Help Troubleshooting Old Motor

[trumpetbucks]

I have just bought an "as is" boat with a '72 100HP Evinrude Starflite. The motor was "supposedly" run last summer to fish 3 or 4 times and even cranked this winter. (Of course when I bought it, it wouldn't start!) It does turn over and has spark to the spark plugs. My stepdad seems convinced (just by phone conversations-he hasn't seen the boat yet)that the problem must lie in the fuel system. Any advice on what to check next? What order of checking things would be most effective use of my time? Also, what would be a good prop to run on this boat (a Silverline Comoro 16ft Deep-V)?<br /><br />Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[12Footer]

Re: Help Troubleshooting Old Motor

Your stepdad is a smart guy <br /><br />You first need to drain.clean the fuel tanks, if the fuel in them is older than 9 months. Don't even try to use it, as it will just insert said dead fuel into the carbs, and yuk them to the point of carb rebuild.<br /> Take an empty,clean windex spray bottle with mixed fuel in it, and spray a good amount directly into the throat of the carbs, fuel line disconnected, and water pickup on the muffs.<br />(never turn over an outboard with a dry foot).<br />If it sputters or attempts to run on the small amount of fuel you sprayed into the carbs, you can bet the ranch, it's fuel delivery. (from the tank to the reeds, and engine compression).

 

[trumpetbucks]

Re: Help Troubleshooting Old Motor

Thanks, 12Footer. I will try that out and see how it goes. I'm also pretty much assuming I'm going to need new spark plugs and possibly fuel filter, as it hasn't really been run on the water since early last July.

 

[wayne h]

Re: Help Troubleshooting Old Motor

yes its always a good idea to tune it up so you know that much is done.also get a manual and replace the waterpump also. its easy cheap and good insurance.you might also want to change the lower end oil also. make sure you get the fill kit so you can fill it from the bottom plug up to the top plug.<br />---12Footer is right on Q with that he told you he himself is a smart guy.<br /> also i belive in fuel stabilizer with every tank it will keep the fuel from going bad when you dont use the boat.i myself never run the carbs out of fuel because of 2 reasons 1 being cylinder wash(running the cylinders dry of fuel and oil VERY BAD)and 2 you will never run all the fuel out of the carb bowls so this will make it turn to varnish faster then leaving them full of fuel.

 

[trumpetbucks]

Re: Help Troubleshooting Old Motor

Thanks to 12Footer and Moving Target for advice that led me to getting this motor to run (one loose wire on side of engine and some Engine Start spray into the breather intake - it fired up and runs VERY well!). Wayne, I also have taken your advice and put in stabilizer, since I'm not sure yet if I'll even get to run out one tank's worth of gas this year! <br /><br />Now I am thinking I should probably replace the water pump / impeller sometime pretty soon - mostly as insurance, as Wayne suggested. My question is this: When I got it running, it looks like there is water leaking around a small section of the lower unit seal. How big of a problem would this be? (I know it's not normal but that part will be under water!) Would this problem be fixed when I replace the water pump on this engine?