Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

[Mason]

I have a mid 80s Suzuki DT115. The motor has always ran great, and has given me very few problems. A few fishing trips ago, the motor ran perfect...boat planed very quickly and WOT was good. The next time I took it out (about a week later) the motor cranked and idled fine...also reved up fine, but now it bogs down when I try to plane off...it takes forever with just me in it, but with two people the only way it will is if someone gets up on the front deck...Also top end has dropped a bit. I took it out last weekend and it is doing the same thing. Any suggestions? Its funny how one trip it worked great and the next it wont even plane off. Thanks<br /> Mason

 

[randycc58]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

sounds like a fuel problem to me. Check the obvious first. plugs for fouling. Fuel filter. All electrical and fuel connections. Is this thing efi. ro carb. I'm no susuki man. Also check your vent to see if its letting the tank breath.

 

[DJ]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

1. Spark on all four? A 2-stroke will rev easily (no load) with only a few firing.<br /><br />2. The Zuki 140 I had (same basic engine) had VERY finicky carbs. <br /><br />I had to clean them, more than once.

 

[Mason]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

Carb not EFI. All fuel connections are good and tank is venting. Spark on all 4.

 

[Mason]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

I also thought it might be the carbs needing to be cleaned..but wouldn't they gradually get that way and not just from running fine one trip to not on the next. <br /><br /> Mason

 

[randycc58]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

sometimes we see carbs act up that were good the day before. as you cross a wake the needle jets can stick and cause a host of malfunctions. One sure way to know if its the carbs needing to be cleaned, is to clean the carbs anyway. At least you have got them out of the picture. When I do mine at home and not on the job, I take the drain plug out and spray carb cleaner down the throat and let it sit a few. then I spray that out with WD, and then blow them with compressed air. I do this every season on mine. On my job we take them off and do it right. Dont tell anyone

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

Verify that you have spark on all cylinders. It probably is the carbs. Squirt some fuel into the carb throats when you're trying to plane (or bump the choke button or manually choke the engine and see if it picks up. If it does you should pull the carbs and do a thorough cleaning/rebuild. Your symptoms suggest a problem with either the main jet or the float valves. <br /><br />Carbs get dirty basically 2 ways. <br />1. Varnish or gum deposits that generally build up slowly from evaporating fuel.<br />2. Actual dirt (particulates) such as rust, sand, pieces of rubber or gasket, and other crud that somehow gets past the filters. When a piece of dirt get in its running OK one minute and not the next.

 

[Mason]

Re: Help! Problems with Suzuki DT115

Thanks everyone for the opinions...everyone seems to agree on it being the carbs, so I am going to have them cleaned and the motor tuned up while I am at it. This site is great. I also have a small Johnson 5 1/2hp on a jon boat, and I have done all repairs on it myself by getting info off of this site. I paid $200 for a brand new Monarch 14' jon boat, trolling motor, trailer, seats, etc., and that Johnson cause the person said the motor wouldn't run..Got on this site and had the motor running like brand new in a day. Thanks to those who help people like me on here.