Pinpointing Problems On a Outboard Motor 

Bud, you are giving us more than you're getting and if I weren't retired and on a fixed budget, I'd patreon you in a minute. The information and skills you are sharing is an absolute gift.

This might be the best video on RU-vid for inspecting boat motors.

You have so much knowledge you’re like the Chris Fix of boats… but better. I’m blown away, thank you for sharing and posting this.

Excellent job explaining things along the way! We really appreciate you and your work that you put into these videos!

Kudos on the thorough diagnostic steps. I just used this to get my 1975 Johnson 125hp up and running. I cleaned all the carbs as I found a plugged and failed fuel filter, and 2 bad coil packs. She runs like it did 2 years ago.

Pedestrian-level new owner of a used outboard. I'm just taking some time to learn as much as possible about how these motors operate, basic maintenance, and troubleshooting. This was a very helpful video. Thank you. Subscribed.

Nice ! Thanks, learned alot, good production, great pace.

Excellent videos!!! I appreciate you sharing your expertise and the concurrent excellence of your camera positioning and explanations as well!!! Thank You!!!

One of the most educational videos I have ever watched on boating, thank you!!!

Good information there Eric, very useful for most of us. Greatly appreciated.

Your videos are awesome. Genuine. informative. Keep it up! I'm a boat newbie and your videos are very educational. Thanks.

I don’t even own an outboard motor but this was a great video with great explanations.

Eric you make some amazing videos.....I too am an outboard guy like you and love watching your video. ....I personally love the outboard motors....just picked up a 1987 marnir 50hp with pt gonna see how that 1 runs....motor is spotless...and never saw the saltwater....keep the videos coming I am actually learning alot of stuff from watching your videos....

Brother you just save me a trip to the boat shop you are a true blessing thank you and god bless 👊🏽

Thank you for the time and care in making this video. Best boat videos on the interent. Period.

What an excellent full detailed video. Thanks man!

You really done some great video over the years, have helped me be sharper as well.Thanks...

As a shortcut before checking spark by grounding each plug, check each wire with a timing light first (quick and easy but less thorough).

Excellent video, dude! I've got a 175 I need to tear into and this gives me some good ideas to try. I need all the help I can get!

Very helpful and can't wait to try some things you taught us on my Mercury 115

Excellent trouble shooting. I really value your videos. Some of the best I've seen.

I've been flipping boats too. I'm learning a lot from your channel. Thanks so much!

Thanks for this, I had to double back to see what the actual problem was that you fixed. Awesome video.

Another great video! Thank you for your time an knowledge.

I have been watching several of your videos, thanks for making them, I need all the help I can ...

Very informative videos, gives me a tool for my outboard. Thanks heaps!

Excellent run through, Thank You!

Mate, you are amazing. Love watching your videos, very informative and you match it look so easy...

thanks bro.. i just bought a 14ft skiff with a 50hp yamaha 2stroke oil injected.. it was bogging down.. so your video is going to be super helpful in my troubleshooting :) ..

Thanks for the tutorial. I am scared to open up the outboard motor. Now, after watching this video, I learn more and hopefully, can trouble shoot outboard motor in the future

Eric!.....U R a Genius my friend, great video 👍🏽

Love these engine videos bro. You do a good job at diagnosis. 💯👍🏼✅🇺🇸

These videos are soooooo completely satisfying, especially for boat owners.

Great job! Noticed your cooling jet stream was a little weak. Have you ever placed the lower end in a barrel of water add simple green and vinegar into water. Then run engine for ten minutes to clean water side,?

So I learned from you in 15 min what it took nearly 15 years of boating and learning (the hard way) on my own. Granted there was no youtube when I first started doing boat maintenance. This video is short and to the point. And to anyone reading my comment I STRONGLY recommend a fuel stabilizer such as Startron or Stabil.

The two dead cylinders have higher compression because they have unburned oil in them sealing the rings better than the middle one.

