Bad Fuel?

[17SeaEra]

This is a follow-up thread. My 1999 90hp Johnson would not start but would sputter during the start-up process. After a weekend of fustration, I gave up and took the boat into the local shop. On Wednesday, they called and said they fixed the problem, "water in the gas". The shop stated they drained the carbs, replaced the spark plugs, emptied my 26 gal fuel tank, installed a new external fuel filter and lastly refueled my gas tank wih 4-5 gallons of gas. When I arrived, they showed me a jar with the water and gas mixtured that they pulled from my fuel tank and the new fuel filter on my boat.

Unfortunately, when I arrived home and tried to start my boat, it would not start. It does the exact same thing it did before I took it the shop and spent a lot of money! When I was trying to start my boat , I noticed that my fuel gauge indicated 3/4's of a tank. That would tell me that my fuel tank was not emptied as communicated.

Here's my question. Is there anyway for me to test my gas to see if that is my problem? I was thinking of buying a small marine fuel tank and trying to start my boat with new fuel. Any direction would be greatly appreciated.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Bad Fuel?

I would definitely go back to the shop and question what they did, especially since you say the tank is 3/4ers full. As you have already paid for the fix, let them do it. They sure as heck better have some sort of warranty for their work.

If I were trying to get it running and suspected fuel then I would do as you suggest and run a small exteranl tank of known good fuel to see if that is the issue or at least eliminate the fuel side and then look for other problems.

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Bad Fuel?

I would remove the fuel hose at the engine, and with the primer bulb, pump some gas into a clean glass container. If there is water in the fuel, it will show right away. If there is water in the fuel, you would be on more solid ground when you go and confront the shop that did the work.

 

[17SeaEra]

Re: Bad Fuel?

Just to follow-up. I went and purchased a fuel tank, primer ball, and fuel hose and tried to start my motor with fresh gas. It would not start. I even drained the carbs four times, pumped fresh gas through the system and cleaned the plugs with a rag and air pressure. Still, the motor would try to start but would not. I'm not sure where to go from here but I don't think it is a "water in the gas" problem. Any ideas would be great. Thanks!

 

[R.Johnson]

Re: Bad Fuel?

Try a spark, and compression test.

 

[2Smokinya]

Re: Bad Fuel?

I have heard of this happening at many local boatyards in my area, I would go back to the dealer and tell them your situation and go from there. In most cases, they warranty their work.

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Bad Fuel?

They should warranty their work. If they sent a motor back to you that did not start there's a problem there.

 

[Molaker]

Re: Bad Fuel?

Not meaning to question your knowledge of your own boat, and giving your mechanic the benefit of the doubt, maybe he and you are using different starting techniques. If you have any doubt, check out the sticky on cold starting before you take it back. It could be something has deteriorated just enough to make it hard to start the way YOU start it, yet fire right up the way HE starts it.

 

[17SeaEra]

Re: Bad Fuel?

I took my boat back to the shop this afternoon. The mechanic had the same problem I had trying to start my boat, it would not start. It was near the end of the business day but they ran a couple of quick tests before they closed for the day, spark and an ignition test (starting my motor with a shop key back at the motor). The motor started and ran great with the shop key but as soon as they unplugged the shop key while keeping the console key engaged, it quit running. According to the shop, this means my ignition/key switch is bad. The shop stated they will make sure this is the problem in the morning and change the ignition switch out if needed.

At this point, I'm really not sure what to think considering my problem was identified as water in the fuel. Nevertheless, I wanted to thank eveyone for chiming in with their thoughts. Thanks!

 

[samo_ott]

Re: Bad Fuel?

They used a shop key at the back. Wow. Who woulda thunk that. Anyway, please update when you get the final answer.

 

[17SeaEra]

Re: Bad Fuel?

Here's the lastest. I picked my boat up this afternoon. The shop changed out the ignition switch but that was not the problem. I had a T-Tower built and installed on my boat about a month ago. On my standing platform I had the shop install a motor kill switch I could step on with my foot when needed. The kill switch some how accumulated water inside the switch that was causing the motor not to start. I installed a new kill switch this evening and the motor started ran fine. Again, thanks for everyone's input!

 

[clemsonfor]

Re: Bad Fuel?

i hope yall settled up fair for both of you since they said they fixed a problem that wasent really the problem in the first place yet needed to be addressed.