Won't start in water...runs fine out

[signus-x]

Well I got my boat back from the shop and was thinking...great...now I can take it out and have some fun. It was in the shop because the charging system wasn't working and it wasn't running too great out of the water. It was seeming to miss at idle. They checked it out and adjusted the carbs a bit and said it was good to go.<br /><br />This is a '85 Forcy 125 outboard.<br /><br />When I get my boat home it starts on the 2nd try and runs great...best I've ever heard it run. I take it out to the lake and try to start...no such luck. If I put it in neutral and give it full gas, it'll start every time and run for a few seconds, then stall out. I have new gas and new plugs in it. When in normal idle it'll turn over and sound like it wants to start...but will never start. Remember that it starts great out of the water.<br /><br />Any suggestions?

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Won't start in water...runs fine out

Was the tank vent open when you tried it on the water? Think first of starting procedure -- any difference between starting on the muffs and in the water.<br /><br />It is possible that you have a clogged jet -- idles OK, but starved for fuel when you accelerate. When you are operating on the muffs, are you able to accelerate without stalling? Without back pressure, you can't get a full test, but you should be able to rev the engine without it dying if there is no fuel starvation problem. Don't really rev it on the muffs -- just bump the throttle very briefly to see if the engine is going to accelerate without dying.

 

[signus-x]

Re: Won't start in water...runs fine out

With the muffs I can rev the engine up no problem.<br /><br />I'm not sure on what your talking about with the tank vent open. The starting procedure is the same in and out. The only difference is on the water I have to have the accellerator forward a bit (like revved up) in order to get it to even start. With muffs I can just leave it right at idle and it'll start.

 

[oldboat1]

Re: Won't start in water...runs fine out

If you are running with a portable tank, there is an airvent that has to be screwed open in order to allow gas to be drawn into the engine. If you are sure the starting procedure is the same in and out of the water, I'm at a loss. If you trailer the boat with the engine tilted up, the carb bowls are probably empty when you put it in the water -- remedied when you manually pump gas to the motor (the bulb in the gas line, or a primer plunger on a permanent line).

 

[Beernutz]

Re: Won't start in water...runs fine out

Sounds like the backpressure created by the water is preventing the intake charge from flowing into your cylinders. Does it spit back out of the carbs excessively? Maybe damaged reed valves.<br /><br />Have you run a compression check?