Need help with 15hp seahorse

bktheking

Vice Admiral
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Jul 29, 2008
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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

Is your choke setup working properly, these motors WILL NOT START without everything functioning on the choke side.
 

OLDIRON

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Apr 2, 2008
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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

I'd wait and hear from someone about the in-line tester.
I don't know anything about them, but it may well be fine...or is there no open gap?
The open gap type are less than $10-.

And I think the poster meant are the plug wires "swapped"....i.e. wrong wire on wrong plug.

Correct. I meant swapped,or possibly the wires to the coils could be swapped also. They should be numbered. I've seen those inline testers, and they use a little neon lamp, all they tell you is that some juice is getting there, but it won't tell you if it's enough to jump a gap. My gut feeling is that he has an ignition problem. He has enough compression,he put fuel into the cyl.,if the spark is there at the right time, it should atleast run for a second or two.
 

mikesea

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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

did your brother torque the head down to correct torque specs with a torque wrench,if a drop of water finds itself in the cyl,it wont run,.That said,do a correct spark test,
 

mikesea

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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

also,when you find the answer ,post it,thats how we all learn
 

fishon1213

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Aug 10, 2009
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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

Spark was retested and will not jump a gap. Lights up the inline tester a bit, but just not enough juice. I was inspecting wires and noticed what could be a clue. The yellow/black wire coming into the motor goes to a plug with two orange wires that go to the coils. The yellow/black wire is nearly cut in two. This wire is the kill wire right?
 

OLDIRON

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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

What's the year on this thing. You stated you have two ignitor coils, and a powerpack. Is that right? The sparkplug wires come out of the coils and not the powerpack. Is that right? Not sure if it is indeed a mid 80's motor, could be a little older. You said you changed the powerpack, right? With the correct one I hope. Because this sure sounds to me like a bad powerpack.
 

fishon1213

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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

J15ECIS So I believe its a 1981.

Yes, two coils with spark plug wires to plugs. And power pack, which was swapped with a good power pack from a running motor which did not help. Power packs had the same part no. and connections.

Tommorow my plan is to clean up all grounds and reconnect, and basically study the wiring. One funny thing is I read online somewhere that these motors, if electric start, have the solenoid mounted beneath the carb. This boat/motor has a solenoid and terminal block mounted to the transom, out in the open! Muffed up!?!
 

fishon1213

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Aug 10, 2009
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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

Cleaned up some grounds, had a helper test spark with me. Spark is blue, and jumps gap. Still no fire.
Did something I should have done long ago and pulled the intake apart, figured out why I think the motor quit the first time and won't run now. Also figured out what all the dirty crap is in the cylinder. IT'S DIRT!
Pulled the intake apart and found a wasps nest that was blocking the entire intake. Cleaned all that out, cleaned the choke, and it actually fired for a second. Then nothing.
Pulled the carb off, which wasn't really dirty, made sure the bowl and jets were clean. Back in the reed valves I could feel pieces of dirt and dead bee asses. Cleaned them out with carb cleaner and tried to make sure reeds were seating. Pulled plugs, cleaned them. Tried to start and no luck. After a few pulls you can smell a little burnt fuel, but it still wont run.
Sorry I overlooked the intake and led you'all on a wild goose chase. I guess I just have to try and get the internals all clean and it may run? Should I pull the head and clean the cylinders with carb cleaner?
 

fishon1213

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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

I had not worked on the motor in a long while but today I got a chance to again. I took the intake and carb off again, blew compressed air through the reeds, pulled the plugs and cranked it over. Then I put the plugs back in and to my suprise, IT STARTED!!! After running for a while and setting the lean and rich it seems to be running pretty good. I don't know if maybe there was something in the reeds or what but it runs now.
 

Daviet

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Re: Need help with 15hp seahorse

Great, glad you got it figured out.
 
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