help with gamefisher 15hp

[ccarver]

i have a 1987 15hp gamefisher outboard 50:1 ratio..... i got brand new fuel and mixed some oil into it.. hooked the tank up to the engine... pumped the bulb a couple times got it primed... started it up.. started up with one or two pulls... and after like a min or two of running smoothly... it would quit... i noticed that the fuel dosnt stay primed... it drain back down into the tank.... could there be an air leak somewere... or something else wrong?

 

[CATransplant]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

On the Gamefisher, we need a model number, since more than one manufacturer made them.

Your problem may well be a bad fuel pump, but fixing that depends on who made the outboard.

Look for the model number near the transom mount.

 

[ccarver]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

the model number is 217-586361 its an 1986 eska made, parts are rare to find i did notice thou.. since the fuel line is clear i think i saw a couple of drops being sucked in. im hoping its a air leak

 

[CATransplant]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

OK. If it's an Eska, the fuel pump is a little rubber tube-shaped bladder that goes into the rear of the carburetor. Those frequently split and stop pumping. Also, the carburetor has a little fiber valve element under the cover where the fuel line attached to the carb. If that gets damaged, no pumping can take place, either.

If your outboard is running on a full fuel bowl after priming, but not running when that runs out, suspect the fuel pump, particularly on that model.

The fuel pump elements are available. There's a guy on ebay who sells them...search for Eska parts. Or, you can go to www.certifiedpartscorp.com, call the number you find there, with your model number in hand, and the guy will sell you an element and the little valve thingie. Get a carburetor base gasket, too.

When you put the pump element in the back of the carb, make sure it goes in with the elongated hole aimed 45 degrees to the left as you look at it. The fiber valve thingie will only go on one way.

Also, those are very weak pumps, and will not pull fuel up more than about 2' reliably. If you have a deep boat, and a long fuel hose, your pump may just not be up to drawing fuel up from the tank against gravity. The whole deal's marginal. I mounted my fuel tank on top of one of the seats on my boat and solved that problem.

It's remotely possible that an air leak in the fuel line or pump bulb might cause this problem, as well, but....you should be able to eliminate that possibility easily through inspection.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

One more note: I just located another parts source for Eska/Sears/Ted Williams/Gamefisher parts. Check it out. He even claims to have a solid state module for the 9.9/15hp. Wow!

http://www.boatsportandtackle.com/servlet/the-ESKA--dsh--Sears--fdsh--Ted-Wms/Categories

 

[ccarver]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

ya... there is a pump bulb connected to the gas tank .. but nothing else.. from the carb. its a fuel line that connects to the chassie of the moter.. then on the outside... a coupling that connects to the gas tank line... theres a bulb righ about the gas tank.. thats it thou.... heres the best way i can describe it

fuel line chassie couplin
Carb. ============///////>>>>>>>============DDDD========OOO
pump valve tank

 

[ccarver]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

ya... there is a pump bulb connected to the gas tank .. but nothing else.. from the carb. its a fuel line that connects to the chassie of the moter.. then on the outside... a coupling that connects to the gas tank line... theres a bulb righ about the gas tank.. thats it thou....

 

[fishrdan]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

I'm with CAT on this one, it's probably the fuel pump element. You have to remove the carb to replace it. The element is about 1 1/2" long and 3/8" round, mine was orange in color.

Be careful and don't get carb cleaner on the element or it could be destroyed, that's why I had to replace mine, carb cleaner deformed it and made it useless. Though they do go bad with age also, ethanol is hard on old fuel system parts.

Also, make sure the tanks fuel line is completely sealed, if it can suck air then you will get a problem similar to the one you are describing. I recently had to replace the quick disconnect on my outboard because it was worn and creating a slight fuel leak,,, and a slight air leak. Never noticed the problem on the water, but found it when I had the outboard in a test tank. Once the quick disconnect was replaced my fuel problems disappeared.

Good luck,
Dan

 

[ccarver]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

thanks for the advice.. specially CAT, i love the website.. has WAY more parts for my boat than sears..... sears had just a couple random bolts i could buy.... im out to the shop right know to take off my carb! thank you everyone!


Check out my restor. project on the boat the motor goes with if you want!

http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=279724



THANKS EVERYONE!

 

[CATransplant]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

Well, I hope it works out well for you. I hate those Eskas with a white-hot passion, so I'm going to offer you some unsolicited advice:

Get that outboard running just perfectly, then sell it to someone else. Put the money you get for it into a 15hp Johnson or Evinrude of about the same vintage. If you're lucky, you may even come close to the same price.

The johnnyrude will outperform that Eska, and you'll be able to get parts for it until you go all grey in the hair. Keep the Eska and I guarantee that, one day, it will stop running and the part you need won't be available.

Right now, it sounds like it's running well. Get rid of it to some poor unsuspecting person. Show them that website. Buy the service manual for it and throw that in. Throw in a tank and hose, and a couple of life jackets. Anything to get them to take it home with them.

Best day of my year was the day I unloaded mine. Now, I just go fishing and don't worry about my outboard. What a relief! The reason I can help you find those parts places and tell you about the outboards is because I spent all last summer trying to keep my 9.9 version of that outboard running. I spent enough money on it to buy three more of the blasted things. I finally bit the bullet and bought a Johnson 6hp to replace it. It always starts. It always runs. I spent this summer fishing.

End of unsolicited advice.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

^^^ YUP

I sold my 70's 7.5HP Gamefisher/Eska because of parts availabilty (or lack there of), got $200 for it on Ebay a few years ago. Replaced it with a late 80's 7.5HP Force and the power comparison is like night and day.

 

[ccarver]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

thanks ill take your advice into consideration... i went out there today.. took out the fuel pump, played around with some other parts.... put it all back together... started it up.. and ill be damned... its started up beutifully.. held prime everything... i let it run for like 5 mins... grabed my dads digital thermomoter and it was running about 100 -115 degrees.. a little hot.. i think im going to change the water pump thing cuz the water would only spit half the time not a steady stream

so thats the next thing i need to know about... how to change that.. i know its somewere down by the prop... but getting it out is a whole new challange.... any advice would be great....

 

[CATransplant]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

Ah...so it begins...

I never changed the impeller on mine, and I gave the guy I unloaded it on the service manual, so I'm not certain about the impeller replacement. Where the shift rod gets disconnected is the question, and I just don't know. The impeller is located in the lower unit. When you remove the gearcase, you have access to it.

That last site I mentioned has the service manual for your outboard. As always, it's advisable to get one if you're going to keep working on it. Also, as I said, it's a sale-booster when you decide to sell yours.

 

[ccarver]

Re: help with gamefisher 15hp

yea.. that would be a start, buy a manual, another way to lean is the good ol' fasion way and tear it apart and teach myself how to do it