1960 Merc 400E bogs down under throttle

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  • March 28, 2022 at 2:39 pm #257050
    fleetcraft57
    Participant

      US MEMBER PAY BY CHECK

      Dear Friends,

      The frustration level is high!  I have a 1960 Mercury 400E and when I give it throttle it bogs down and will not accelerate.  Everything seems OK, new plugs, went through the entire fuel system, no starvation issues, compression is very good.  Starts easily and purrs at idle, but the minute I give it throttle, it goes nowhere.  Carbs are clean and work fine, all adjusted properly.  Throttle cables work fine, I can rev the engine by turning the distributor, timing is spot on.  Any chance this is electrical?  The last expert mechanic removed the “thing” that I guess is equivalent to an alternator to charge the battery.  Desperate for help as I am ready to toss it in the drink given the money I have poured into it.  A few years ago it ran perfect.

      Paul, Newton, MA

      March 28, 2022 at 5:09 pm #257051
      billw
      Participant

        US Member

        One simple thing to try is open both low speed needles a 1/4 turn and try running it again. It might make it idle WORSE by a little bit but just try it. I don’t know what is up with inline Mercurys but that is a common problem….acts sort of like the accelerator pump on a car engine is bad. I am not making any promises that it’s that simple in your case but I have seen it MANY times in the past.

        Long live American manufacturing!

        March 28, 2022 at 6:13 pm #257059
        Pondrocket
        Keymaster

          Lifetime Member

          Paul,

          On your 400E is this a motor you know all the history on? How long have you had it. You state you have poured a lot of money in it so far, what work has been done to the motor since last running perfect? Have you done all the work or hired out? Just trying to understand what condition your 400E is in before i give you some recommendations.

          Thanks

          Travis
          AOMCI VP Communications
          AOMCI Webmaster
          webmaster@aomci.org

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