Evinrude 88SPL TattleTale on Earmuffs Question

[.Bennett]

I have a 1994 Evinrude 88SPL motor on my '01 Key Largo 172CC. My wife recently had our second child so I hadn't fired up the motor in about 8 weeks. Tonight I was prepping the boat for fishing in the morning and after cleaning the boat itself, hooked up the motor to the hose and earmuffs.

Motor fired right up and evened out quickly to a smooth idle. However, I didn't have water coming out of the tattletale after about 25-35 seconds so I shut it down. It normally takes a lot longer on the muffs for the tattletale to get going than it does when its in the water but I don't seem to remember it taking this long. Last couple times I've been out, I've been in fresh water so I haven't put the muffs on (to flush it) in 6-8 months so I can't really remember how long it took the tattletale to start peeing. I figured better safe than sorry tho so I cut it off.

What's y'all's opinion? How long should I let it run before it starts to cause problems? I'm fairly new to outboards so details help me figure things out lol. Thanks much!

 

[emdsapmgr]

Re: Evinrude 88SPL TattleTale on Earmuffs Question

You should have a telltale within 10-15 seconds of startup. Make sure the telltale is not blocked. Pull the telltale hose off the barb at the back of the engine and see if you have water there when idling. Sometimes the nozzle in the cowling will plug up with debris.

 

[.Bennett]

Re: Evinrude 88SPL TattleTale on Earmuffs Question

You should have a telltale within 10-15 seconds of startup. Make sure the telltale is not blocked. Pull the telltale hose off the barb at the back of the engine and see if you have water there when idling. Sometimes the nozzle in the cowling will plug up with debris.

Pulled the hose off and blew thru it and it was just debris. Fired it up and telltale started within 5 seconds. Thanks :beer:

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Evinrude 88SPL TattleTale on Earmuffs Question

very common problem.

 

[Al-53]

Re: Evinrude 88SPL TattleTale on Earmuffs Question

I had my boat sit for a week....due to bad weather...well I always open the cowl to check engine before I go out....I found a mouse nest under the fly wheel....then when I went to the lake...started boat....I had no water from the pisser....long story short..I had them earwigs in the hose and clogged it....


and I also had a piece of fuel line on the porch with in a week mud dobbers entered both side and clogged it....

morrow of the story check for critters first....in water line if no water

Al