Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 13-10-2014, 16:16   #31
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: France
Boat: Beneteau 343 (34', 10.8m)
Posts: 66
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

to clarify:
- all my gas is non-ethanol ever since I learned the hard way not to put ethanol-based gas into a small outboard.
- you can buy non-ethanol gas in certain states and in the Bahamas
- the old gas I started with came from Bahamas - non-ethanol
- the new gas I just tried was from USA and not more than a month old

I have ordered a compression gauge which will determine if I have a gasket problem.

The carb will be soaked in cleaner tonight. Hopefully with better results.

Thanks for all the advice!
Kenpimentel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 16:34   #32
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 170
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenpimentel View Post
Are there definitive signs of a blown head gasket I could look for - without removing the head?

There is no water in the oil.

When I removed my old spark plugs, they were black at the tips from poor fuel mixture (I assume). I did not see any sign of water at that point.

I would go with the clean fuel and carb clean first. The head gasket is possibility, but fairly remote.......unless the engine has been overheated in the past.
Old Snipe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 16:58   #33
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: San Diego, CA
Posts: 6,616
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Here is a trick that has worked in the past with small engines. If you've sprayed carb cleaner in the carb and you still feel that it's gummed up, remove the air filter and use a stiff piece of cardboard to cover the inlet to the carb while revving the engine in neutral. If you get a pretty good seal, you'll see the engine drop RPM, move the cardboard away just a little to allow the engine to regain RPM, then block it again.

Keep doing this for 5 min. or more. The point of it is to use the engine vacuum to suck the gummed up gas out of the small passages in the carb. It might even work better with a very high concentration of Seafoam in a small container of gas. I've had very good success with this technique if it really is a gummed up carb.

I'm still worried about the white smoke. If it really is steam from a blown head gasket, I think they sell fluorescent dye that you can add to the engine coolant, if it shows up in the exhaust, you know you have a blown head gasket. Another tell tale symptom is bubbles in the coolant over flow tank, higher than normal pressure in the coolant system.

Keep us informed!
socaldmax is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 18:05   #34
Registered User
 
Therapy's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: W Florida
Boat: Still have the 33yo Jon boat. But now a CATAMARAN. Nice little 18' Bay Cat.
Posts: 7,083
Images: 4
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Quote:
Originally Posted by socaldmax View Post
Here is a trick that has worked in the past with small engines. If you've sprayed carb cleaner in the carb and you still feel that it's gummed up, remove the air filter and use a stiff piece of cardboard to cover the inlet to the carb while revving the engine in neutral. If you get a pretty good seal, you'll see the engine drop RPM, move the cardboard away just a little to allow the engine to regain RPM, then block it again.

Keep doing this for 5 min. or more. The point of it is to use the engine vacuum to suck the gummed up gas out of the small passages in the carb. It might even work better with a very high concentration of Seafoam in a small container of gas. I've had very good success with this technique if it really is a gummed up carb.

I'm still worried about the white smoke. If it really is steam from a blown head gasket, I think they sell fluorescent dye that you can add to the engine coolant, if it shows up in the exhaust, you know you have a blown head gasket. Another tell tale symptom is bubbles in the coolant over flow tank, higher than normal pressure in the coolant system.

Keep us informed!
It is an outboard. There is no coolant tank. The coolant tank is what ever body of water you are running in.

And just soaking a carb overnight in some stuff is insufficient. Air in those small passages do not allow the liquid in....sometimes. No liquid means the same gunk stays. Must dip and blow out with air multiple times. Unless you use an ultrasonic machine.
__________________
Who knows what is next.
Therapy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 18:06   #35
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA
Boat: ARENDS 33' YACHT
Posts: 4
Smile Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Hi,
Before you do too many drastic things, make sure that the vent in the fuel tank is actually clear and allowing atmospheric pressure into the tank. If the vent is blocked your fuel to air ratio is out and your spark plugs will have a black soot on them. Also check that the fuel filter in the line or at the botom of the tank is clear.
Please let me know how this goes.
stew.b is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 19:27   #36
Registered User
 
svmariane's Avatar

Join Date: May 2007
Location: On the hard due to wife's medical condition.
Boat: Sold, alas, because life happens.
Posts: 1,829
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Quote:
Originally Posted by Annie in WA View Post
If your wife isn't happy with your boat's outboard, sell it and get a new outboard. Even if you fix this one, with what you've gone through with it she may never trust it again. If your wife enjoys boating with you count your blessings and keep it that way.
Roger that!

Try as I would, and also with several mechanics "overhauling" the motor, my wife could never get our old - very balky - 9.9 Nisan 2-stroke started. T'was the motivating reason for discarding and replacing it with an electric Torqeedo Travel 1003.

Now, my wife merely pushes the "start" button and goes as/where/when she likes. Then, when back at the mother-ship, she simply plugs in the recharge cable. Our solar panels & wind turbine take care of the rest. Easy-Peasy.

