Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

[Shreve884]

I'm a newbie at this, so I'll try to explain this as best I can:<br /><br />Took the boat out last night (1978 Evinrude 115). Ran it for about 30-45 minutes. It ran great until we got to our destination. <br /><br />We fished for about 25 minutes and didn't get a bite - tried to start engine. It would crank just fine, but it never even attempted to fire. <br /><br />I checked the bulb and it was still full from the trip across the lake. I tried different trim settings, including cranking the engine comepletely out of the water (I know that's bad, but I was getting desperate). As information ... we were fishing in a deep location and I had not trimmed the engine up when we stopped.<br /><br />We trolled for about 10-15 minutes and I tried it again. Still no luck. Not even an attempt to fire, but still no trouble with getting the choke to work or the engine to crank. <br /><br />Finally, I decided to try my spare tank. When I disconnected the fuel line to hook up the other tank I noticed a little fuel leaking out of the engin side of the fitting. Thinking the engine might be flooded I tried to crank it a few times with the fule line disconnected (I have no idea if that's the right thing to do but I had nothing to lose at this point). After I did that, I hooked up the same fuel line I was using, and it fired up! It wasn't a smoot fire ... it took it a few seconds to 'catch', but you could here that it was trying to start instead of just cranking like it was comletely out of gas.<br /><br />I'm assuming that the engine was flooded, but how could it be flooded after I had been fishing for over 30 minutes? When I pull in somewhere to fish is there something I can do to prevent this from happening? Should I be trimming the engine up or disconnecting the fule line?<br /><br />Any help appreciated. I want to take this boat way out on the lake, but I can't do it until I can trust it to start (and myself to know how to properly operate the darn thing)!<br /><br />THanks in advance!

 

[Goodoleboy]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

While your boat is on the trailer. Try pumping up the primer bulb and see if it gets real firm. If it remains squishy its a good bet that you have one or more bad needle and seats in the carbs.<br /><br />That will cause flooding while the engine is off while you were fishing. the pressure in the bulb and fuel lines slowly fills the carbs, carbs leak and when you go to start up shes big time flooded.<br /><br />Sounds like carb rebuild time. You could have other problems,such as weak spark that works when just the exact correct amount of fuel is geting to the cylinders then its strong enough to fire up. But if its the least bit flooded then she doesent have the strength to fire off.<br /><br />Spark should jump a 7/16 gap.<br /><br />more power to ya!

 

[Shreve884]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

The bulb does get firm when it's pumped. If I continue to try and pump the bulb gas will shoot out at the fitting where the fuel line connects to the engine (it's on the engine side - I need to replace that hose and clamp). <br /><br />The spark plugs are brand new, but I will definitely check the gap.<br /><br />Thanks!

 

[Goodoleboy]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

Dont try to set the spark plug gap at anything other than what your manual calls for. Plugs should also be what your manual calls for.<br /><br />Gota have a spark tester. you can get one for ten bucks from auto supply store.<br /><br />If you cant get a spark tester today. You can be brave and use a pair of insulated plyers and hold the plug wire/s 7/16 or so from head bolt.<br /><br />Have someone to turn the key for ya.<br /><br />PS/ if theirs the tineyest little hole in the plastic on your plyers...your gona jump bout ah foot off the ground...and say some really bad words...on your way down.<br /><br />And with spark tester the plug wire goes to tester. It should jump a 7/16 gap. real safe to, no nasty shocks.<br /><br />More power to ya!

 

[andys15]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

Originally posted by Shreve884:<br /> I'm a newbie at this, so I'll try to explain this as best I can:<br /><br />Took the boat out last night (1978 Evinrude 115). Ran it for about 30-45 minutes. It ran great until we got to our destination. <br /><br />We fished for about 25 minutes and didn't get a bite - tried to start engine. It would crank just fine, but it never even attempted to fire. <br /><br />I checked the bulb and it was still full from the trip across the lake. I tried different trim settings, including cranking the engine comepletely out of the water (I know that's bad, but I was getting desperate). As information ... we were fishing in a deep location and I had not trimmed the engine up when we stopped.<br /><br />We trolled for about 10-15 minutes and I tried it again. Still no luck. Not even an attempt to fire, but still no trouble with getting the choke to work or the engine to crank. <br /><br />Finally, I decided to try my spare tank. When I disconnected the fuel line to hook up the other tank I noticed a little fuel leaking out of the engin side of the fitting. Thinking the engine might be flooded I tried to crank it a few times with the fule line disconnected (I have no idea if that's the right thing to do but I had nothing to lose at this point). After I did that, I hooked up the same fuel line I was using, and it fired up! It wasn't a smoot fire ... it took it a few seconds to 'catch', but you could here that it was trying to start instead of just cranking like it was comletely out of gas.<br /><br />I'm assuming that the engine was flooded, but how could it be flooded after I had been fishing for over 30 minutes? When I pull in somewhere to fish is there something I can do to prevent this from happening? Should I be trimming the engine up or disconnecting the fule line?<br /><br />Any help appreciated. I want to take this boat way out on the lake, but I can't do it until I can trust it to start (and myself to know how to properly operate the darn thing)!<br /><br />THanks in advance!

Could be vaporlock or just some sort of flooding. I had a '77 140 rude that used to do that. Several times I had to take the top off and let ir out out, couple taimes had to pull the face off the air filter, then it would start.

 

[umblecumbuz]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

Quote from Lee:If it remains squishy its a good bet that you have one or more bad needle and seats in the carbs.<br /><br />That will cause flooding while the engine is off while you were fishing. the pressure in the bulb and fuel lines slowly fills the carbs

This could be true, but only if the tank is higher than the motor. Fuel is not pushed up to the motor by either the bulb or the fuel lines under normal running conditions. It is drawn up by the fuel pump on the motor itself. The bulb and lines are under negative pressure. Fuel will tend to run back into the tank when you stop your motor, not up into the carbs.<br /><br />Your bulb gets firm, which rules out carburettor needle problems. You have a leak in the fuel line. When the motor stops, this leak could pull in air and cause the condition you describe.<br /><br />A quick way to test this is to prime and start the motor, then wipe grease generously round the area of the leak. Stop the motor and try to restart as you did before. The grease will cure the leak on a temporary basis, and you will find out whether the motor is still hard to start. If it starts easily, you've found the cause of your problem.

 

[Shreve884]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

"Your bulb gets firm, which rules out carburettor needle problems. You have a leak in the fuel line. When the motor stops, this leak could pull in air and cause the condition you describe."<br /><br />I do have a bad connection just on the engine side of where the fuel line hooks into the engine. The hose clamp there is bad, and maybe the hose too. I've been putting off fixing that because I have very large hands and that spot is awful tight. I'll definitely make sure it's done before I go out again next weekend.

 

[Dhadley]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

Any air leak is a problem. The pump will suck air much easier than fuel. <br /><br />What spark plugs are you using?

 

[Solittle]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

While you are messing with the fuel line replace the O rings in the connectors. They are a major source of air leaks.

 

[krb113]

Re: Almost got stranded ... any ideas?

Dhadley has just verified my plastic fuel tank problem. Won't idle, won't start 'til I choke the daylights out of it, but runs if you catch forward and give it gas. New tank too! Not any more. Dumpster item!