Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

[mouradc]

Hi, <br />I have twin 55hp Tohatsu's on a 17ft half cabin Fibreglass hull, I only just purchased the boat, I have taken the boat out twice, and twice both outboards turned off on me while cruising, they both turn off at once, one fuel bulb goes flat while the other remains hard, I open the fuel tank and check for fuel and a couple of other things, then one motor will start and the other won't (it will kick over continously but won't start).<br />If i leave alone for about 10 min engines will start fine and first go. Out of the water both engines start fine. and idle quite well.<br />I emptied the fuel and cleaned it, I found one small sheet of thread tape inside about 7 cms long, and nothing else. I put fresh fuel, but I noticed that when I pump the bulbs, one goes hard and the other remains a little softer, both engines started fine but I haven't been in the water yet to test it. any other ideas?? Am I on the right track, does it sound like it's fuel related??<br /><br />Motors are about 1985 model...the breather on the fuel tank lid is open and the tank has another breather whole that comes out the back of the boat.

 

[Mod2]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

Moving to Honda/Tohatsu/Nissan forum.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

It has to be a fuel problem. Are they both feeding off of the same tank?

 

[mouradc]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

Both motors feeding from the same stainless steel tank, the tank has a T junction mounted ontop, and there's two fuel lines one to each motor with two priming bulbs. I checked the T junction and tank feeder hose for blockage.<br />The only thing found was the thread tape inside that tank about 7cms long. no blockages found.<br />Also could it be a faulty fuel line sucking air??? and how do I test to find out?

 

[Dunaruna]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

Hi Chadi, welcome to i-boats!<br /><br />Do they shut down at EXACTLY the same time? The motor that won't restart again, is that the one with the flat bulb? Any fuel leaks (even just a red mark)? And finally, does anything else shut down as well such as your FF or radio etc?<br /><br />Aldo

 

[mouradc]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

They both shut at the same time, It could be either bulb that goes soft, but the motor that doesn't start is always the same one. No visible fuel leaks, nothing else shuts off, engines will still crank, but won't start.<br /><br /><br />Thanx.<br />Chadi

 

[mouradc]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

I'll trouble shoot further tonight and I will stick to this forum and thread, thanx for your reply, I'll see how we go this weekend.<br /><br /><br />Thanx.<br />Chadi

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

Pick up a small portable tank and run one engine from that. If that one does not shut down, then the problem would have to be from the fuel hose assy back to the tank.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

hello<br /> on the flat bulb. does it acually suck together? if it does its definately a fuel restriction. here in the states the tanks like to have a small screen in the draw tube. however all the installations I have seen that twins shareing a draw tube or a single inlet double outlet water seperator have problems. its not reccomended at all. run both engines from a seperate tank at the same time and see if that cures it.

 

[mouradc]

Re: Twin Tohatsu Shut down at once

The problem went away, it appears like the thread tape that was in the tank was the source of the problem, The draw tube had a screen and it was quite clean, however I believe that the thread tape was blocking the whole inlet, causing the blockage , when the tape blocked part of the inlet, it was enough to start a single engine, the two motors were working against each other. Took it out on the weekend twice and ran it for quite sometime, no issues. Both engines were starting the first go and didn't shutdown even once. <br />Thank you guys for the helpful advise.<br />Rgds,<br />Chadi