'95 Evinrude - No power at top end

[tboydva]

I'm really looking for another troubleshooting "tip" on this one. I've been "cleaning up" a '95 Evinrude which I got in the deal with a trailer (was essentially free). I decided to clean it up a bit - although it didn't need it (start of thread here). Anyway, I got it all back together and did a final paint job:

and install:

I ran it on the hose and it started right up and purred (very smooth with 3 cylinder vs my '83 which is a 2). So, anyway, I took it out for a run and after getting out the channel and hitting the gas, it just sputtered to life... I couldn't do much more than about 5 knots.

I've been searching through threads since the weekend and my conditions seemed most similar to this thread. So, I removed the carbs again (I had rebuilt them). I re-adjusted the floats. I should admit that I don't have the special OMC tool (on my '83 - I always made sure the float was perpendicular to the body). Anyway, I adjusted all floats to 1 and 1/2" drop as specified in the service manual. Put the whole thing back together and took it out for a run today. Same problem. I pumped the fuel line bulb and didn't get any increase in RPM. I'm convinced it must be a "high speed" jet or float issue as it absolutely purrs at idle and it's getting spark. I stared through the powerpack testing in the manual - and so far all the resistances are fine. It just runs too smooth to be a spark issue (it seems). I made a tool for pulling the high-speed jets and did so and cleaned with compressed air...

I'm worried maybe I botched one of the carb rebuilds (although I did them sequentially). I've cleaned my older motor's carbs numerous times over the years...

Any ideas of other things to try are greatly welcomed (and appreciated)!

 

[mikesea]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

make sure the throttle arm is connected to the timer base under the fly wheel and the timer is rotating with the throttle.there are plastic parts that connect the 2 that often break with age.its a plastic ball and socket type thing

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Get a spark tester from the auto parts store, set the gap to 7/16th inch and see if it jumps with a blue spark, not yellow. All plugs out for test.

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Sadly I'm on travel this week and away from my baby (my motor too, OK)...

I will give these a try. I knew I should have just left my '83 on the stern - it's been such a great motor (but doesn't have the power T&T which is so nice in the foul-laden waters I navigate! More to follow - the family is visiting inlaws all weekend.

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Whike you;'re away order the service manual.
www.outboardbooks.com

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

I got one! I did the powerhead disassembly and install, carb rebuild and water pump replacement using the step-by-step instructions.

The section on testing resistances is great and I just started working my way through.

I did NOT, however, read over the troubleshooting section in the manual. Why I don't know! I'm so used to looking on this forum....

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

So - I used a spark tester - perfect blue spark. I also tried to observe the region under the flywheel - everything looks OK (but I'm not sure exactly what I'm looking for). It's got me confused for sure. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

I'm sure everyone wants the thread to die (me more than anyone, I assure you)! I just took apart the carbs for the third time. I blew them out - removed the high-speed jets and cleaned them. I re-adjusted the floats yet again (which they didn't really need). I then took the boat down to the launch, put it in the water, idled out to the channel and hit it hard. She popped right up on a plane! I ran for about 3-4 minutes while my daughter was screaming something at me. So, I throttled back, got the info ("your going too fast!" was the gist of it). Then - same problem. No top end. I tried goosing the "choke" which immediately gave it some gas. So, as long as I pushed the key in occasionally, I could keep it on a plane running pretty well. So, before I yank the carbs off yet again, what in the world should I be looking for? I've removed and inspected the high-speed jets and there's no obstructions. I've looked and double-looked at the diagrams in my manual for the carbs. The only thing I've noticed (and I'm not really sure I can describe it) is that when I move the floats up I hear something like a clicking noise (like they're "sealed" and pop open) in two of the three carbs. The third (bottom one) doesn't seem to make a "click" when I drop the float. This is pretty subjective and I replaced the needle and seat when I rebuilt the carbs (got a kit). Could this somehow be part of the problem? Then needle looks fine and pointy with no crowning (it's new from the carb kit)... HELP!

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Sounds like the float needles are getting stuck, might not be aligned correctly. You should be able to lift them and let them drop under their own weight, if they stick don't install them til fixed. Its a fiddly job.

Running it as-is can burn a cyl wall up fast.

 

[dmather16]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

I have had that problem when running WOT and it was a cracked fuel pickup line. I had no problems when the gas was higher than the crack, but once it got below the crack it started sucking air and I could not get to WOT. I have also had that problem when the fuel pickup line (inside the tank) was not getting a good seal at the top, where it connects to the piece that screws into the tank and connects to the fuel line (sorry I don't know the technical term).

Anyway Once I replaced that pickup hose and put a plastic clamp on the hose I haven't had a problem since.

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Gents,

Thanks for the help! dmather - I was worried about this issue - 'cause I do have an '83 vintage fuel tank. I switched the line to another new tank and had the same issue. Plus, my older motor (which I'm kicking myself for removing) ran like a champ on my current tanks. I sort of thinking today that it could perhaps be the fuel line from the pump to the carb... The carbs are filling ('cause I've drained them each before rebuilding) but maybe an occlusion keeps enough fuel from flowing? I'm going to replace the whole series of lines between the pump and carbs (and maybe between the fuel inlet and pump)...

jonesg. I'm not sure exactly how I can adjust the float needles? Is there a good source for showing one how to do this? I don't know how many times over the years I've rebuilt outboard carbs, but I've never done anything other than clip the needles on and drop them into the seal... I think I've been extremely lucky, 'cause I've never had any carb issues in the past... I'm not trying to refute your advise in any way, I just have always done this about as sloppy as one can imagine (and evidently gotten away with it!). Any tips would be greatly appreciated.

