Can I Run Carb Clean Through My 9.9 Mercury

[justcastn]

I have a 02 9.9 Merc 4 stoke and they tell me that because of the gas here, they have to be gone through every 2 year's And since I can't get it to the shop any time soon can I run some sort of carb cleaner in the gas to try and clean it out??Everybody say's the carb just need's to be gone through??Anybody else have this problem??It jusy won't idle that low and it die's??

[Smj]

justcastn...."'02 9.9 Merc 4-Stroke" When I got mine in '01 it came with a 3 year waranty, yours should still be under waranty. Because of the gas where? You live somewhere waaay out in the boonies or something? I'd sure like to know who told you your motor needs to be gone through every two years, a shop to stay away from for sure, UNLESS...you only ran that motor a couple of times in those two years. Sitting for long periods will make all gas motors run lousy.

Shoulda' got a Honda I suppose, my 9.9 Merc has never idled as good as the two Honda kickers I ran for 12 years. From my expeience with small engines you might try a slight turn, no more than 1/2, counter clockwise (richer) on the low speed adj.(not idle speed adjustment) will many times fix the dying problem. Run it in a test tank or on the water in gear so it's under load. Start with just the slightest bit of a turn, if it smoothes out, slow the idle speed some, and so on.

Maybe that's just the way Merc 4-Stoke kickers are. Mine surges up-and-down, up-and-down, to-fast..to-slow and dies if I try to drop the RPMs via idle speed adj.

Good Luck

Smj

[justcastn]

I thought the whole gas thing was kinda odd to me....But both Steven's and Cascade told me the same thing??At least that's what Mercury tell's them

Nick, That's what I was gonna do I just haven't been able to get the gasket kit before everybody close's so I was just gonna try some cleaner untill I can get it in the next couple week's.
Thank's for the help though because I wasn't to sure on how to do it.

All I can say is I'm getting a T8 Yami now.I have to many problem's with merc kicker's

[nick partin]

I MAY get in trouble saying this.... but THEY ARE BUSINESSES in the BUSINESS of taking your money for "servicing" your engines OF COURSE they want you to have it gon through every two years... THEY MAKE $$$$$$ by having you bring them in... Personally i would trust Stevens Marine as far as i could throw their whole opperation(BAD BAD experience) but I m not going to rant further on that, Maintain your outboard, keep fuel out of engine when it is sitting and get her running like you want her and you should never have to bring her in for service unless something else breaks... Ring freee mixed in the tank will also clean the fuel system as well as your rings but If it is under warrantee USE IT your paid for it might as well utilize it.


Nick Partin

Just incase this is considered a complaint.

[whitewater]

Was having idle problems with my 8hp Honda. Local service tech said I needed to bring it in for service but they couldn't get to it for 2-3 weeks. Couldn't wait that long (the coho were calling) so ran carb cleaner through it. Motor now runs like new.

[Boat Doc']

see the any benefit to running higher octane fuel post, it may answer some questions.
Boat Doc'