How to Correctly Start a Mercury/Tohatsu 4 Stroke Outboard (4/5/6HP)

In this video we walk through the full process of starting a small outboard.
Motor: 6HP Mercury 4 Stroke
Boat: 1984 12' Crawdad Flat Bottom

Boating can be dangerous
Always wear your lifejacket
Never let go of the tiller when in motion
Never start your motor when in forward or reverse
Never operate while standing up
Look for hazards before starting
Don't start if you smell gas or see gas dripping from motor
Know your water, know your boats limitations
Many many more safety items to know. READ YOUR MANUAL and take a boating safety course

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Disclaimer: Use at your own risk. SAFETY FIRST! Always read your own owner's manual and service manual and understand all safety items for your specific boat, motor, and parts. I am not an expert mechanic or electrician. All of the information I share is for entertainment purposes only. Consult your boat, motor, and parts' manufacturer, owner's manuals and service manuals for expert advice. Boating and repairing/maintaining a boat motor can be dangerous. Please make sure you fully understand all risks involved so you do not get injured or worse. Once again, all content on this channel is for entertainment only. Please only attempt any of the things in these videos unless you have adequate skill, have fully read the owner's manual and service manual, and even then continue at your own discretion and risk. I am not responsible for your boat, motor, and am not responsible for keeping you safe. I am not an expert and not responsible for any errors or omissions, or for the results obtained from the use of this information. This is for entertainment only. All information in this video is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information.

[craig]

Straightforward and simple. No BS, no long winded pontificating 😂. Seriously tho man, great job and thanks

[tp-mhji]

Cool... Never hurts to go over the outboard motor starting sequence for us old guys... 🎣

[rootwad]

Thanks for this series, i'm still sudying the manual but it's been nice to have your videos for that virtual "shoulder to shoulder" learning. What really got me to comment was you closing the video with a reminder to leave no trace <3

[SailingWindGypsy]

Great video. Thank you so much. Right to the meat with no preliminary BS for 15 minutes!😂

[DanDaMan-vm]

great no bs video, great to make a checklist of what to do

[MartaWalker-rsyk]

Just want to add tip here after viewing other video on hard start. I too found that by connecting and "priming" fuel system prior to leaving home I can use internal fuel system with fast easy cold start at ramp . I was ready to let somebody else have a new motor! I love my 6 merc !

[mattwaters]

Good refresher. Same as my 9.9hp. Thanks.

[mattc]

I start a mercury outboard by removing the cowling, unscrewing the mounting clamps, and tossing it overboard. Then I take the mercury cover and I put it on an outboard that actually has a reputation for running well...like a Honda or a Yamaha...and then I start it. Works every time!

[reelffishing]

Great vid i have same motor but only 2.5 on my 12 foot jon boat love it but im still a newbie with my motor just got the break in done

[dustinj]

Thanks for the video I literally just got my first external tank today. The internal tank is great but its a little scary adding gas to it out on the open water. You should include a link to your other video (starting a flooded engine - also super helpful for us newbies).
A tip I saw in the 2023 Tohatsu manual - if using the external fuel tank, be sure the internal fuel tank relief valve is also open, something to do with preventing a dangerous build-up of fumes in the internal tank. My new 6hp tohatsu won't hold idle after the 1st start (always cuts out), but it holds after the 2nd start. I think I am going to try rev'ing the engine a bit before cutting the choke.

[doogster]

Thanks very much! practical and very useful!

[Julie-ur]

lot of carb 4 strokes have accelerator pumps you have to pump the throttle a couple times and they fire very quick choke if equipped

[music-jjpl]

I thought cursing was part of the cold startup procedure. I'll try your tips without the cursing next time. Thanks.

[jorgehidalgo]

Great videos! Could you please tell me how much time you wait with the choke out before push in it back when cold starting? I usually need to wait 20 secs aprox or it shut off. Thank you!!

[michielderuyter]

In your external tank also has to have an open ventvalve 👍

[jplee]

Thanks for this! A few questions:

1) When cold starting, I've heard you should let the motor run, choke-out, for around a minute or so to get the engine warm? Is this maybe the case for the older units?
2) On my older Tohatsu, I don't think I have start or restart positions (just the rabbit/turtle icons and a notched mark between) - do I just leave in the notched/middle position when cold-starting or warm-starting?
3) When connecting the external tank, are you still supposed to leave the onboard fuel tank vented? Or do you close the vent of the onboard and open the vent of the external?

[fastualso]

How add little bit gas for idling, that motor won't stop? Is there little screw in gas wire or something? I don't want to make any changes to carborator, because it is working perfectly otherwise. Thank you for great videos!

[clydedenby]

I have one of these and the first year was great. Year three finds me having to use the choke as an idle control. Just dirty?

[dustinj]

do you leave your external fuel line attached to your external tank when in storage? Any reason to keep attached or to remove it?

[tinytim]

I was given a fairly new Mercury 20 hp 4 stroke. Runs beautiful, but I can't get the proppeller to spin forward or reverse. It is my first ever outboard engine. I know nothing about it and no one to show me how to use it. I have it on a stand with a garden hose connected to it. Does the lanyard have to be connected for the propeller blade to spin?