Marine Mechanic For Hire! (I Come To You!)

[Arkansas Jewell]

MFU no sir I can not levitate nor do I ever chose to pollute, Larry's case was particularly easy to diagnose as it was based on his running the system low and causing an air bubble in the engine mounted tank. I will not take on any job that I can not leave a happy customer. Obviously all cases can not be taken care of entirely on the water, every situation is different and I like to ask lots of questions. Most flywheels do not scare me, and I draw out oil so and engine oil change on an I/O or 4 stroke outboard is no problem, but anything to do with a drive or lower unit is a no go in the water" I will not drop somebodies very expensive lower, or my tools in the lake if I can help it". I am perfectly comfortable diagnosing most electrical problems in the water, not everybody has a new boat or motor so there is still lots of old electronic ignition parts to fail out there. that Is an awesome pic, surprised it only melted 1 piston, last one I did was operator error and it took out 3 on 1 bank before it locked.

[lockjaw]

AJ, are you in the Lakeview/ Bull area or some other part of the lake?

[Arkansas Jewell]

I will service all the local lakes from Springfield to Greers Ferry. I am currently keeping my drive times under 2 hours.

[fireman]

arkansas jewell,

I'm in the st louis area and just need some info. I have a mercury 225 that the housing latch on one side is not working. It feels as if the cable inside may be broken but im unable to open it as it wont release. the other one works fine. any ideas how i can get this housing off to do some general maintenance and to fix the new possible cable?

thanks

fireman (brian)

[Arkansas Jewell]

let me know what year and model 225 merc to make sure Im looking at the same one that you have, also Im assuming this is 2000 or newer with a single pull release and a solid cowl. These units do get a little stubborn when it is cold, first thing I would try is putting it in the sun to warm it or a heated garage and try the release. If you do have a broken release latch or cable then the lower cowl will have to be removed or at least loosened to gain access to the mechanism underneath, this will be delicate work as you will have a lip extending into the cowl and you may have a couple fasteners under the cowl.

[fishinwrench]

First try pushing down hard on the rear of the cowling while pulling the release lever... depending on how big'a ol'boy you are, you might need a helper.

If that fails; look under the front latch for a small silver puck (the end of the emergency secondary release) Grab it with a pair of pliers and pop her open.

You cannot remove the lower cowling without getting the top off....unless you take a hammer and pry bar and go "Eric" on it.

[eric1978]

You cannot remove the lower cowling without getting the top off....unless you take a hammer and pry bar and go "Eric" on it.

I don't take any crap from inanimate objects.

[fireman]

its a 2003 merc 225. i had this issue in the fall just never got around to it but now that im getting the itch to get out i want to fix a few things.

[Arkansas Jewell]

wrench is correct, all the fasteners are inside the cowl! I didnt remember any kind of cables holding them on either, 03 has only 1 latch on the front correct?

[fishinwrench]

Luckily I haven't had one yet that wouldn't unlatch. If the cowling hasn't been off for awhile though they do tend to stick pretty good once the rubber seal dries out.

Shake the piss out of it and see if it's just stuck tight to the cowl seal.