Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

[basbalj288]

On the lake right now, the boat was running great at WOT when suddenly the motor jumped out of the water and throttled all the way down. Propeller didn't hit anything I think it just jumped out of the water bc it throttled down so rapidly. Boat will not crank back up but is turning over and I'm wondering what the problem could be. Has anyone had a similar experience? Or now what happened? I have my toolbox...and like I said I'm stuck in the middle of a lake. I'm just going to do what any man would do in this predicament...sit back drink a beer, attempt to make the most out of this beautiful alabama day, and hope for some responses!

 

[crp9009]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Mine does that when I break a shear pin but doesn't explain not cranking.
Good Luck

 

[BF]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

does it have a kill switch lanyard? Maybe that got pulled off or rattled loose. Make sure it's on OK (if equipped) or bypass if that's easy to do.. You might check for spark. Maybe your timer base or stator has packed it in. If it was really sudden, I wouldn't think it would be fuel.. more likely loss of spark.

If you post your specific engine model/size/year maybe someone else here could be more help.

Real-time trouble shooting! I love it!

Good luck.

 

[basbalj288]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Just checked and there is no spark...could this be a potential power pack failure?

 

[timfives]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Just checked and there is no spark...could this be a potential power pack failure?

the cut off switch will kill power to the coil, be sure that is okay and isn't shorted.

T

 

[basbalj288]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

I have a 76 Johnson 85 hspwr. Does it even have a kill switch? I've never seen it on mine. I have checked the spark and all four cylinders and there is no spark to any of them brand new sparks plugs...second day on the boat using them

 

[BF]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Kill switch / lanyard would be on throttle control box. Usually a roundish switch that has a lanyard = elastic/string that if your thrown overboard pulls a little cup off the switch. Removing that cup allows the switch to close, which shorts out the ignition. Being a '76, yours may not have that, but it could've been added after. Often people may not use them, and leave them dangling off the control box, but if the cup jiggles loose or someone mistakenly tugs on the lanyard, they can kill the ignition.

If yours doesn't have that, then the next thing I'd look for is for cracked/broken wires either on the engine, or between the engine and the control box. The wires can get brittle where they flex from when the motor is tilted up and down. If the insulation is cracked, the ignition could get shorted out (basically doing the same thing as when you normally turn the key off).

hopefully you are in a place to get a tow if you need it, or you have enough beers on hand that it doesn't matter!

 

[F_R]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Nope, no lanyard switch on a '76 unless somebody has added one. Disconnect the black-with-yellow-stripe wire from the power pack and see if you have spark then. That is the wire that turns it off.

If that doesn't get it running, you are probably looking for a tow, unless you have a big toolbox and parts department with you.

 

[joey nathan]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Hmmmm... Only a couple of things that can cause this symptom. No fuel, so check kinked hose, level, plugged filter, screen, etc.

Or ignition failure common to all cylinders, i.e. something like the aforementioned power pack - it is 34 years old after all.

Kill switch if it has one.

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Ive read alot of threads on here but have NEVER read one where the writer was out on the lake real time!

Im with FR, disconnect the black/yellow wire and re test. Just remember to kill it youll need to choke it out or pull plug wires, as the engine kill will be disabled. If there is still no spark, start paddling or drinking, whichever is easier

Let us know what you find, curious

 

[Vic.S]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

start paddling or drinking,

Hoist the sails !

No sails ? just relying on a 34 year old outboard ? Going to need a lot of beer if it's a big lake.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

I'm with F_R, as well. The black/yellow circuit is the one that grounds to powerpack to shut the engine down. When there is no spark on any of the cylinders, usually the culprit is the key switch.

Disonnect the black/yellow wire at the powerpack. Be prepared to shut the motor down via the manual choke, if it runs after doing this.

If you have to buy a new key switch, the replacement (OEM, at least) will have one more "tab" for attaching the various wires. Don't get confused - two of them are joined together at the base. The new switches have this, simply because there are quite a few of the purple wires and its easier to connect them all on a pair of leads, rather than one.



???

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Hoist the sails !

No sails ? just relying on a 34 year old outboard ? Going to need a lot of beer if it's a big lake.

Bah! Were's your sense of adventure?

My main engine is a 38 year old Johnny ... a 65hp "triple," to be exact. If the weather allows, I'll be out in it, checking my crab traps in awhile.

I do agree that backup is a good idea, however. That's why I have a "kicker" .... which is 41 years old!



???

 

[dbkerley]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Nope, no lanyard switch on a '76 unless somebody has added one. Disconnect the black-with-yellow-stripe wire from the power pack and see if you have spark then. That is the wire that turns it off.

If that doesn't get it running, you are probably looking for a tow, unless you have a big toolbox and parts department with you.

I think that was the answer. I thought they had a red rubber kill button on the front. That may have been the smaller tiller models. I've been away from those for a long time.

 

[basbalj288]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Isss this the Blacjk yellow wire gouing to the powerpack or the one gouing to. The wire that goes to the other wire thing that connects to the the to the top left when looking at the motor? Not sure the name of it... There r 2 places where the black yellow wire attaches

 

[F_R]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Say what??? There should be only one black/yellow going to the power pack---terminal #1, according to the diagram

 

[HighTrim]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Say what???

lol, I actually said that myself while reading that last post

 

[F_R]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

lol, I actually said that myself while reading that last post

Sounds like the beer is working.

 

[wilde1j]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

I hope you have a paddle!

 

[bktheking]

Re: Stuck on the lake now! SOS!!

Never heard of a blackjack yellow wire , me thinks the pints are flowin

If it's a twin powerpack motor there will be a black yellow stripe wire split in 2 going to each powerpack, disconnect it before the split (if it were me stuck on the water I'd cut it)

Ignore, just looked it up, 1 powerpack.