New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

[evinrude_fireitup]

hey guys im new here and im also new to boating. Hello everyone. Well Im 16 years old and i recently bought a 16' aluminum jon boat that came witha trailer and a 6HP 2-stroke evinrude 'fisherman' for $160 and i have no clue what year it is. The previous owner told me he had it on the lake but it would run for awhile then stop. but me and my buddies were playing with it and saw the fuel line (the one with a primer and all) had cracks in it. So we cut it re-did all of it and put it back on. We got it running in a bucket of water but we had to test it on this little pond my buddie has . We get out there and the engine acts weird because i can rev it all the way in neutral but it boggs down in fwd gear then dies. So my buddie gets over there pulls the cover off and thinks it just is not getting enough fuel. So he primes it as we drive (IN CIRCLES IN THIS LITTLE POND!lol) and it starts running like a champ. I mean making waves and nearly tipping us when he turned it. So i decided i am going to replace the fuel lines, clean the carb, clean the filter, and run Seafoam and sta-bil through it for awhile. Is that the right choice? Oh i was also thinking about putting a fuel pump on it but i would have nothing to recharge the battery!

Thats not the real reason im writing here though. I need to know how to operate this thing! Okay first i need to know (please) on my tiller(is that right, the handle you steer with?) there are certain settings i can switch to (please explain these to me, i know some but i want to be sure): start,fast, slow, shift ^(????), and stop. Like i said some are self explanatory but sometimes things arent what they seem. Another thing is what do i do with my rich lean thing?? Also if there are some do's dont's and other general stuff i need to know please include it!

Mush thanks guys

 

[SpinnerBait_Nut]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

Welcome to iboats.
Johnson/Evinrude Outboard Trouble/Repair forum.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

If you mean that your buddy started squeezing the bulb in the fuel hose just before the motor started running properly, your fuel pump is probably bad. New ones are about $75.00 so, if you are mechanically inclined, I suggest buying a rebuild kit. The good news is that the kit comes with a set of fairly comprehensive instructions.

BTW, don't rev your motor up too much in neutral - doing so without the resistence that a motor in gear has in the water, can cause it to over-rev. The results of this can be a trashed motor!

 

[redfury]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

First off, welcome. Great to see young boaters that have the smarts to ask first ( well, okay...2nd in this case because you were already out on the water with something you didn't know how to operate....we've all done it though so no worries! ).

Secondly, that motor needs a fuel pump. By pushing the primer bulb, you are forcing the fuel past the pump and into the fuel bowl...essentially what the pump is supposed to be doing...filling up the fuel bowl in the carb so it doesn't run out of fuel.

Couple of things you should do. First off, make sure you are using the proper 2 stroke oil in the gas at the right ratio. Those 2 strokes rely on that for proper lubrication, and if you don't add the oil, eventually you WILL destroy the motor.

All in all though, it sounds like you got one heck of a deal for a first boat!

As far as the tiller handle goes. You want to make sure that when you are starting the motor, you put it in the "start" position. That unlocks the ability to pull the rope properly. You might be able to force it in another position, but you really don't want to. If you can't start it in that position, you shouldn't be running the boat anyway.

You want to shift into forward or reverse at the slowest possible speed ( idle ) to avoid damage to the lower unit. There's just no point to it, and this isn't ever going to be a Jet Ski, so what's the point?

Essentially, the labels are just an indicator to which direction you should turn the handle for the desired response. Works like a throttle on a motorcycle basically. Depending on the year of your motor, you should have a lanyard attached to the end of the handle, and that should be attached to a button that you press to kill the motor. It's an emergency stop in case you fall overboard ( it should be attached to you somewhere when you are operating the boat ) so the boat doesn't do the "circle of death" and you end up taking a prop to the head or elsewhere if you fall out...and Jon boats can throw you if you push them. The flat bottom will allow that thing to skip sideways if you turn too fast too hard at top speed and if you catch a wave.....off into the drink you go!

