1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

[barryvj]

Engine: 1995 90Hp Evinrude 2 cycle with a VRO2 dual fuel/oil pump

Symptoms: Engine will not start. Electrical system working fine, strong spark on all four cylinders. Engine will start if I spray starter fluid in intake, but runs very rough with a lot of smoke in the exhaust. As soon as I stop spraying, the engine dies. After trying to start several times, I took the spark plugs out and noticed that they are covered in oil.

Troubleshooting so far: gas tank is full with last season's treated gas, fuel filter is not limiting gas. When the fuel supply line is disconnected from the fuel pump and I pump the bulb, fuel comes out easily. I also unscrewed the gas cap in case a vacuum was being built up.

To troubleshoot the VRO2, I pumped the fuel bulb manually (stood on bulb) with no change, still won't start. I removed the VRO2 fuel outlet line and cranked the engine; fuel spurted into a container. Just for kicks, I filled a long clear tube with fuel and tapped into the carburator fuel line (disconnected the inlet to the fuel pump before doing this). Holding the fuel line high in the air the engine still didn't start.

Next I removed the air inlet to take a better look at the carbs for anything obvious, but couldn't see anything wrong. I removed the reservoir screws from the carbs and thick oil came out. Now I know why the plugs are covered in oil. I sprayed starter fluid into the reservoir but it still would start.
?
Do I need to overhaul the carbs? Why would this happen now, when I put it away last fall it ran like a champ

Any suggestions?

Thanks for your help.

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

"but runs very rough with a lot of smoke in the exhaust."

I would check your compression for sure but even before that see if you can try some fresh gas. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[jonesg]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

You forgot to drain the carb bowls last year?
Do it now and fill bowls by pumping bulb with fresh fuel.
Make sure its running on all cyl's before taking it out.

I would rebuild carbs myself with carb kits.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

May as well service the carbs while you are in there. Should not be full of oil in there whether the carbs were drained or not in my opinion. Many folk out here (myself included) do not drain the carb's for winter, just run stabilized fuel through the entire system.
Just my 2 cents though.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

Is your fuel enrichener operating? The carbs may be clogged, however, if the "choke" isn't working, it will have those symptoms.

 

[basspirate]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

you may have had some air in the fuel line. what will happen is the vro will pump pure oil into the carbs. drain the carbs by unscrewing the drains on either the side or bottom of the carb bowls. then squeeze the fuel ball. that should force some fuel into the carbs. the reason you cannot squeeze the ball right now is the carbs may be so filled with oil that the needle and seat are closed giving the fuel nowhere to go.
i've gone through it where i forgot to pump the fuel bulb after the engine has sat for a while and i've loaded the carbs with oil. i've choked the hell out of it while cranking the engine in a few second bursts for 10 minutes. eventually it will start but will run rough for about 10-15 minutes until everything burns off.

 

[barryvj]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

Rick: I tried with fresh fuel...no change

jonesg: I don't drain the bowls for winterizing...I run Stabil through the system

kenmyfam: I may service the carbs, but I want to take this one step at a time.

Chris1956: I can hear the choke solenoid, but haven't confirmed that it is working correctly...I'll check

basspirate: I think that you have provided the key answer. When I get home tonight I'll do this!

Thanks to all of you once again.

 

[basspirate]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

also put the starter fluid down and step away from it. starter fluid and 2 cycles dont mix. the fluid thins out the oil too much. a spray bottle with gas works better.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

Rick: kenmyfam: I may service the carbs, but I want to take this one step at a time.
Thanks to all of you once again.

If they are full of oil then I think it would be a heck of a place to start.
I completely agree with keeping away from the starter fluid. Does absolutely no good to a 2 stroke motor, only bad.

 

[barryvj]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

Got home and re-drained the bowls and shot in some starter fluid (didn't see the replies warning against this) to clean it up. I put everything back together except the oil line to the VRO2. The engine started right up and I immediately shut it off. I reconnected the oil line and pumped the oil bulb 'til it was solid. I then started the engine again and let run for several minutes and everything seems to work!

Basspirate thanks for your tip!

p.s. I will now put away my starter fluid and save it for my 4 stroke engines.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

p.s. I will now put away my starter fluid and save it for my 4 stroke engines.

Now that's a great idea. Glad all appears well again.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 1995 Evinrude w/ VRO2 Will Not Start - Fuel Starved

Barry, I recommend you run a tank of 50::1 premix thru that motor, until you are certain it is drawing oil from the tank. Since you disconnected the oil line, you run the risk of air being injected into the motor, instead of oil.