Starting outboard lying down

[rich hand]

Ive not got an outboard stand available and need to start a 30hp 2 stroke Merc lying down to make sure it works. Is this ok to do? Of course it will not be in gear

[rigi36]

Don't be silly - put it in a wheelie bin, you must be able to find something to hang it off.

[thomas]

You will break it, once had a builder who rolled a digger and tried to use the arm to right it, blew the engine up in about a minute.

[9D280]

If it's a fuel injected 2 stroke you might get lucky, but :

4- stroke - no lube where it should be - engine dies. (But you don't have that problem)

Older Mercs had a mercury switch in the deadman circuit to stop the engine once it passed about 30 degrees off vertical.

Anything with a conventional carb needs gravity to put the fuel where it should be - so chances are it won't start. It's the one good thing about 2- strokes is the engine will generally work any way up, but the carbs won't. You'll probably flood it before it gets a chance to start.

And if it's auto mixing there's a chance the oil outlet to the tank will run dry unless the tank is full...... (depends on the shape of and amount if oil in the tank, which was designed to work vertically)

And all that assumes you have muffs to keep it cool?


30 is getting quite big to balance on the side of a wheelie bin. Chances are you'll take the side out the bin before it starts, unless the engine is clamped to something & the bin just providing the water. Best bet is find something to clamp it to with the leg in water or flush muffs.

[m chappelow]

Yeah it really needs to be upright as said earlier you could use a wheelie bin or even a strong fence ,pick up truck tail gate ,, you could have a couple of mates holding it upright ,,
we started a 40 hp engine up in a pub once to see if it would fire up with just a couple of lads holding it,,,,,,,,,,,, landlady wasent too impressed though engine fired up ok .

[Leapy]

Originally Posted by m chappelow

...we started a 40 hp engine up in a pub once to see if it would fire up...

The sort of thing you see and hear of every day

Begs all sorts of questions, mind

Come on Wilk

[wiLlfish]

Originally Posted by rich hand

need to start a 30hp 2 stroke Merc lying down to make sure it works.

iy've startid sum enjins lyein dowen yewshully wen iym pist an carnt gett upp.

[rich hand]

ok I get it, will not lie it down, cheers