Starting Issues

[15flats]

Been reading some threads here about this. I bought my boat last month, ran the motor for a while but ran out of gas and was a little busy with a funeral, moving my mother in law, christmas, two B-days, you get the idea. Well today I bought a gallon of gas (yes it is 10% Ethanol) and mixed it to be a 50:1 ratio. Primed the bulb till it was hard, turned the water on to the muffs, trimmed the motor down, lifted the fast idle to 3/4 position, turned key on, pushed in the key to activate the choke and started the engine. It ran for about 10 or 20 seconds and slowly died like running out of gas. Checked the bulb and it was no longer hard, so pumped again and tried to start the motor and again ran for a few seconds and slowly died. It was cold out (well for Florida) around 36 degrees and just chalked it up to cold weather and the motor being a cold hearted motor. Then started wondering if these outboards have a fuel pump or not and found the Ethanol problem thread, and I said to myself................."OH BOY!".......

It is late now and dark, I will pull the plugs and drop the bowls tomorrow. I will also get a new fuel filter (mine looks like a oil filter on a car) and fuel line.
Are the carbs synched? if so how to synch them? Just a simple yes or no will do, I can then search.

Thanks in Advance!!!

 

[Jeremy1986]

Re: Starting Issues

check your feul pressure.

it sounds like a faulty fuel pump. when you start the motor keep priming if the motor keeps running then the fuel pump is bad.

 

[Bob Gilvary]

Re: Starting Issues

My experience is that if it will run if you keep priming/choking it at the key switch it's a carb issue.

If it will stay running only if you keep pressurizing the fuel bulb, then it could be the fuel pump.

Take the cover off and do a good visual inspection first as you pressurize the fuel line bulb, looking for leaks, and fuel line condition.

You didn't say what hp your engine is, and if it's got a vro.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Starting Issues

WHAT MOTOR???? WHAT HP?? where in FL?

 

[15flats]

Re: Starting Issues

70H.P. Evinrude V.R.O., but the V.R.O. part has been disconnected and must mix the oil with gas now.

and Zephyrhills,Fl about 30 miinutes North of Tampa,Fl.

And I forgot, the primer solenoid leaks a little fuel when the key is pushed in, it leaks at the red button. The batteries are new (I have two, one for starting and the other for Accessories like my 55LB thrust MinnKota). The primer bulb hose needs changing as I found a few cracks in it, but is not leaking.

What I can not understand is, just 2 1/2 weeks ago it was purring like a kitten, not one problem.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Starting Issues

what year or model #. i would start with check compression, and spark on all cylinders.

directions in the TOP SECRET FILE, 1st thread in this forum.

 

[15flats]

Re: Starting Issues

Well, today I pulled the plugs and found them milky whitish, and then I thought OMG!! a blown head gasket. But then decided to a little farther and remove the drain plug from the carbs and yep, full of water, so i drained them completely. Then I removed the quick disconnect fuel line and let it drain into a clear container and there was more of that horrible unexplosive substance....water. My one gallon gas can I use for my weedeater had somehow accumulated water OR the store I got the gas from has water in the fuel.

So now I guess to save myself a bunch of grief, I will replace my fuel filter (ironic that filter is a water\fuel seperator), the tank and fuel lines, and of course the gas can.

Thanks for the help guys!! You are great!! Speedy responses are always nice to have, but when it comes to troubleshooting, it always seems to be the dumbest things that caused the problem to start with, don't it?