate the input and direction, I'm glad to be here!

[rgsauger]

Welcome to the forum, Dawg. Check this link as it has a bunch of the info that you are wondering about.

1994 Procraft 200 DC with 200 Mariner Mag 2.4L (screamandfly.com)

Rock, we always yank the oil injection on the older motors turning over 6K. Should he yank his on a mid-90's motor?

[rock]

I remove it from anything not Optimax. Don't care what rpm.

Rock

[britdawg89]

Thank you! I've been trying to read as many threads as I can on here, it's like a free for all of good info and advice, invaluable for sure. I have noticed that the first thing a lot do is delete the oil injection, so that's at the top of the list as well. I see folks going back and forth on it but I tend to lean towards the opinion that if I mix myself I'll know for sure it's in there and getting distributed.

BTW...it's *her* mid-90's motor
My better half is better suited for muscle, he's a do it yourself guy also, but when it comes to the tedious things he has no patience - that's where we find a balance. I'm 100lbs soaking wet and I can fix damn near anything but some stuff requires a little more strength than I can provide. Almost 15 years he's been putting up with my many hobbies and this is boat #3, God bless him LOL

[rock]

Well young lady we are glad you are here. Tell your old man to pay attention might learn something. My wife helps me in the garage and those extra hands often make it possible. Seems we are both blessed to have great spouse that can deal with our addictions.

Rock

[PanRonnie]

some manuals you might find it easier to print out a section than to have a book which constanly snaps shut
the technicians guide explains how the ignition systems of mercury work more indepth
if you are removing the heads , it,s a good time to install water diverters

[britdawg89]

Thanks Ronnie! That's a good idea, losing your page is always frustrating!