Thanks for another great video. You’re a great teacher.

Very helpful. Saved the video for my eventual use.

Great video. One small point: all gray fuel hose is not susceptible to ethanol. There are different grades of hoses, black and gray. Thanks for a great channel, I've seen almost all of your videos. Keep it up!

Coming from a coastal part of PNG I just enjoy watching your videos anytime of the day.

Thank you so much for this video. I'm gonna need it to make sure my engine that has been sitting over 15 years.

People don't realize that when cleaned the carbs the small particles came out of the Jets and now runs ok . The underlying problem was no filter to supply the carbs . Foreign particles entered carbs .

Great video! Love your channel. Keep up the great work!

Excellent instruction and explanations. Well done!

This video was great 👍 very informative and detailed 👍 great job buddy...l start my 40 hp Yamaha every two weeks and keep it running great ,👎 no needs to be working on their boat at the ramp...

Amazing video. This will help me a ton with my 60hp merc

thanks for making boat outboards not that complicated - wish I had known that when I had my boats...now a land lover

Since 1976 outboard marine mechanic on Long island NY I found mostly fuel , over heating water pumps ,burnt pistons, electrical ignition systems. Japanese Motor electrical system rarely fail like old Mercury and Evinrude power packs coils. New age Japanese motors have very small Jews in carbs and any dirt water gum will not come out east like old Johnstone Merc hand over carb to suck out gunk trick. That fuel line issue got me ... Nice work Thanks

Thank you for the info I've been working on a Mariner and I think that's what my problem is is the carburetors

Good video covering the basics.

Good video mate like the detail of it all .

Great video! Keep em coming.

Excellent video. Very informative, logical and shows everything .

Great step by step video. Thanks!

Very informative video. I just came across one of those grey gas lines the other day and saw that clear lining inside. I was wondering what the heck that was in there for.

Sweet love outboards......keep them coming..

You fixed it but it would be nice to hear what the solution exactly was. Why was the engine only firing on one cylinder when it seems there was a carburetor issue? Just a little recap would be great. You are a really good teacher

Hi Eric, I jut bought a 2007 25hp 4-stroke Mercury with EFI, and took it out yesterday for the first time. It would not seem to go very fast even though it is on a 12ft RIB, a relatively light boat. It struggled to get my buddy and I on plane... took like 20mins but we finally got on plane. Then when we slowed down and tried it again, it never happened.. it just felt like we we going 5-8mph with the bow way up on the air.. just no power at WOT. I also noticed the water coming out of the pee hole was no more than a couple of degrees warmer than the lake water... not warm at all.. and it runs fine, but it seems to not go past a certain rpm... almost like it's bogged down or somehow underpowered. Now I know this same boat would have no issues getting on plane with my '97 Johnson 15hp 2-stroke, but this 10yr newer 25hp EFI merc could not get my buddy and I on plane now matter what we did. It does not stall at any point, which is odd... as that would lead me to think it was a fuel issue... it just simply has not enough power under load. Any ideas what it might be? Thanks in advance!!

As I used to say about my boats, “If it’s got a transom, t***ies, , it’s trouble! Trouble spelled twenties, fifties, hundreds! I have finally gotten off the trouble, I am finally have some fun money. Great video, thanks for sharing. Gimminie, take care of your RUSTY tools. Keep them in good condition, your life may depend on them.

Love the video, thanks for sharing. I recently bought a 95 yamaha 115 and needs work. It bogs when accelerating

I am learning a lot about outboards from you.

Got my attention when I saw two of three plug wires pulled and it still ran.

GREAT Job !!! That worked out well.

Great Video! Last year I learned about bullshit E-15 gas. I barely take boat out, when mechanic told me about I thought he was bull shitting me. Was driving me crazy ran at low speed gave it gas it bog down bulb would collapse. 5 bucks a gallon non ethanol now and have to drive 20 miles to get it. Should of titled E-10 or E-15 gas wrecking old out board motors. Thank you. Had I seen your channel I saved a lot of cash at Marina.

