Hi,
I've got a 2001 50 ELHPTO serial OT198333 that has been sitting idle for over three years.
Previously, I've never had a problem with it. I've owned it for the last 7 years and it has seen low to average use (Northern IL climate, 5 months a year max).
Although I winterized it when I put it up for the season the last time, I never anticipated that it wouldn't be started again for such a long time. So to begin, I removed and cleaned the carbs. I also drained as much fuel from the tank as I could (it was almost empty). Put in some fresh fuel with sea foam and got it going in my driveway in a barrel. It started right up, idled smoothly and all seemed to be fine.
I finally got it in the water the other day. Although it didn't start right off, it wasn't a problem either. It just didn't start on the first or second try. It idled fine but would die as soon as I put it in gear. After futzing with it I finally got it out of the no wake zone and tried to open her up. 1500 rpms tops.
I ran it that way for a bit hoping something might dislodge and improve, but I ultimately took it out of the water and back home. Thinking that it might be the fuel filter I disconnected the fuel line after the fuel filter and pumped the primer bulb and fuel flowed freely.
I was pretty confident in my carb cleaning so I tried again.
Got past the no wake zone, opened her up and it ran was well as it ever did. So besides being obviously overjoyed and proud of myself, I thought I would motor around and let the sea foam do its thing.
So I motored for about 5-10 minutes at full throttle when all of a sudden she bogs down. I'm sorry but I can't tell you what the rpms were exactly as I was a bit disgruntled at the time. I'm guessing back down to 1500-2000.
I've got a firm primer bulb, carbs are not leaking and no leaks from any fuel line connections. I was also careful to replace the carb linkage back as it was when I cleaned the carbs.
I have already ordered a new fuel filter as well as a fuel pump kit.
I've spent hours scouring the internet looking for solutions before asking here.
Although I am strongly leaning towards a fuel related issue, I have seen others with this issue as being electronically related. I've also seen vapor lock but have never had that problem in the past. I'm also considering a blocked fuel tank vent. But if the vent were blocked, would it run well for the 5 - 10 minutes that it did?
I have the manual referred to in the first link on this forum but am wondering if there is another manual available with additional information which I could purchase. I don't want to spend money on something that I already have. I'm just not sure that it's the same thing or not.
Sorry for the length of the post, but wanted to give you as much info as I could.
Thank you for your help
I've got a 2001 50 ELHPTO serial OT198333 that has been sitting idle for over three years.
Previously, I've never had a problem with it. I've owned it for the last 7 years and it has seen low to average use (Northern IL climate, 5 months a year max).
Although I winterized it when I put it up for the season the last time, I never anticipated that it wouldn't be started again for such a long time. So to begin, I removed and cleaned the carbs. I also drained as much fuel from the tank as I could (it was almost empty). Put in some fresh fuel with sea foam and got it going in my driveway in a barrel. It started right up, idled smoothly and all seemed to be fine.
I finally got it in the water the other day. Although it didn't start right off, it wasn't a problem either. It just didn't start on the first or second try. It idled fine but would die as soon as I put it in gear. After futzing with it I finally got it out of the no wake zone and tried to open her up. 1500 rpms tops.
I ran it that way for a bit hoping something might dislodge and improve, but I ultimately took it out of the water and back home. Thinking that it might be the fuel filter I disconnected the fuel line after the fuel filter and pumped the primer bulb and fuel flowed freely.
I was pretty confident in my carb cleaning so I tried again.
Got past the no wake zone, opened her up and it ran was well as it ever did. So besides being obviously overjoyed and proud of myself, I thought I would motor around and let the sea foam do its thing.
So I motored for about 5-10 minutes at full throttle when all of a sudden she bogs down. I'm sorry but I can't tell you what the rpms were exactly as I was a bit disgruntled at the time. I'm guessing back down to 1500-2000.
I've got a firm primer bulb, carbs are not leaking and no leaks from any fuel line connections. I was also careful to replace the carb linkage back as it was when I cleaned the carbs.
I have already ordered a new fuel filter as well as a fuel pump kit.
I've spent hours scouring the internet looking for solutions before asking here.
Although I am strongly leaning towards a fuel related issue, I have seen others with this issue as being electronically related. I've also seen vapor lock but have never had that problem in the past. I'm also considering a blocked fuel tank vent. But if the vent were blocked, would it run well for the 5 - 10 minutes that it did?
I have the manual referred to in the first link on this forum but am wondering if there is another manual available with additional information which I could purchase. I don't want to spend money on something that I already have. I'm just not sure that it's the same thing or not.
Sorry for the length of the post, but wanted to give you as much info as I could.
Thank you for your help