Beyond all that, get that fuel pump replaced pronto! I'm willing to bet it runs smooth as butter ( and if it doesn't, a quick carb rebuild should do the trick depending on what it is doing )

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

evinrude_fireitup, welcome to iboats, we have several very smart members your age. bassboy1, baconbiscut, and several others. look on the transom clamp for a 1"x2" plate with #s on it. post the numbers, this will identify the motor, so we can give you the best advice. the first thing is to alway make sure the motor is in neutral, when starting. cold starting: throttle to the fastest setting you can easily turn the handle, there is a neutral throttle stop on the motor, so it does not over rev, engage the choke, and pull 3 times, disengage choke and pull some more. when you have the motor tuned correctly, mine usually started on the second pull.

my gut feeling is to clean the carb, before rebuilding or replacing the pump. where are you located? this gives an idea of maintainace of the motor, winterising, etc. we will get you set up, and running right.

let's find out what you have, and go from there. heres what you do with the carb setting knobs. http://forums.iboats.com/showthread.php?t=167352

 

[evinrude_fireitup]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

Hey thanks guys. Oh yeah just an update: the previous owner had the carb rebuilt so im good there. I did not think it had a fuel pump?! Is it not like a weedeater where once it gets a good sucktion the diaphram and everything keeps it fed? Oh you guys are probaly going to want to smack me upside the head but....I put chainsaw gas in it! It was well mixed Stihl oil and gas if that makes it any better... Well at least i mixed gas for it! lol. So im looking at the fuel pump (if it has one) to be fixed? My fuel line should be good (can the bulb go bad) there were no gas leaks so i guess its an internal problem. Oh i am supposed to unscrew the vent on the fuel tank right? I did. I am from Shawnee, Oklahoma anyone else close? Look forward to getting this project going!

Thanks

P.S. So the 'lean' "rich' thing is used first all the way lean until i get it to barely run then a smooth low idle then high idle then dont go beyond that? Once i get it set do i just leave it in one place?

 

[dodgeramsst2003]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

well at the very least you put a richer mixture than it needs in it. you're about the same age I was when I bought my first boat, man am i feeling old. At any rate, get a manual for the engine, buy a fuel pump rebuild kit, and you should be golden. But!!!!!! get the right fuel/oil mix, it will be better in the long run. Most of all, be safe, and ask first! I've only been on this forum for short time, but everyone here seems willing to help, especially for a newbie getting into boating. have fun!

Chris

 

[jwilkey84]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

I was about your age when I started using this site, and if you like to monkey with motors and want to learn, then this is the best place to be. There are a lot of smart people here that want to help you. They would rather listen to all of your problems and try to help you diagnose and fix a problem, than send you to an expensive marine mechanic that probably wont teach you anything except how to spend money. The more you work on these motors the more familiar you become with them and you can feel confident when you take your vessel to the water that it is going to run, and if it doesn't run perfect at least you can take off the hood and know what you are looking at and more than likely how to fix it. First of all make sure the oil you are using to mix with the gas has what they call TCW3 in it. Any oil that contains this will be clearly marked on the package. I would also start with a fresh carb cleaning, unless the previous owner did it like a week ago. He may have left untreated gas in the carb all winter that has now turned to varnish! Also it is a good idea to add a little sea foam to every tank of gas that you mix, it just keeps things clean. I am sure you will find tons of info on this site, and if you have a question just make a new thread.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

Siphon that fuel out and start fresh. You will need to verify the age to know the proper mixture. You need TCW3 rated outboard oil. This is imperative. Post the model number and we will be able to help you with that. Be precise in your mixing, it is important. The FAQs will be of some assistance to you. GOod luck.

 

[jbjennings]

Re: New Guy...PLEASE HELP!

Those primer bulbs most definitely can be bad. In fact it is VERY common. I'd get a new fuel line and primer bulb for sure. Sometimes they even look good, but the little check valves inside them aren't. I've even had it happen on a new one (from wally world). The fuel line from the connector should go directly to the fuel pump, then from the fuel pump to the carb. It's not hard to rebuild, but pay close attention to how it looks before you take it apart. It does have some little bitty parts in it so do your fixing in a clean place. NOT in the grass, as you're sure to lose nuts, bolts, etc. I'm more than twice your age and am still stupid enough to try it once in a while and always regret it. SOme good clean concrete is perfect. Don't spill gas in the carport though or your mom will.......
Is the vent on your gas tank open ( the little knob on top of the tank's gas cap.) It definitely sounds like the fuel pump like the experts above said.
Just a few ideas,
JBJ

Oh, I have to ask---Are you sure it's a 16 ft. boat--with a 6hp? I hope it's a 14ft. It will be a really nice rig as a 6hp OMC is a super good little motor, perfect for someone your age--I'm a little chunky for a 6hp!