1989 6hp Evinrude fuel problems...

SiLiconD17

Seaman Apprentice
Joined
Jun 21, 2007
Messages
44
Hello all, I just recently purchased a 1989 model 6hp Evinrude with the manual start/tiller steer with the regular short shaft. It looks brand spanking new inside and out and it's probably only been used a few times; it still even has the factory grease in places, and you can tell there isn't a nut or bolt that's been touched inside of it.

The only problem is that it's probably been sitting a good 5 years and hasn't been run. When I tried to crank it when I first got it, I tried forever doing the normal things like changing spark plugs, etc, and we had it running for about a minute pretty good (albeit it was smoking a LOT from that old gas/oil) and then it just cut off and wouldn't crank again. We tried spraying some gas/oil directly into the chamber where the spark plugs are and it will run for a few seconds and die, so we know it is a carburetor issue.

Today I took the carburetor off, bought a rebuild kit from my local OMC dealer, and cleaned it thoroughly with carburetor cleaner. It wasn't too gummed up and overall it was pretty clean, but we did clean a lot of junk out of it and replaced all the gaskets, etc with parts from the rebuild kit. We tried to crank it after putting everything back together again, and it still wouldn't do anything; we tried spraying gas/oil in the cylinders again and it would run for a few seconds just like before. We took the filter apart and it was clean. We are definitely getting fuel to at least the filter and into the motor, but for some reason it just doesn't seem to be getting fuel to the carburetor. After pumping and pulling for a while, you can drain some fuel out of the carburetor, so it seems to be getting there, but it just won't fire.

Does anyone know where else it could be gummed up or where another line could be clogged? It doesn't seem to be a spark issue because like I said when you spray fuel into the cylinders it will crank. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated! Thanks!
 

rickdb1boat

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Jan 23, 2002
Messages
11,195
Re: 1989 6hp Evinrude fuel problems...

Did you let the carb sit overnight in cleaner, then spray the passages with gumout and then compressed air? They can be tough to clean after sitting for extended periods, especially 5 years. It doesn't take but a speck to foul things up. I'd try it again and if you have fuel to the carb, it is most likely still clogged...
 

gejandsons

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Sep 11, 2003
Messages
134
Re: 1989 6hp Evinrude fuel problems...

One speck in the wrong place is as bad as a teaspoon full in the bowl. Did you remove the jets & seats before soaking it?
 

Joey One

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 8, 2005
Messages
124
Re: 1989 6hp Evinrude fuel problems...

Did you adjust the hi and lo speed needles?
Remove spark plugs and ground plug wires. Use a cordless drill and suitable adapters to the flywheel; and spin the motor to see if fuel vapor is coming out the spark plug holes. If it is, spin the motor to start it. If it isn't, you've got a fuel problem.
It's always a good idea to install a water pump kit on a new/used motor.
 
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