Starts then stalls

[laserbrn]

I am purchasing a boat today and the outboard on it (8hp Nissan) starts and runs for about 20 seconds and then stalls.

That's all the information I have as of now as I haven't purchased the boat yet. I'm basically trading something of no value to me for it so I'm happy to acquire it even if the motor doesn't work.

My general mechanical knowledge tells me the Carb is stuck or it has a mixture problem. I'm just curious if anyone knows of any major problems that would cause the motor to run for 20 seconds and then quit even at full throttle?

I have never worked with a marine engine and I'm not a mechanic, but I figured I'd get it, go through a service manual and tune it up, clean the carbs, check out the choke, adjust the mixture, clean/change the air & fuel filters and it will likely run like a top.

Am I way off base here?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Starts then stalls

Just have the carb cleaned correctly and you have a 95% chance that it will be cured.

 

[laserbrn]

Re: Starts then stalls

I'm thinking that a carb cleaning should only take a few hours right? I'm not terribly experienced with these engines, but I'm thinking take the carb off, take it apart, clean it, put it back together? Pretty straightforward like any small engine or am I looking at synching the carbs and getting technical?

Should it be < $200 to just have a shop do it?

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Starts then stalls

One carb and a shop will charge about $100.00

 

[isaksp00]

Re: Starts then stalls

I have an 8HP Honda, about 15 yrs old. I did bring mine to a service place, as the motor would not start at all in the Spring (I had just bought it from a seller who hadn't used it in over 2 yrs). Charge was about $130, work was to un-gunk the carb and put in two new plugs.

During use in the summer, it started to get hard to start (had to increase the throttle to get it to start at all) and stalled when put in F or R, unless throttle was ramped up more than prudent. I ended up removing the carb myself, soaking it in cleaner (tho I ended up using not the best stuff), clearing out a clogged pilot jet, and replacing - seemed to fix it. I have no idea if the Nissan carb is similar, but mine was just a single carb, no synching, no special tools. Only parts I bought were the gasket between the carb and intake opening, and the o-ring seal for the carb bowl. It was not hard, as the only removable parts (well, what I had to remove) were really the bowl, the float, the two jets and the idle adjustment nozzle. I did buy a shop manual, which I advise.

One possible complexity - the newer Hondas (not mine) evidently have a plug that covers the idle speed nozzle adjustment needle (EPA regulations). If this needs servicing, you have to drill out the plug. I don't know if any Nissan's have this, but it would have been harder for me if mine had this.