I purchased my first Outboard recently-its a Tohatsu 6hp 4 Stroke (year 2011) with an external tank only. I have had an issue with it that I hope I can get some guidance on:
The person I purchased it from told me he hadn't been very disciplined about keeping the carb clean - he didn't always run the engine dry or drain the carb bowl etc. Before I took it out I unscrewed the drain plug on the carb and a very strong varnish smell came out so I took the carb off and cleaned it with Seafoam. The carb was actually very clean and the only varnishing was on the bottom of the carb's fuel bowl. Everything else was clean so I didn't take the float out - most I did was unscrew the jets that were easily accessible and blow Seafoam generously into all the holes and vents. I went back and forth with compressed air and the Seafoam but as I said, with the exception of the bowl the carb was very clean.
I took the motor out and it started first pull and off we went for a boat ride on the Fraser river. After about 30 minutes of boating we stopped and went for some ice cream. When I got back about 30 minutes later, I hopped in the boat, opened the choke, pulled the chord and to my surprise it wouldn't start. Tried again and it was no go - again and again. I tried closing the choke, half opening the choke, re-priming etc, but still it wouldn't start.
The realization that I may have to row 3 miles back home was beging to descend on me when I got the idea to unhook the external gas hose. I did this and tried starting again and it started.... so I plugged the hose back in and headed home. On the way home I stopeed a few times and turned the engine off to see if it would start and every time it started fine.
Can anyone please give me insite as to why maybe it wouldn't start after our ice cream break? DId I flood it? Should I not choke on a warm start and if I do will I flood the engine if flooding is indeed what happened? Thanks!
The person I purchased it from told me he hadn't been very disciplined about keeping the carb clean - he didn't always run the engine dry or drain the carb bowl etc. Before I took it out I unscrewed the drain plug on the carb and a very strong varnish smell came out so I took the carb off and cleaned it with Seafoam. The carb was actually very clean and the only varnishing was on the bottom of the carb's fuel bowl. Everything else was clean so I didn't take the float out - most I did was unscrew the jets that were easily accessible and blow Seafoam generously into all the holes and vents. I went back and forth with compressed air and the Seafoam but as I said, with the exception of the bowl the carb was very clean.
I took the motor out and it started first pull and off we went for a boat ride on the Fraser river. After about 30 minutes of boating we stopped and went for some ice cream. When I got back about 30 minutes later, I hopped in the boat, opened the choke, pulled the chord and to my surprise it wouldn't start. Tried again and it was no go - again and again. I tried closing the choke, half opening the choke, re-priming etc, but still it wouldn't start.
The realization that I may have to row 3 miles back home was beging to descend on me when I got the idea to unhook the external gas hose. I did this and tried starting again and it started.... so I plugged the hose back in and headed home. On the way home I stopeed a few times and turned the engine off to see if it would start and every time it started fine.
Can anyone please give me insite as to why maybe it wouldn't start after our ice cream break? DId I flood it? Should I not choke on a warm start and if I do will I flood the engine if flooding is indeed what happened? Thanks!
