triton 2008 Triton VT 17 Owners Manual needed to hopefully solve problems

[Greg Crockett]

I recently bought a 2008 Triton VT 17 from a dealer 150 miles away.  I just tried to start the Mercury 50 last weekend, as have been using only my trolling motor on lakes with NO gas motors allowed.  My friend and I were unable to get it to start.

 

The starter turned over quite well, but seemed to not have the gas to take over.  I have never owned a gas motor larger than 5 hp manual start, so was not surprised with my inability, but my friend is more knowledgeable than me, as he has a 40 hp electric start.  He expected that there should be a choke somewhere, and/or a throttle.  We could find neither, so maybe the Forward/Reverse positions include variable speed controls!?!  I also questioned whether the gas tank should have a release valve to prevent a vacuum from forming, but none to be found.  There is also a Run switch under the shift handle that didn't seem to matter.  And there is an unattached lanyard, but no apparent place to insert it.

 

The dealer had no manual from the prior owners, but they claimed they had done a full service on it and a compression test, which meant that the motor was started.  So I'm concluding that I have an insufficient process - or that they just lied.

 

If anyone has a manual, I would gladly pay for you to get a copy printed and send to me, and pay you for your trouble.  A digital copy would be great!!  Or if anyone knows what steps I'm missing.  My procedure now is as follows:

 

1)  Lower motor to full down position.

2)  Place shift handle in neutral position.

3)  Turn key to On position for a few seconds.

4)  Turn key to Start position.

 

Rinse and repeat...

 

Thanks for any help!!

 

[nmatthes]

The lanyard is your kill switch it should be setup something like this depending on your boat. Your motors model number will give some more information to go off. 2 Stroke vs 4 stroke. Fuel injected vs not fuel injected, etc.

 

Could be a whole host of problems but we need more information first. 

 

 

 

 

[WRB]

Welcome to boat ownership.

Your problem isn't your boat it's your Merc 50 doesn't start.

Good news it turns over so starting motor and battery power is working.

The boat doesn't come with the outboard engine, the dealer install it. The engine controls are on the driver side of the boat cockpit. You have learned how to put the control into nuetral and found the engine trim switch to rise and lower the trim. You know where the ignition key is located and turned it to start the engine. You found the kill switch lanyard, the dog clip on the end attaches to your PFD, the other end plugs into the kill switch. If the lanyard isn't plugged into the kill switch no electricity will go to the engine ignition system, it must be plugged in.

The choke or prime switch is simple, push in the ignition key.

1. Check the gas line and make sure it's attached to the engine.

2. Hand pump the gas line prime bulb until it's firm, you should be able to feel fuel going through the bulb.

3. Take off the engine cowl/cover and look to see if you have carburators or fuel injection. Push the ignition key in and listen for fuel being primed and the choke to engage. You should be able to smell the gas.

4. Make sure the engine is in water or you have ears attached to a water supply, if you plan to run the engine more then a few seconds.

5. Push the ignition start key in and hold it in for a few seconds and turn to start the engine, it should try to start or start. If it doesn't take out 1 spark plug to see if it's wet or dry. If it's dry no fuel is reaching the plugs. If it's wet no spark is occurring to the plugs. 

If the gasoline is old it should still try to run. If plug is dry after cranking and priming for a few minutes indicates no fuel is getting through the carbs or injectors. Chech the gas line connector by pushing in the check valve ball (screw driver) and sqweeze the prime bulb, fuel should come out. If the gas line works, then check the fuel filter, follow the gas line inside the engine or look on line for your engine manual.

Good luck,

Tom

[Greg Crockett]

Thanks for the feedback Tom and NMatthes.  Two hints that I suspect will improve the situation are where to attach the lanyard clip and to push the key in for a few seconds before starting.  The picture looks exactly like my Run switch and lanyard clip.  And I knew nothing about the key depress for the choke.  So I think I will be in the money thanks to y'all!

 

To be safe, I plan to change gear oil, spark plugs and visual inspection throughout before I try to start it again.  Also the tank is a little under half full, so I plan to add gas and some Seafoam.  I ordered ear muffs and once they arrive, I'll try to just start it using the two hints y'all provided. 

 

Most of the lakes I go to are trolling motor only, so my fishing won't be delayed.

 

FYI, my motor is a 2-stroke, but I'm not sure about carbs vs FI.  Will know soon.

 

Thanks so much for your kind help!!

 

Greg

 

[slonezp]

Carbureted Mercs will have a cold start feature on the forward controls. Is there a large button where the shifter pivots. When you push the button, this allows you to push the shifter forward without putting the motor in gear. This allows the motor rpms to increase under a cold start preventing the motor from dying after it turns over.

[Greg Crockett]

Awesome!!  Another piece to the puzzle.  That probably accounts for the missing small lever that is beside the shifter in many YouTube videos I've watched.  I'm 99% sure that the problem was operator ignorance, but I'm learning thanks to you guys.

 

Many thanks!!

 

Greg

[slonezp]

13 minutes ago, Greg Crockett said:

Awesome!!  Another piece to the puzzle.  That probably accounts for the missing small lever that is beside the shifter in many YouTube videos I've watched.  I'm 99% sure that the problem was operator ignorance, but I'm learning thanks to you guys.

 

Many thanks!!

 

Greg

That lever is old. Last one I had was on a 1988 Johnson