79 80hp won't start?

duff

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Dec 31, 2006
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I let my boat sit for 5 years while deployed not it won't start. I tried to trade it in but i was getting rapped. they did an inspection and said there was a weak spark on #1 cylinder. and said i had a bad switch box. replaced it added a new starter (last one did not work) the trigger,stator, and rectifier. i did continuity checks on the plug wires all good there added new spark plugs. removed and cleaned carbs. still no luck. what should my next step be? one other problem i just found is the top carb squirts gas out of the top adjustment screw looking thing. PLEASE HELP I FEEL I AM SO CLOSE!
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

it take 3 thing for an outboard to run, correct compression, spark, and fuel oil air mixture. check compression on all cylinders, should be with in 10% of each other. using a $10 spark tester from the auto parts store check all spark. did you leave gas in the carbs, for 5 years? if so they are varnished up, and need a total cleaning and rebuild. interesting reading:

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=36;gtid=1035554

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=36;gtid=1035575
 

Texasmark

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Dec 20, 2005
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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Tas sir, if I might add, "spark"......correctly timed.

I like to do a divide and conquer for no start problems. Fuel or spark. Right off the bat I'd take fuel as the (your) problem due to sitting idle for a long time, and as Tas said, varnish is the culprit....it cloggs up the passages in your carb and does things like locks your float valve SHUT so your carbs can't fill up with fresh fuel.

After initial attempted starting, pull a plug and see if it is wet or dry. If wet, either you have no/weak spark, or you are flooding the engine. If dry, take a can of Sea Foam spray, marketed as Deep Creep and spray into the air inlets of the carbs with the throttle (and choke...if applicable) open while you are cranking. If the engine hits; doesn't have to run, just hits, go after fuel. If it does nothing, go after spark. I said Deep Creep as it has oil added to it and is made especially for 2 cycle engines.

HTH

Mark
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

welcome back Mark, totally agree.
 

Silvertip

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

You can use regular SeaFoam if you can't find Deep Creep. They are the same product. Deep Creep is just the aerosol version. Both contain oil. A spray bottle will work to spritz the stuff into the carb. If fuel is squirting out of one carb, the float or needle and seat in that carb is stuck open. If the engine sat for five years with fuel in the carbs its time to rebuild them. And thanks for your service from an old Air Force vet.
 

duff

Petty Officer 2nd Class
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Dec 31, 2006
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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Thanks for all the advice.

as for compression i have 145,140,140,140 (using my compression guage. the dealer i tryed to trade it in to said it was 140,135,135,135. i do belive this is very good for a motor his old.
I will get a spark tester and test it when i have good weather ( live in washington.) if i have spark how should i know if it is the right time? there was about 1-2 gallons of oil/gas in the tank and it did not dry up what would the best way to clean it. i have already used a hand pump to get the gas out but just want to try and get it as clean as possable.

i will check the spark fisrt as it should be there. then deal with the gas.
thanks again.
 

Texasmark

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Thanks Tas.
-------------------
In the final removal of fuel, I have removed the sending unit from the tank and through that hole have used paper towel sheets on the end of a finger chaser to get down there and get the last out. Works fine for me.

I try to tilt the boat so that the fuel is puddled nearest the hole to help in removal. (trailer tongue jack)

A finger chaser is a set of spring fingers at the end of a flexible shaft/housing with a push button on the end....made out of the same type material that a throttle control is on a lawnmower or the speedometer cables on older automobiles where they were mechanically driven. Auto supply stores have them.

Mark
 

duff

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Thanks for the advice on mopping up the old gas/oil. i have put more gas in the tank to help disolve any muck and to keep it from becoming dry and crusty.

as for oil to gas mix? i know every one says 50:1

How do you mesure that 50 gallons of gas =1 gallon oil

1 gallon of gas = 16 oz of oil?

I am just unsure of the correct mix. i would like to have it right once i get this boat running so i do not cause anu other problems.

thanks again.
 

ricksrster

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

50:1 is correct. I just follow the instructions on the back of the oil bottle. It will give you the measurements for different gallons of gas. The oil i buy has ounces graduated on the bottle for easy measurement.
 

Cricket Too

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Simple formula:

Gallons of gas X 128 / 50 = ounces of oil to add

This is for 50:1, if you wanted 25:1, you'd divide by 25, but you'll only need 50:1.

I use the bottle that tashasdaddy posted too, very easy way to measure it.
 

duff

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

I might have just found my problem with out looking at my boat. I have way to much oil going by the formula provided.

let me check with all of you.

6 gallons of gas would be 15.36 oz of oil? correct?

useing my thought I used way to much oil by about well lets just say alot. I will just drain and clean my tank again.

and clean the carbs again (replace the old cork float?)

lets just say i had 96 oz of oil for the gas i put in and that would make the gas lost its effectiveness.

will try this out and see what happens.

now i feel dumb.
 

duff

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

ok thanks for the tips so far I have cleaned the tank, rebuilt the carbs and have spark on all 4 cyl. I was wondering if i spray starting fluid and it kicks over if that means it is timed? i will be getting gas tommarow if the weather is good.

thanks again

duff
 

Laddies

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Duff, 16 oz to 6 gal is right. Don't spray either in the carb, if you need to prim it use a squirt can and fuel mix, you may have to prime till it passes the rich mix that s already in the carb. As far as the timing and syncronizing of the engine if it hasn.t been tinkered with then it's fine, at lested it should start
 

duff

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

ok I have tryed to pump the bulb while starting all i am getting is bubbles coming out of the lower carb on the small tube. is this an adjustment issue or is it a bigger problem? i have bought 2 carb kits and replaced just about everythinging in the carbs. and followed the directions in my seloc manual. any one have any ideas that i can try. if not it is off to the shop to pay an arm and a leg for it.


thanks again.
duff
 

Laddies

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Duff, try removing the high speed plugs and drain some of the bad mix out of the carbs and see if that helps, besure to ck what comes out for water and dirt. You didn't say if you had tried squirting the thing with fuel mix or if you did what happened - Bob
 

duff

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

there is no bad mix in the carbs i have not but gas in to the carbs after i rebuilt them. i then cleaned the tanks out with a coat hanger and about 25 rags. then let it dry for 4 days. i then put the hoses back on and screwed the tank holders back on. hooked up the fuel line w/bulb. and pumped till semi hard. it will not get so hard i cant pump it any more. i could pump the bulb all day. i did not try the spray bottle with a mix of gas/oil i do not have a spray bottle i will get one after work and give it a try when the weather permits. duff
 

duff

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

also is there a certian way to adjust the carbs too get them set right to get the right mix?
 

tashasdaddy

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

are you using the old fuel line and bulb. the bulb should get hard, i use to put mine on the ledge of the splash well an use my body weight for the last mash. the check valve in the bulb could be bad or the float valve, may not be sealing, if the float valve is not sealing the carbs should be running over with gas. i has a 1350, that loved , loved to be pumped hard, or it would not start. bu t when it started what and engine.
 

Laddies

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Re: 79 80hp won't start?

Preset them at about 2 turns, they will have to be readjusted after the engine is running
 
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