35 hp evinrude sunk, any ideas?

[king salami]

About a year ago I had a boat sink with my early eighties 35 hp evinrude on it. I retrieved the motor and emptied the water out. drained the carb and fuel assembly then took the spark plugs out and turned it over to clear the heads out. I then filled the cylinders with mystery oil to lube. I put everything back together and successfully ran the motor for half hour or more. About a month later I tried to start and it was turning over really good but wouldn't run. I haven't had time so it's been sitting in storage for a year. I'm eager to get back on water this year so I wanted see if the motor is repairable. Any ideas on where to start? Thanks for any advice.

 

[kbait]

Compression test..just turn the flywheel clockwise by hand..should have 2 compression pulses per rev.
Then spark test. minimum 1/4" snappy spark from each lead w/open air tester.
If still no-start, squirt a little premix in carb throat and try again. If it runs briefly, you have a fuel delivery issue, or water in gas tank.
Good luck!

 

[fhhuber]

I'll expect either an electrical fault or a carb/fuel issue. More likely electrical.

That electrical stuff doesn't like being dunked... Start out just trying normal tune-up parts.

 

[gm280]

I would try to see if there was a good spark first. And if so, then do the compression test. And if either are bad, that is you place to start. Of course check the entire fuel delivery system, but you need to fine out what is missing first, spark, fuel, air or compression? JMHO!

 

[tommarvin]

I would remove the carb(s) and clean all the small tubes and openings. Spray cleaner in all the tubes and openings. Maybe get a rebuild kit.

Get a lisle 50850 adjustable spark tester,will spark jump 3/8? If not start testing each ignition part,start with the wires and work your way through.

Make sure you have clean fuel, that is getting pumped to the carb(s).Then give all the wires a tug and a pull,this is not going to be easy..

 

[king salami]

Wow, thank you every 1 for all the rapid responses. I was looking for a little background info of what to try first and all this stuff looks really good. I will definitely try all of the above for mentioned. I'll let you know if any of this works or the status of each test but it probably wont be for about a week or so. I really wasn't expecting so many responses so soon. Thanks again for the advice.

 

[Chrisravosa36]

like everybody said, check the spark, but if it was my motor I would change out the plugs and all the fuel lines/clean the carb, was the water were it sunk silky/sandy? If so it could have gotten into the carbs/in the motor, could have clogged a jet or something. Start with compression, then check the spark. Is it harder to turn over than usual?

 

[Chinewalker]

I've sunk a few motors over the years, and dried out motors for others, too. The BEST way to dry them out is to get them running ASAP, then run the tar out of them. They have to build up heat in order to get the water out of everything. Getting the water out of the powerhead is the easy part as that's where the heat builds up fastest, as well as fresh fuel & oil flushing stuff out. It's the electricals that need the radiant heat to do its thing. You ran yours for a half hour - if it was in a barrel, that may not have been enough. If it was underway, under load, on a boat, that should have done the trick. It's also possible your issue is completely unrelated to the dunking and might be something else entirely. As noted above, check spark and compression first...

 

[F_R]

When I started reading the original post I thought "here we go, a junker". Then I saw where you ran it for a half hour or more. That should have saved the powerhead and flushed the water out of the carburetor. Then you went on to say you poured Mystery Oil in the cylinders. It is very possible that you merely have oil-fouled spark plugs. As everybody has said, check the spark, and if it is good, try either a clean set of plugs or new ones. Carb problem is a possibility, but least likely. I'd go there last. If your boat has a built-in tank or a vented portable, you could have water in the tank.