Tohatsu engines are a very good engine. The Sea Tow operation in Organ Inlet OBX uses two 150hp Tohatsu motors and really puts them threw there paces.

Killer video, great one, Thank YOU!

Hey boat guy! Love the videos, super helpful. I have myself a 1975 evinrude 25. Replaced spark plugs, ignition coils, and cleaned out and serviced the magneto, but I’m still not getting any spark! Any recommendations? Thanks!

excellent break down - thanks for sharing, new sub

Hey man, thanks for this video, it helps a lot and I really appreciate it. 👍

Great video.Covers all the basics that anyone can check.I would suggest using a spark checker rather than having the plug resting on the block.

Very nice. Just bought an Evinrude Ocean Pro 150 so this will be useful.

You my Man are a great boat mechanic.

never listen to the client cuz you say the carb was clean before you got it how the gone to put back together the carb with no filter make no sense first step is the carburetor you have to check then first second the gas and compression but you the master keep up the good work I admire you

Very good and informative video. Thank you.

Great video man!!

Great video TBG!

That's exactly same as my outboard. Thanks foor for the video

Good vid. Been wanting a boat project but have no idea what I am looking for.

I really appreciated your video. I have this exact outboard. I know this was 4 years ago but it would be great if you could state what you think the problem was since you didn't really find any issues. What do you think kept the two cylinders from firing. Wa it clogged jets???

thanks sooo much! i want to learn abou this kind of stuff. Well done!

Dear Boat guy really great video I'm learning so much from you , I have a question the first and third cylinder was not firing , and you took the reading of the compression it was good , how did you get the other cylinder to work did you replaced the sparkplug or the coils.

Thanks for the great video!

Thanks for that. I have the same motor. It runs good now, but when it doesn't, I will know what to do.

Thanks for this informative video.

Thanks for your videos I am a new prescriber I do enjoy it nice job you definitely have experiencing in

Very important, when you do carburetor cleaning make sure to check and clean fuel lines, change fuel filter, change the water separator and that the fuel in the tank is clean as well, otherwise you just waisted your time and money

I got to go diagnose one. Almost like a car but easier!! Thanks for the help god bless

Very cool. Can I ask what you charged him to fix that and do the lower end gear oil?

Thats a fine looking outboard you got there boy

Just found your channel, awesome content

Good video, well documented. Would have loved to see the carbs before they got cleaned to see what 'not bad' looks like, and what the injectors look like when they are clogged. I'm currently troubleshooting an old 1977 35hp Johnson :]

Another great video. Thanks man. I met you in the trailer store on 66st the other day. Good luck with the air boat. Keep the videos coming you are good at them.

Just found your site. I have a 1993 Merc Mariner 75 hp that runs like a champ but the alarm comes and goes. I have good water pumping and keep the oil topped out. The float magnet came off and started the first alarm. I pulled it out and used a oil resistant gasket sealer to glue it back then zip tied it to the retainer but left about 1/4" gap between them. Appears to use very little oil but that alarm is driving me crazy

Searching for a boat here in central fl. You're videos are extremely insightful. Wish you could shop with me haha

Great video again. thanks!

Just thank you so much. Just looking for a 2 stroke 30 hp 3 cylinder outboard . Have a 25 hp 2 stroke now

Love your videos, and the s2k on tha side... lol I’m a cars guy too... love Honda’s Toyota’s nissan...

That’s a great video, well done and I learned so much! Thank man! Keep up the good work!! By the way what are you doing with these boats once you fix them? I would be interested to see if these are in my budget.

Dangar Stu says; good job, it's time for a pint of beeeer..👍 Or I assume anyway..😂

hey great video very helpful , can you post something about rpm limiter, where is it and how to troubleshoot for it thanks