Outboard stalls and quites

[TrailerCruiser]

When the engine is all warmed up, the outboard will dye, when slowing down to idle, while in gear. Also hard to keep running in neutral, as well as hard to restart. When the engine is just warming up it idles fine in neutral and in gear. Any ideas might be causing this problem and steps to resolve.

[rbk]

Assuming it’s a 2 stroke you may be able to simply adjust the idle setting. If it’s a modern 2 or 4 stroke those are usually factory settings and unlikely the cause. I would inspect all fuel lines while you’re at it, some fuel lines really don’t play well with ethanol and will fail internally causing fuel restriction, could need new plugs? Really need more engine info to trouble shoot.

[TrailerCruiser]

It is a Tahotsu 9.9 4 stroke. Yes I have used ethanol in the hose, tank has non-ethanol gas that I got at a marine fuel dock. Suppose I could get new hose and bulb.

[TrailerCruiser]

I should add the engine is a 2015 model Tahotsu.,

[rbk]

Check a manual and see if you’re allowed to adjust the idle speed. Some do some don’t. I would check a few fuel lines but unlikely that’s the culprit. Fouled/failing injector, check fuel pump, bad plug, check compression, check spark are see what’s off. It’s unlikely a simple idle speed, something else is most likely

[TrailerCruiser]

I'll see about the idle adjustment. I'm going to get a new hose and inline fuel filter. As for the fuel pump why would it work fine when I first leave the mother-ship after startup, but not when I return after running at 3/4 speed for 20 minutes or so. Back to the hose, my hose is black rubber. I'm guessing this hose might not be compatible with ethanol, so I'm wondering if this hose might the culprit.

[Pegu Club]

Could be water in the gas, we had similar symptoms, we drained the outboard tank and carb, put in new gas and presto, no more stalling.

Fair winds,

[TrailerCruiser]

Thank you for the info. Tank was empty a month ago, and then I put fresh gas in it from a marina fuel dock (non-ethanol)? Suppose some water might have gotten into tank from rain, but we haven't had much rain since I filled up.
Maybe I'll tip the tank up on a corner and try to siphon some fuel out of the bottom of the tank into clear glass jar and see what I find?

[Pegu Club]

Trailercruiser , hope it works out for you, ��

Fair winds,

[Flatswing]

Check the hose from tank. Black hoses are famous for delamination blocking fuel flow. If yours is black, 1st thing (& least expensive )I would do is switch to a gray fuel hose.

[IslandInfedel]

Air
Fuel
Spark

I’d replace the fuel filter, check the air filter, look at the plugs



Other thoughts would the carb (jets) needing a good cleaning.

[Catboat Willy]

The fuel pump in many of these small engines does get an adequate amount of fuel engine's carb. for restarting or you've tilted the engine so as to drain the carb.of fuel.
Perhaps thisd video will help;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nSBnPaX5Hw8

[chris mac]

This is one of those odd things that never get checked, but causes similar problems.
Under the gas cap of your tank, check how tight the pickup hose is to the cap. They sometimes work loose and the vibration will allow air intake.
It is rare, but a real bugger to figure out!

[KBDick]

My 4hp Suzuki 4 stroke wont idle due to plugged jet or jets in the card. Clean the jets and drain fuel before leaving it for long time.

[rbk]

This is a fuel injected 4 stroke. No carb to clean, jets to plug or bowls to drain. Air fuel spark as mentioned above. Cold starts initiate a high idle so the fuel pump is pushing more fuel and overcoming another problem, sounds like a fuel problem check filters and lines first. Could be a failing or plugged pump as well. If that all checks out check the intake, then start in on the ignition system.