{Truth tell: I'd dearly LOVE to purchase a 15 HP 4-stroke for use on the RIB as our private TugBoat or, you know, for when the wind kicks up to 27 knots in harbour but the beer-locker is empty! Then I'd just stick the Torqeedo on our 8-ft Walker Bay and we'd have "His & Her" dinghies! But... in the larger scheme of things I prefer to keep a smile on my wife's face. So the Torqeedo is what we have. Anybody know the winning numbers for next week's lotto??? }
__________________
"Being offended is not the same thing as being right." Dave Barry.
Laughter is the salve that keeps reality from scaring.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯
svmariane is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 21:12   #37
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
Images: 1
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

I had similar engine problems. Spent lots of time disassembling and cleaning the carb, changing the fuel, adjusting the jets. No difference. Finally decided, as a last resort, to rebuild the fuel pump.

End of problem.
onestepcsy37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-10-2014, 21:30   #38
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 3,709
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky


When you hear hoof beats don't think "zebras".


Your symptoms are all consistent with bad fuel - now or in the past. Either bad Bahamas gas, remains of the the ethanol gas, 9 month old gas, or ethanol caused varnish buildup on the carb jets. Most likely a combination of all.

If you ask around, you'll find very few stories of ethanol fouled small four cycle outboards that end with a happy "but it's been running great ever since". Most stories end with "I got so disgusted with the thing that I bought a new outboard"
CarlF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 05:44   #39
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: France
Boat: Beneteau 343 (34', 10.8m)
Posts: 66
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Update:
- heavily soaked carb with carb cleaner overnight
- Carefully blew out all jets with air
- On startup, same issue
- It will run with choke out, runs rough, fuel sheen on water, white smoke
- Putting the choke in makes in run better, but it only runs for about 5 seconds before dying, this is with minimum throttle
- When throttle is wide, then no issues with choke in
- Wife is raising an eyebrow, I think she's confirming her hypothesis that I don't know what the hell I'm doing...
Kenpimentel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 05:49   #40
Registered User
 
ontherocks83's Avatar

Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: Warwick RI
Boat: Catalina 30
Posts: 1,877
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Try adjusting your idle mixture screw. Try backing it out in 1/4 to 1/2 turn increments and see if anything changes
__________________
-Si Vis Pacem Parabellum
-Molon Labe
ontherocks83 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 05:57   #41
Moderator Emeritus
 
a64pilot's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,348
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Quote:
Originally Posted by Kenpimentel View Post
- When throttle is wide, then no issues with choke in
Your idle circuit is clogged, I missed the point before where you said it ran OK at high throttle settings, of course that is when it's off the idle circuit and on the main.

Not to sound ridiculous, but what are you soaking it in? A one Gl can of carb cleaner with a strainer basket, right? You are completely dis-assembling the carb, removing all plastic, O rings and gaskets before soaking?

I'd bet lunch it's the idle circuit, and I don't do that unless I'm real sure
a64pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 06:11   #42
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: France
Boat: Beneteau 343 (34', 10.8m)
Posts: 66
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

As I think I mentioned earlier, I don't know what I'm doing, so I simply removed the bowl and a plate thingy that is on the top of the carb. I replaced the gasket on the top thingy and the bowl gasket.

I guess you're suggesting I should have done a lot more. In the past, even with ethanol problems, this was sufficient to get it to work. Perhaps something much more is needed now.

TODO:
- I have ordered a new carb ($90) because I'm getting desperate.
- I have ordered a compression tester because I want to make sure I eliminate the gasket issue before buying everything I'd need to replace the head gasket
- I will try the idler screw adjust - but that is kind of avoiding the problem as it still won't run right, but it might avoid a few stalls.
- I will investigate the fuel pump and see how complex that is to delve into

I think that is the list. I already eliminated suspect gas as an issue.
Kenpimentel is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 06:16   #43
Registered User
 
Vasco's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: Toronto
Boat: CS36Merlin, "La Belle Aurore"
Posts: 7,557
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot View Post
Your idle circuit is clogged, I missed the point before where you said it ran OK at high throttle settings, of course that is when it's off the idle circuit and on the main.

Not to sound ridiculous, but what are you soaking it in? A one Gl can of carb cleaner with a strainer basket, right? You are completely dis-assembling the carb, removing all plastic, O rings and gaskets before soaking?

I'd bet lunch it's the idle circuit, and I don't do that unless I'm real sure
I think you're right. I've had similar problems with a Yamaha 2 stroke and it was the idle jet, sometimes hard to get at. In the Yammy it's covered by a rubber plug.
__________________
Rick I
Toronto in summer, Bahamas in winter.
Vasco is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 07:10   #44
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Rocky's Boat Yard
Boat: Tayana V42 - Passages
Posts: 658
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

All jets and nozzles should be removed when cleaning carb.
__________________
You can make more money but you can't make more time.
jcapo is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 14-10-2014, 07:52   #45
Moderator Emeritus
 
a64pilot's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,348
Re: Wife ain't happy - outboard has turned flaky

Your best bet is the carb you have ordered, once that fixes it, have the old one professionally cleaned, that way you'll never need it.
If your using real carb cleaner, then the plastic and O rings that may have been left in the carb you may have to replace.

Did you use something like this?
NAPA AUTO PARTS
a64pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
outboard

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
The Market Has Turned sandy daugherty Dollars & Cents 206 18-09-2011 11:54
Flaky Tacometer freedbill Engines and Propulsion Systems 10 19-08-2010 08:19
This ain't right? knottybuoyz Multihull Sailboats 15 04-05-2008 10:36
Anyone know about debugging a flaky tach? Paul L Engines and Propulsion Systems 2 31-07-2005 06:15

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 14:39.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.