no start in the water

[jayg0351]

I took the boat odown to the lake and launched it this weekend. The motor would not start at all. After trying to start it for a while I gave up. I put the boat back on the trailer and gave the motor one more try. THE FIRST PULL THE MOTOR STARTED UP. I shut it off and put the boat back in the water and the motoer started. We were out for about an hour and turned the motor off and on several time with out any problems. As luck would have it the wind picked up so we needed to get off the lake. The moter failed to start and I ended up rowing the mile back to shore. When we got home I attempted to start the motor and oi the first oull it cranked. I am confused as to why this is happening.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: no start in the water

Is this your 1980 9.9 Sea King made by Force? I'd check for water in the gas. Prop the tank so a corner near the fill sits low. Water will find the lowest spot. They you can syphon it out til you get fresh clear gas. At least half of the portable tanks I check have water in them.

It's easy to flood those. That would be my better guess. Choke til it tries and dies, turn of the choke, give it some throttle, then pull til it starts. Hopefully you can shut off the choke before it dies the first time, but you have to be awfully quick.

 

[jayg0351]

Re: no start in the water

The motor was made by Chrysler

 

[F_R]

Re: no start in the water

What is the year, make and model of the motor? What are the compression readings? Right now I would suggest that either the motor is worn out (low compression) or the igintion coils are shot, especially if it is an old 1950-mid '60s OMC.

 

[jayg0351]

Re: no start in the water

I think it was water in the gas, I just ran the motor for an hour in a barrel of water. The motoer started the first pull also I turned the motor off every thirty minutes and it started back up. The motor started the second or thord pull each time after the initial starting. I set it in idle and it idled as it did prior to yesterday. I also turned the gas tank which is a plastic 5 gallon one. I turned iot so the cap and the outlet sit closer to the motor. I am not sure what difference this made but is running after I turned it. Prior to turning it the cap and the outlet were against the starboard side. Next weekend I will test it near the dock and see what happens.