Tried Everything - Still No Start

[joey nathan]

Hello All,
2000 70HP Johnson J70PLSIS 2-Stroke 3 Cyl/3Carb Ran last September. Cranks over fine but no pop(good Optima Blue Top battery), will run for a few seconds on ether but no start.

Here's what it isn't: I've replaced fuel line with pump bulb, spark plugs (NGK R BPZ 8 HS-10 @ 0.030” gap), fuel filter, fuel primer solenoid (original not working), and removed/cleaned carburetors (they really weren't that dirty-but I blew out jets to be sure). Pulled fuel line from carburetor and VRO2 is pumping okay.

Can i assume plugs, wires, etc. are okay because it rums for a few seconds on ether? Someone please help, I've run out of ideas! Thank You in Advance

 

[Bosunsmate]

Put away the ether for now at least, you will burn up the pistons.
Check spark
If thats ok then ground all the spark plugs and turn it over for five seconds, remove them all and check they are wet with fuel, light it to make sure its fuel.
That will give you the answers you need

 

[joey nathan]

Thank You Bosun - Took your advice and waited until dusk to verify spark. All three plugs show blue arc.

After turning engine over and pulling plugs, they were all dry - nothing lit with lighter. Opened drain on each carb and all had fuel in float bowl...

 

[racerone]

Remove one of the wee hoses off the primer at the carburetor end.---Turn the red lever and operate the primer bulb.---What happens ?---Now turn the lever to the run position and crank motor over while pushing the key in.---Does fuel pulse out of the wee hose ?

 

[joey nathan]

Racer - Yes is does. What I'm trying next is removing all the fuel in the tank and replacing with new. Also, instead of ether I'm going to fill a squirt bottle with 50:1 and spray that into carb throats instead. I'll report back this afternoon...

 

[joey nathan]

Bump - Any thoughts on why plugs would be completely dry?

 

[Bosunsmate]

All of them being dry is odd. You did have the ht spark plug wires grounded on a bolt somewhere else? how long did you crank engine for?
Have you checked compression?

 

[OBJ]

Have you tried starting the engine with the primer solenoids red lever in the manual position? Or....take some mixed fuel in a spray bottle and shoot some into the throats of the carbs and try to start. I'm generally thinking that your primer is suspect.

 

[joey nathan]

Thanks All,
The fuel primer solenoid is new and I verified it works-original one had failed. Haven't checked compression. Bright blue arcs from all three with plug laying on top of engine. Cranked engine for good ten seconds with key pushed in and nothing. Doesn't even try to start, just spins over. Again, had carbs off and cleaned in solvent, verified all jets clear. Going to try squirting pre-mix into carbs next...

 

[OBJ]

I know you said you have a bright blue spark on the plugs....just do another little check.....take a 10 penny nail and cut the head off and insert the blunt end of the nail in the plug wire end and with insulated pliers hold the pointed end of the nail about 7/16" from a clean engine ground and crank the engine. This does the same thing a spark tester does. The spark should easily jump the gap. Try the pre-mix in the carbs first and see what happens......

 

[itsaboattime]

Do the compression test. It sounds like you have fuel to the carbs and it sounds like you have spark.
You may want to spray a little fuel mix into the spark plug holes, install the spark plugs and try and start it.
Hopefully you didn't damage anything running it on ether. There is no oil in ether and your rings were grinding against the cylinders.