Flooding Engine When Starting

[rustyoletoy]

I'm new to this world of outboards so I'm hoping this is just a stupid newbie problem. I have a 1991 25HP Evinrude with tiller controls and rope start. <br /> My first start of the day is super hard. Once I have had the engine fire up right away when it was cold but the rest of the time it is a very hard start. This past weekend, I finally got annoyed enough with the motor to pull the plugs to see what was going on. There was a nice spark when I pulled on the rope but the plugs were completely soaked with gas. Dried them out and tried again with no choke (pushed all the way in) and still nothing. I eventually pulled the plugs out and let the engine sit for 4 or 5 hours to dry out. I reinstalled the plugs and pulled 2 more times with the choke out and the throttle set at half way. Then pushed the choke in and pulled with every throttle combo available until I was mad. Pulled the plugs again and they were once more soaked in fuel. Finally sprayed ether into the cylinders and the engine started fine. Even letting the engine sit for a few hours, I could start the engine without any troubles. <br /> The starting procedure I am sort of following is: Turn throttle to just over the shift arrows. Pull choke knob out all of the way. Pull rope for 3 or 4 pulls. Push choke in to half. Pull another 3 pulls. Push choke all of the way in. Pull until getting fed up. Then start doing combos of throttle and choke and eventually it seems to start. Starting it with ether is just way faster so it's now my preferred starting method. And how I know that the engine is flooding when it is cold.<br /> So what do I do to fix this problem??

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Flooding Engine When Starting

Welcome, rustyoletoy<br /><br />A few things come to mind off the bat. Since this is a recent problem, are you sure the fuel is good?(No water in the fuel) And you might want to change out the spark plugs, even though they still spark good. Your float level/needle may be off in the carb, allowing the flooding condition, too. When you squeeze the primer bulb, does it firm up? If not, you may have a float needle that is partially stuck open and flooding it out...

 

[rustyoletoy]

Re: Flooding Engine When Starting

Yup, the fuel is good - brand new just days before running it through the engine. Mixed at 50:1. <br /> I had never pulled out the spark plugs before and while they looked and seemed good, I did notice that they had 2 different sized gaps so probably getting new plugs and gapping them to spec will help.<br /> Yes, the primer bulb firms up. It takes about 3 squeezes and then it is nice and solid.<br /> After I check the plugs, if the problem continues it sounds like it's time to roll up the shirt sleeves and learn how an O/B carb works. <br /><br /> Sean

 

[G DANE]

Re: Flooding Engine When Starting

Normal cold start is: Pull choke all the way out, throttle handle on "Start" or "Shift". Pull 2 or 3 pulls, motor starts with tremendos high iddle, choke in to half in a hurry . <br />Avoid the starting gas, its only hurting it. <br /><br />Put a nail in one plug boot at a time, leaving the other one on the plug, screwed in hole. If the spark builds up in pack, but dont spark, the current can ruin pack. Make a helper hold the nail 5/16" from ground, with an insulated plier or cloth. If a strong blue spark jumps to ground when you pull cord, you know its not spark related. Clean carb, including removing all plastic parts and soak carbbody in cleaner solvent over night and blow thru all orifices with compressed air. Pay special attention to the small ones just above throttle butterfly. Be avare of the need of ignition/throttle syncronisation when putting carb on again.

 

[rustyoletoy]

Re: Flooding Engine When Starting

Finally got the problem sorted out and thought I'd post a follow-up to my initial post so that anyone using the search function might get this help.<br /> I checked everything with the carb, plugs, gas, etc that was suggested to me and was just flat out of ideas. I broke down and took it into my local outboard shop who were absolutely awesome. <br /> They diagnosed it to the fuel pump. An internal diaphragm on the fuel pump had a hole in it and was letting gas directly into the crank. After a few pulls, the engine has a ton of extra gas in it and voila, flooded and won't start. <br /> When it's warm, it's easier to start and so could get past all the extra gas sitting around in there. Also explains the lousy fuel mileage that I asked about in another post.

 

[mrbarth]

Re: Flooding Engine When Starting

Hi rustyoletoy,<br /><br />just to show how good these guys HERE are:<br />A search thru the board with excessive fuel brought this one here:<br /><br />Rear Admiral Hootie, Topic:<br />Mystery: What caused excess fuel consumption / exhausting unburnt fuel?<br /><br />The only way to get excessive fuel through the engine is through the carbie (learned that from you Aussie lads)needle and seat or suck it through a hole in the fuel pump diaphragm. Either one of these should result in a flooded condition with fouled plug(s). <br /><br /><br />Could have solved your problem immediately.<br />I found the search function invaluable for most of my problems.<br /><br />Good luck,