Outboard won't start after 12 months

[exp2000]

Hi, I have 90 PS outboard that worked 12 months ago. I winterized it before I started rebuilding rest of the boat and now it will not start. Before I go all out with troubleshooting, I noticed that when I tried to start it, gasoline drips from the carbs. Is that normal? I would expect it to be sucked into head, not other way around?

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Disconnected one of the spark plugs and tested it for spark using poor mans method, and as suspected there was no spark. Guess will have to do some troubleshooting. Must have connected something wrong.

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Dumb*****, kill switch was in the wrong position. I opened throttle all the way, sprayed some engine starting sparay, and it started right away. But it wont start again, without it, and won't stay on. Maybe residual old gasoline in the lines, I have it now connected to a fresh batch. Will see tomorrow...

 

[pnwboat]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Gas dripping from the carburetors is not normal when the engine is all the way down in the normal running position. You may see some gas drip out when you tilt the motor all the way up, but it shouldn't be dripping when it's down. This is caused by the needle valve in the carburetor not closing due to damaged or worn out rubber tip on the needle valve, debris caught in between the needle valve tip and the needle valve seat, or floats adjusted too high. Needle valve not seating properly will flood the engine making it difficult to start and run right.

You might also check the fuel pump diaphragm too.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

And don't use starting fluid that doesn't have oil in it!

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

I was looking to buy a carb kit at iboats (will be ordering pump and filter too), but I am not sure which one to get, and what is included (seat, needle, float)? My engine serial is OE208541 (1997 90 PS Force). Anybody knows which one is for this engine?

Also, probably dumb question, but, when I take the spark plug out and crank the engine, I don't see a spark, yet if I spray starting fluid in carb, it will start for 2-3 seconds. It would not start if there was no spark; or would it?

 

[huskerdaninva]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

How exactly did you test for spark? If it fired off the starting fluid, (I know it's been said, but please don't use it!) it had to have at least an intermittent spark...

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Well, I touched the cylinder with a body of a spark plug, and cranked it for 2 sec. Maybe I need to scrape the paint a little bit of the cylinder? I just used the starting fluid once, to see if it would start.

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Is it normal that the gas filter has some air in it? After priming only half of the filter if full, and I cannot squeeze the primer any more.

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Ok, there is a spark, tested with spark plug tester. Waiting for fuel pump and carb kits to arrive. Since I was not original owner, I don't know when and if ever this was changed, so I'll do that first, and than see if it works.

 

[exp2000]

Re: Outboard won't start after 12 months

Rebuilt pump, rebuild carburetors, changed filter, cranked it, it worked for about 40 sec, really nice, no vibration, really smooth and then it died. Could not start it after that. How common is that choke floods the carburetor? Is there a way to check if choke works correctly? What else to check?
How about primer bulb, how long should it stay firm? When I squeeze it it stays firm for about sec or two and than I can squeeze it again.
I am out of ideas.