Starting a Flooded Outboard

[Oldsaltydog]

After looking under the SEARCH heading, I found the following responses. Let the motor sit a while with the throttle open, crank with full throttle, and then pull back on the handle quickly to prevent over revving. (I have tried this method and it works.) Another more cumbersome suggestion was to take out the plugs to air out the cylinders. (This works on my chainsaw just fine.)<br /><br />How about another alternative of disconnecting the fuel line, turning the motor over 5 or 6 times to clear out the cylinders, and then starting the usual way. What do you think? Has anyone tried this approach?

 

[MajBach]

Re: Starting a Flooded Outboard

I think you would have to pull it A LOT more than 5 or 6 times. When I am winterizing my boat, I dosconnect my fuel line and let it run around 2000 rpm or so until it dies. This usually takes AT LEAST 30 seconds. That's 1000 revolutions!. How many revs do you think one pull of the starter cord gives you? Maybe 5?

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Starting a Flooded Outboard

I believe it's an electric start. My suggestion is to find out why it is flooding. Are you holding the choke/primer too long? Proper spark plugs? Does this happen every time or just once in a while? More info, please...

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Starting a Flooded Outboard

Remember EBG that when you disconnect the fuel line there is still quite a bit of fuel left in the carburetor float bowls. If you disconnected the fuel line while the engine was idling, it will run for a minute or so before conking out, so it would take more than 5 or 6 pulls (more like 700 -- 700 revolutions per minute for 1 minute) to deplete those carb bowls enough to dry out a flooded engine. Oops I see Majbach has said the same thing, nevermind. I gotta read these responses more carefully

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Starting a Flooded Outboard

Thanks for your responses. I understand the situation now. The flooding problem is also under control, but I was curious about the (non)option of unhooking the gas line.

 

[rickdb1boat]

Re: Starting a Flooded Outboard

EBG <br /><br />Glad you got it figured out, but what was the problem for future reference for others?

 

[Oldsaltydog]

Re: Starting a Flooded Outboard

I was pushing in the ignition key (primer solenoid) for too long, as opposed to about two seconds before turning it all the way for starting.