I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

[Salty Sal]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

Before jumping to conclusions simply check for a spark.
Start the engine and remove each spark plug wire - hold a slight distance from plug and look for a strong spark.
Could even be a coil thats crapping out.
Sorry- from what you mention on this thread I still think your problem is fuel related. I would start simple and work backward.

 

[bfurlano]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

Squeeze the bulb with vigor and keep it tight and see if it continues to run. When the fuel pump goes out or the pulse limiter is defective, you need to really pump the bulb up constantly when running. In effect, you become the fuel pump. Running for a couple of minutes and dying sounds to me like it's running out of fuel at the carbs...

By the way, last night I tried and did:
1. switched the main tank to a secondary known good fuel tank and that didn't change things.
2. took off the cover to expose carbs and cleaned them with a spray and that didn't help.
3. Also sprayed decarb while it was running decent(first 4mins) and that didn't seemed to help either.
4. We cleaned the fuel lines again and nogo.
5. I DID NOT install the water separator yet though.

A mechanic walking by on the dock stopped to help me briefly last night. He believes it's a spark problem. The plugs are 2 mos old and have about 10 hrs on them tops. Therefore he thinks it's the stator or the powerpack. The outboard was rebuilt with a new powerhead in '99. The original year is '93. A local mechanic friend told me stators run $350 installed on that engine and powerpacks are $150. Ugh. Anyway or does anyone know how to figure which one it is...powerpack or stator?

 

[Salty Sal]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

OK- Good.
Water separator at this point not a factor in your diagnostics.
BUT- YES definitely install one(any type- doesn't have to be a Racor)
In this case (unless you are incredibly UNLUCKY- water in a fresh batch
of gas in a separate tank) I think you can rule out a bad gas problem.
When the engine starts to konk out start to prime the bulb- if it starts to
pick up, then suspect a bad fuel pump.
On to the next....... electrical.
Since it is running OK and then starts to konk out after a period of time,
kind of makes me think that it isn't your initial spark, but what is cutting
out or overheating after a certain time period. My guess (YES- a guess)
relating to your previous thread would suggest more of powerpack
than stator issue.
You may want to throw in new spark plug wires if they have never been changed.

 

[bfurlano]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

Thanks Sal. I'll try the plugs tonight too

 

[Salty Sal]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

Any improvement?

 

[KYHunter2]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

If your going to service/ repair / trouble shoot, your own motor.

You can save yourself alot of time , money, and aggrivation .

By getting a OEM , service manual for your motor.

If you want to do a proper spark test, buy a spark tester at the auto parts store.

Or you can make one, to test all cylinders at the same time.

Holding a plug , tells only that you have a spark not if its good or weak .

The spark should jump 3/8- 7/16 , gap , bright blue with a loud snap sound.

I dont much like holding the plugs, on these ignitions.

They can really SET YOU FREE !!!!

Especially, with the presence of water, which of course is usually the case.

KYHunter

 

[bfurlano]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

Sal and Hunter,
Thanks!
I still think there's spark problems, but temporary the problem was fixed by a new ignition, new choke cellanoid(sp), and a fuel water separator.
Now the battery keeps dying, the fuse for the lights keeps blowing and the worst thing, the trim/tilt blew a seal. The motor is stuck up. Shouldn't there a be release so I can let it down or does it need power for that? The fluid might be gone so I was thinking about adding more fluid to it, to get it down and keep it down for the rest of the summer using it at high tidish only. Anyone know tips on getting it back down or any manual levers for such a motor?
Thanks,
:/

 

[MASTER Brian]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

I don't know your motor, but my Evinrude xp150 has a release screw on the starboard side of the tilt/trim assembly. If you turn that screw a bit it should release pressure and allow free movement of the motor.

 

[bfurlano]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

master brian/others,
I have '93 Evinrude 140. Kind of built on that standard 4 cyl Evinrude chassis...there's many more older that look and operate the same with different cover colors and designs.
I'll look for the screw today.
Does anyone know if I can refill the hydraulic fluid from the boat while it's in the water, but obviously not underwater. ?

 

[ezeke]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

If you can get the motor tilted all of the way up you can add fluid. There is a recessed release on the starboard side that will allow you to manually lift the motor. That's what MASTER Brian is saying.

 

[TJO1234]

Re: I need help - any suggestion is appreciated

I have '93 Envinrude V4 140, that needs to be premixed( No oil injection). The motor was rebuilt 3 yrs ago. I am not sure if that was the lower unit or powerhead, but there was and is some salt water abuse. The boat is now in fresh water. This year I've replaced the plugs, bulb, fuel lines, and fuel filter. The work and engine was then inspected by a trusted mechanic and the boat ran well. The tank was run empty and replaced with 30 gallons of new fuel and oil, however a friend added about 8 oz of TCW 2 from a bottle at least 5-10 yrs old at a 50:1 ratio. The start after that fillup, the boat has run horrible. Since then I've added fuel stabilizer, 2 gallons oil/gas mix at a higher octane gas heavy(thinking it was too rich in oil) and water remover with not much effect, however the 30 gallons have not been run through yet. Here are the symptoms:
1. The boat doesn't start. It almost seems like the choke isn't working and you can only start the boat with A. alot of starting fluid and one time with B. luck and patience/persistence?
2. Once started it stalls every minute from 5-15mins or until you can get her up on plane..then she seems to run better once hot? Yes I can still use it, but I get tired of paddling through the marina when she stalls especially my wife and young kids on board. brutal!

I'd have to guess it was the TCW-2 but some folks say 8oz + shouldn't affect it when compared with 25-30 gallons of gas.