Motor Starting Tips

[danmcmartin]

I have a late sixties/early seventies Evinrude 18hp Fastwin outboard that I bought about 5 years ago. The guy i bought it from rebuilt outboards as a hobby and had gone through the engine thoroughly. It started consistantly on the first pull (no electric start) everytime the few times I used it. It then sat for a few years without being used. I let it run dry before it sat so no fuel was in the engine.<br /><br />Now it won't start. I can get it to fire if I use starting fluid, so I know I have spark. It won't fire without the starting fluid. I can see gas in the filter. Any tips?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Motor Starting Tips

Disassemble and clean the carb out, as it will have varnish in it from sitting. Even though you ran it dry, it will still have crud and possibly a stuck float in the carb. Use carb cleaner spray and compressed air to blow out jets and such. A carb kit may also be a good idea while you're at it. In the future, do NOT run the carb dry, as you deprive your motor of nessesary lubrication when you do this. Use stabilizer in the fuel tank and let it run until you are sure it gets into the carb and just shut it down. Then you are protected from the situation you are in now. Also, never use starting fluid on your motor. It will wash the oil off the cylinders and cause big problems. Use a spray bottle mixed with the proper oil and gas ratio(50:1)in your case, to try to start it. Don't forget to change the lower unit fluid before you run it. Check it for contamination(Water in the fluid) when you change it. It will look milky if there is water in it. Use new seals on the fill/drain screws, too. Major cause of water intrusion and the simplest to prevent...

 

[danmcmartin]

Re: Motor Starting Tips

Good advice. I was afraid you would tell me to mess with the carb. Oh well, it is several months until its warm enough to boat around here.