1995 Evinrude Ocean Pro 200 Carbed 2 stroke Flooding out at speed

[Alrobot]

Hi:
This boat is new to me. 1995 Wellcraft 218CCF with a 200 Evinrude Ocean Pro Outboard. I don't know how long it sat before I bought it. We have been stranded at the local lake twice now. I will not put it into the Pacific ocean until we solve this issue.
While running on plane at 5500 RPM, after a minute or so, engine Bogs and dies. If I go Nuetral, full throttle, it will clear out, like it flooded, and run at a reduced RPM for a little bit. Almost made it back to the dock under reduced power the second time. In the water, I am able to check the primer bulb, HARD, and choke circuit. When I press the key, I get fuel squirting from the carbs, manually activated choke does same. There is an electric lift pump that pulls thru a water seperator filter, and supplies main and kicker engine.
I have been told the Reed Valves are sticking open when they get hot, and it is causing backpressure in the carbs. I am new to big 2 strokers, this is not something I understand, can anyone elaborate on this and how I can test it?
I have also been told my oil injection pump is weak, and my engine is seizing from no oil being injected, also can anyone elaborate on how to test this.
I will be pulling the fuel bowl screws Saturday to see if all carbs have fuel.
Thanks in advance for any help.
Alan...

 

[dingbat]

First thing first... compression test

Need to test fuel pump pressure per the manual. All bets are off if your fuel and oil pump is suspect in the least.

If it sat for any length of time you should probably remove and clean the throttle bodies.

Check needle valve and floats for proper height and operation. Wouldn't hurt to rebuild the carbs while you at it.

If your motor was "seizing" from lack of lubrication it would be pretty obvious...... ;(

 

[racerone]

Reeds sticking open when hot is just plain nonsense !---Ignore / social distance yourself from the source of that information -There is a test procedure for VRO oil output.----Your dealer can do this simple test.----You did change the gear oil and you did install a new impeller I hope.-----Perhaps a compression test is in order.----Post your numbers.

 

[Alrobot]

Great info guys. Thank you. I will be out there tomorrow working on it. I’ll post my results of checking compression, fuel bowl/floats. And I did not change impeller and/or lower unit oil. Was told it was recently serviced. I may have been dumb enough to believe. I have a water pressure gauge, what would you say is normal idle/wot pressure? Could it be shutting down for overheating?

 

[Alrobot]

What I mean is the Boat has a Water PSI gauge on the dash.

 

[Chris1956]

Is that motor supposed to have an electric lift pump? Most outboards with carbs have a mechanical pulse pump. Actually on that motor you have a OMS pump that draws gasoline from the fuel tank, mixes the gasoline with 2 cycle oil and pumps it to the carbs.

An electric pump could overwhelm the inlet needle valves in the carbs and flood them.

I also doubt it is your reed valves or insufficient oil injection. I agree that you need to keep away from the person who suggested that.

 

[dingbat]

I have a water pressure gauge, what would you say is normal idle/wot pressure? Could it be shutting down for overheating?

With a fresh pump I’m pushing 30 psi.
I change water pump when I drop below 4 at idle

Don’t know why you would need a lift pump unless used as a “fix” for something else. I run a stock oil/fuel (OMS) pump with no problems

 

[Alrobot]

Great info, thank you, I will be sourcing a water pump, just to make sure, cheap insurance. It shows 5-10 psi. idle, 30ish wot. after breakfast, were gonna pull plugs, do a compression test and check the bowls. Going to unplug lift pump, I was wondering why it was there too. It was hooked to a GPM meter, that didn't work... It was replaced with a Holley Mighty Might carb pump from Autozone. I don't believe I would use or pay attention to GPM meter anyways. Who do you source your water pumps from?
Alan

 

[racerone]

Factory impeller is the best deal.

 

[Alrobot]

Well...FORK...
Results of the Compression test are as follows.
1. 25psi
2. 85psi
3. 0psi, thats right ZERO.
4. 65psi
5. 30psi
6. 75psi
Gonna pull the head with zero and start with the head gasket checking...
Thanks again.
I will need to decide if this one gets rebuilt or removed at this point.

Alan...

 

[racerone]

I think it is fairly common to find boats for sale because there is an ISSUE.------Some of the pitches are.-----Just needs a tune up.-----Carburetors need cleaning.----It's winterized right now so can not test run. ----And the list goes on.----A rebuilt powerhead may be a good option.

 

[Alrobot]

Aargh... Pulled the heads. Ran cylinder hone in each cylinder. the two lowest gained nothing from this. May have actually lost a bit on the high(85). Of course, it was in the driveway, and I reused the current head gasket to test. So, it looks like a full rebuild, a power head replacement, or a Re Power, and put a 4 stroke on there.
We also drained the fuel bowls, each one had gas and oil in it, so I believe the VRO pump is working properly.
Of my options, I'm leaning away from rebuilding it myself, not that I don't believe I can do it, just not sure I want to have my first Marine rebuild to be the one I expect to run to Catalina in. A rebuilt power head form Crawford Marine in FL, is $4K, and I would still be a carbed 2 stroke that is 25+ years old. Of Course, 4 strokes are not cheap...
I want to make sure I thank everyone who replied and helped with the initial troubleshooting, I will make sure I post what we decide. Did I mention this is a partnered boat...

Alan...

 

[racerone]

You tried to hone cylinders without taking motor apart ?--You re-used a head gasket ?-----First I have heard of anyone trying that.-----The motor needs to come apart for a proper rebuild.

 

[Faztbullet]

Replace it with a ZUKI 4 stroke......

 

[Alrobot]

Ya, I wasn't so much trying to rebuild it without taking it apart. The honing of the cylinder walls was to see if any compression was re-gained. I'm sure it needs a full rebuild. Looking at $1200-$1500 in parts, a month or so in work, another $??? in more parts and experience. And still be using a 25+ year old carbed 2 stroke. I hope I am not getting too old for this(Rebuilding), but I found a 275 Verado for $7k turn key, I have the means, and a partner, so I think we are headed that way for the boat. I actually have a guy coming Saturday to look at the 200 to rebuild for his boat.