1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

[Westside_JAX]

My engine runs fine on muffs and will idle and shift gears. But stalls out when I put in gear in river. I noticed some oil coming from where propeller goes into foot. This is the first boat I've owned and I am lost. It kept stalling out the first time I put it water but I over came this finally by continuing to pump primer. I thought it was a fuel delivery problem and replaced a leaking connector and put new clamps on hose. Still stalls in gear and couldn't get it going this time around. Any ideas?

Thanks,

 

[boobie]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Check your compression and then your spark first. Spark should jump a 7/16 " open air gap.

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

You may also need to richen your slow speed needle on the carb. Try like an 1/8 of a turn (counter clockwise) at a time until it stops stalling. Best of luck. Rick.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Rick,

I took my carb apart to clean and check for trash. When I took off my air box I found that the top of my carburetor, which is plastic was cracked. Could the fix to my problem be as easy as replacing this part and adjusting this slow idle screw?

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

It certainly could fix your problem but nothing is certain. You're going to have to replace the cracked carb. part no matter what so go ahead with that. As far as it not starting you are going to need to check for spark like boobie said. Once you have confirmed good spark you can move forward to the slow speed needle adjustment. I always like to check compression so I know what it is. If it were very bad I would probably junk the idea of spending money on the motor like the carb. part or anything else for that matter.. The oil at your prop is likely nothing to worry about. Oil left from combustion runs down the lower unit and shows up there, very common. Rick.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Check your compression before you go any further so you know you have something to work with.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Not sure if i got this across in my first post, but the first time i took the boat out it was easy to start just kept stalling in gear. Once i got it going it ran really good at higher speeds, but the slower i went the engine sounded like it wanted to die and i pumped the bulb more. I purchased a compression tester on ebay and am awaiting its delivery, i also purchased an ignition tester to test the spark. I will advise what i come up with. Thanks for your help again.

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Hope we aren't giving the impression your motors shot. I believe it's probably a great motor and you will get it running fine. Compression is just a good base line indicator of your motor. Kind of like having your blood pressure checked. Let us know what you find out. Rick.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Will do Rick, thanks again. My father-in-law is trying to get me to use his mechanic, but i'm the kind of person to give the ole' Alabama try before calling someone.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

I checked my spark on both cylinders yesterday. I got nothing with the start button, but my battery is dead so.... I pulled the rope and got a spark on both cylinders at 7/16". The spark was not blue and the spark plugs are brand new and gapped at .30. Is this acceptable?

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Probably your OK. What color was the spark? Whiteish/blue is best IMO,and snappy. Were you holding the plug close to the block or using a spark gap tester? Rick.

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Again, don't forget to try Rick's suggestion of enriching your mixture a little to see if that fixes it. You may be running too lean. The lean mixture can be enough for idle but forward and/or reverse might need a little more gas in that air.

As well a cracked carb can let in air causing your gas/air ratio to decrease as well (that lean issue again) so that has to be fixed right away. Probably the order I would go is to fix the carb. Then set my carb adjustment as per joe reeves method here:

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167352

and then if it is still stalling when put into gear, add a little more enrichment (counter-clockwise turns) but if it still stalls after another full turn out from where it worked well at idle, then I would say, turn it back and look elsewhere for the reason for the problem.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

I was using a gap tester Rick, the color looked white to me although I was doing the cranking so kinda hard to tell. I've ordered a new plastic carb cover as well as a retainer that was missing. The slow speed needle sits in there loose without it. I think the vibrations of the motor without it may have jarred it loose. I'll update on compression and how it runs when I get the parts and test it with idle adjusted.

Thanks again guys,

 

[OptsyEagle]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

I've ordered a new plastic carb cover as well as a retainer that was missing. The slow speed needle sits in there loose without it. I think the vibrations of the motor without it may have jarred it loose.

I really think this is your problem. That retainer not only holds the needle in place but it also seals that jet. Without it more air will be added to your fuel and as I said above it creates a lean condition. Your symptoms of the motor idling OK but dieing in gear is quite often caused by too lean of fuel to air ratio. This is not to say that it is better to run rich. That creates a whole new set of problems. You want the fuel to air ratio just right. Good luck. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

I was using a gap tester Rick, the color looked white to me although I was doing the cranking so kinda hard to tell. I've ordered a new plastic carb cover as well as a retainer that was missing. The slow speed needle sits in there loose without it. I think the vibrations of the motor without it may have jarred it loose. I'll update on compression and how it runs when I get the parts and test it with idle adjusted.

Thanks again guys,

Well I might have missed the loose needle in previous posts but yes that can bugger your settings. I think your on the road to recovery with the items you ordered. If that doesn't work I will suggest recleaning your carb. Rick.

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Can you guys take a look at this picture i took of my butterflies? It seems as though someone tried to fix the choke lever by attaching a zip tie to it. If you notice that the butterflies are open and the lever is straight up. Shouldn't the butterfly be completely closed at this point?

Thanks,

 

[AlTn]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

can you get the choke plate to fully close and fully open with the choke lever?..if so, that zip tie will work as is...if not, try the diagrams at marineengine.com to see what's missing..btw, that choke lever has a long slot and a short slot depending on which side is up, I can't remember which < I think the long slot down > is right and will allow the choke arm movement to fully open and fully close the choke plate..it might be vice versa too, anyway, one's right and one's wrong

 

[Westside_JAX]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

I've been installing the choke on the lever the same way i got it off, not sure if long slot was up or down. Whichever way it is though, when the choke is pulled all the way out this is the most that it opens. I can manually pull that lever in the picture though to get it to close fully. When i get home im going to try flipping the choke over to the other slot to see what happens when i push and pull it.

Thanks,

 

[Rick.]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

Long slot down is correct. No idea what the zip tie is for. It isn't OEM, LOL. Rick.

 

[AlTn]

Re: 1989 15 hp Evinrude stalls in gear under load

fwiw...while the carb and starter are out of the way...make sure that trunnion "ball" on the throttle cable is held securely as if it's loose it can affect the amount of movement the cable makes when you adjust the slow speed knob on the end of the throttle handle