I'd love to only yank the carbs off one more time this season if at all possible! But I think they've got to be the issue, so off they come again...

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

The float will speak for itself, if you hold the float up and it doesn't drop when you let go of it then theres a problem of binding.

The other engine ran well on your tank installation but you have a bigger engine now, it needs fuel faster.
You switched the line to a different tank but still used the same old line.
It can swell internally and choke fuel flow down, just another thing to be aware of.

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

I inverted each of the carbs to set the float level and they "swing" fine (although as I mentioned earlier, two of the three make sort of a clicking noise when popping open - which sounds like a tight seal breaking. The other does not, so I'm thinking maybe new float needle and seat...). I just replaced my fuel lines (from tank to engine) this winter as my older ones were getting brittle so I'm thinking they are fine. I also pumped the bulb while my buddy was holding the boat at full throttle to no effect. It was firm, so I think (I think) the motor is getting fuel up to the fuel pump OK.

Given your posting status, jonesg, I guess you'd have insight on this. Do you think a 3 cylinder 60 HP motor runs significantly more fuel than a 2 cylinder 60 HP? From what I've taken home reading through these forums (other than information overload) is the 3 cylinder series were some of the most fuel efficient carbed motors OMC made. I'd like to hear your take and if you have links to other threads, it'd be an interesting read. I know my 2 cylinder 60HP can run my boat for about two full days of fishing (interspersed trolling motor use) on about 6 gal of gas. Unless I want to measure consumption at under 2000 rpm, I sure can't do it with the 3 cylinder yet .

Because it ran full-out for the first 10 minutes of my last trip, I'm thinking it's something intermittent. Perhaps there's a piece of something in the carb somewhere that I missed trying to blow it out with compressed air and carb cleaner. I'm sure it's under one of the press-caps, so I guess I'm going to have to order up another round of carb kits and disassemble the whole lot. Perhaps replacing the float needles again might help. The absence of a "click" might indicate a poor seal. I've tried to inspect the needle (with my poor eyesight) and it looks OK, but perhaps I'm missing something.

Thanks for the help so far guys!!!

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

I had a 60 hp many yrs ago but never paid any attention to it, it ran and thats as much as I wanted to know at the time. But most engines with more carbs will drink more fuel.

If a float binds coming down it will bind going up and not quite seal, that could drive up the fuel consumption, 2 strokes can blast some fuel through the engine and run fine, the oil is designed to cool the engine as it passes through anyway.

Try lifting the float very gently , see if theres any resistance at some point.

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Your first comment makes me chuckle. I have had so much trouble-free service out of my '83 Johnson. Every two-three years, it would have hot-start issues. I rebuilt carbs and it's good to go. Rebuilt the water pump every few years. Other than that, it's been a top. Compression has dropped 1 PSI (from 150 to 149) since 2005 - with both cylinders dead on. So, why even mess with it? Seems trivial, but coming to my fishing spot, dropping in the trolling motor on the bow, then running to the stern and manually putting up the motor - it's just too much work! Plus dinging my prop on the numerous fouls in the Potomac River just put power T&T on my long-term radar. The '83 is sitting on an outboard stand in my garage right now. If inanimate objects can express human emotions, it's just got to be laughing at me every time I pull the carbs off the "new" motor to work 'em over....

I'm going to see if I can order new carb needles and seals and the press-in caps that I hate so much and give the carbs one more going over. I'm pretty sure there's something in there blocking the fuel (either the needles or a chunk of something I just haven't found yet). Thanks for the help and insight. I'm interested in comparing the consumption. I will say that the 3-cylinder motor idles much more smoothly and with less vibration than the 2-cylinder one (for what it's worth). The 10 minutes of running on a plane was very nice too and I was able to trim it just right for the lower bow weight of just myself and two small/light kids...

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Smooth is a johnson V6 but...its got 6 freakin CARBS!

Have you tried some seafoam in it yet?

Carb rebuild video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o5cx...07A9BA566&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=2

 

[countvlad]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

did anybody mention the fuel pump??? have you tried to pump the primer bulb while running?

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

Yes - tried pumping the bulb while my buddy throttled her up! No go. I think there must be a piece of gasket or something that's clogging something. I guess I got it partially out when she planed up last trip out. But it got back in the mix, I guess. Carb parts on the way for one (I hope) more rebuild!

 

[tboydva]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

So, got the carbs apart (yet again!). I've been cleaning and inspecting and I can't for the life of me find any clogs, holes, pieces of gasket, etc.

So you don't think I'm making the stuff up, here are some pictures of the carbs after cleaning. I can tell you my other outboards have never had cleaner ones go back on!!! I also took off the fuel delivery manifold and cleaned it out. I've inspected all the little holes, orifices, etc with a flashlight and everything looks good to go. I have cleaned the float needles again and made sure there are no obstructions.

Anyone see anything that looks wrong? I just can't believe these babies are so "sensitive." I'm really stumped.

 

[jonesg]

Re: '95 Evinrude - No power at top end

You need to properly describe the problem, refering to another thread, where the guy doesn't give a very good description of HIS problem either isnt usefull.

Also this is a new to you right? that means its never run good for you yet.

It could be anything, maybe the PO installed different ( wrong) carbs.
Time to start comparing part numbers of suspect components, starting with carbs and jet sizes, very possible the jets are swapped around wrongways.

Did you perform a proper spark test ( not with sparkplgs).