1986 30hp Evinrude left me stranded

[Tinboater]

I picked up the motor about 2 months ago, good compression, ran on the muffs fine. set it up on the boat ran fine through the rpm cycle and idle was good. Ran around for about an hour with no problems.

Next day hit the water to fish with fresh gas and 50/1 mix. Pulled the plugs to check the night before for buildup and they were clean. Boat fires up and I let it idle for a good 10 minutes. We head out and run 3/4 throttle for 4 or 5 miles down the river, motor starts to bog a little but regains rpm. I check fuel pressure via bubble and its hard as a rock while underway. Hit the first spot to fish and as we come off plane the motor dies. Restart is like a hard cold start.... I check the gas, change tanks just to make sure and attempt to start. NO GO. so I jump out and pull the plugs and they are clean. I spray starter fluid and no go. Tried pull start. dry out and choke and any and everything we can do on the water with no luck. At this point we throw the anchor and make the phone call. 3 hours later and a few beers my buddy shows up and we tow in.

Any suggestions the motor still won't start on the muffs....

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: 1986 30hp Evinrude left me stranded

Check your spark with a spark tester. Bet you don't have any.
If no spark, then disconnect the kill wire at the engine and try to start it.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1986 30hp Evinrude left me stranded

You never mentioned how the water pump indicator was working.......
I think spark is a good place to start as well..
Good luck,
JBJ

 

[Tinboater]

Re: 1986 30hp Evinrude left me stranded

water pump is fine and squarts water

 

[Tinboater]

Re: 1986 30hp Evinrude left me stranded

we also have spark to both plugs...I'm lost?

 

[jbjennings]

Re: 1986 30hp Evinrude left me stranded

Have you checked compression after the motor started fouling up? what was it?
Did you check the spark to see how wide of a gap it would jump? If not at least a 1/4 inch gap with a hot blue spark, the spark may not be good enough. But.....

The primer bulb should not be rock hard when running down the lake. Not sure what's going on there.

Try mixing up a little fuel and oil mix in a spray bottle and spray a couple of squirts into the carb throat and see if it will fire. If it will run momentarily, your float needle may be stuck closed.

If you have good spark, decent compression, and fuel, it has to start.
At least one of the three is missing.

BTW, when you used the starter fluid, did you spray it in the carb throat? If you did and it wouldn't start, the only thing I can think of is a bad reed valve (which is about the last thing I would suspect) if spark is good. If you sprayed starter fluid directly into the cylinder via the spark plug hole, then it's not the reeds.
Good luck,
JBJ