Engine cutting out

[Verne243]

Hi guys. So I've looked through this subject on here and haven't seen this one yet, so I'm hoping this is one someone can answer.

I have a 98 Evinrude 60 HP 2 stroke on my boat. Lately it's started doing something odd. It'll be running along just fine on plane (RPMs and speed doesn't matter) and all of a sudden it just cuts out. Like comes to a complete stop. The motor doesn't shut off but if you try to give it gas again it spits and sputters and won't get back on plan.

If you shut the engine off and restart it, it cranks right up and carries on like nothing ever happened. This may be the only time it happens all day. Or sometimes it can happen again 5 minutes later. I've had it happen once during a whole day and I've had it happen 5 times within 30 minutes.

I'm thinking possibly coil packs, but honestly have no idea. If anyone has any suggestions, I'm all ears.

I have a brand new gas tank and hoses, and since I can turn it off and immediately start it right back up and it runs great, I don't think it's a fuel issue. I've changed the spark plugs with no effect. So I'm at a loss on this one.

Also, it does seem to happen more after it's been running for a little while, but I've also had it happen within 30 minutes of getting to the lake. The one time it happened multiple times within a short period of time, there were 3 guys in the boat and we were making a pretty long run. It would cut out after being on plane for 3 or 4 minutes, drop the boat dead in the water, I'd shut it off and restart it, get back on plane, then 3 or 4 minutes later the same thing would happen again. This happened maybe 6 times total before reaching the ramp.

One last thing. When it does this and I back off the throttle (without turning it off), it idles fine and rolls along like nothings wrong until I give it more gas. That's when the sputtering starts and it gets worse as you give it more throttle. But, again, as soon as I shut off the engine and restart it, everything goes back to normal.

[A1an]

How many carbs on that engine?

[neil.mccrirrick]

When it restarts are you just turning the key or are you pumping the bulb hard?

[paintman]

Did it do this before you changed the gas tank & fuel lines?

If not then I'd start looking at those - on the basis that if you change a part & a new fault appears it could well be the new part.

Is there anything that could be in the tank that is being drawn onto the pickup blocking the fuel flow & as soon as the demand drops it falls off again?
Something inside the fuel line or primer bulb that's doing the same?

Is there a fault with the gas tank breather?

[Verne243]

No, it's not a new fuel tank. I've had the boat for about 2 years and I put a new tank on it when I bought it. Again, I would think that if it was a fuel problem, it wouldn't start working perfectly again as soon as you shut if off and re-start it. But, that could make sense that something is getting caught up in the fuel tank of the bulb and then falling away when the engine is shut off.

I'll check this out, but could it possibly be something else?

Also, the motor has 3 carbs and I don't have to re-prime the bulb to restart it. Just turn the key off and start it right back up. Then, problem solved until it happens again.

[neil.mccrirrick]

So spark is good fuel is good. That has to mean it’s dragging air in somewhere it shouldn’t. I’d start by checking all the fuel lines including under hose clips. If all is good strip the fuel pump down

[neil.mccrirrick]

If nothing there check the floats on the carbs if one is not seated correctly that could cause this

[Nasher]

It sounds like something smothering the end of the fuel tank pick up to me.

It might carry on running at idle as enough fuel gets past to run, and when you turn the engine off completely the lack of suction from the pipe allows the blockage to fall away.

The same could also be happening with some manufacturing debris in the new Bulb or line.

I had a similar intermittent issue with my DT200 EFI years ago running from an underdeck built in tank.
When it stopped the bulb was sucked almost flat indicating a blockage at the tank end. It stopped when I eventually managed to fish out of the tank a piece of gasket material about 2 inches square that was floating around in the bottom of the tank.

Oh, and I assume the tank vent is open to allow air in?

[John Kennett]

Fuel line is my first guess from what you’ve described. Either something in the tank intermittently blocking the pickup, or a similar problem in the primer bulb.

[jeffstevens763@g]

Ignition switch corrosion or faulty kill switch

[paintman]

In your first post you said:

Originally Posted by Verne243

I have a brand new gas tank and hoses,

Then:

Originally Posted by Verne243

No, it's not a new fuel tank. I've had the boat for about 2 years and I put a new tank on it when I bought it.

So it isn't new & possibly defective parts.
Increases the likelihood that there may be an issue in the fuel system.

[Johno99]

I had something like it a while back. The pick up hose had come off inside the tank so petrol was only being picked up when it splashed over the metal part. I took the top off the tank and refixed the pick up hose with a jubilee clip. Problem solved. Also I had a problem ( another episode) with water getting into the top of an old tank, fitted a water trap and filter. Again problem solved.

[Johno99]

Let us know how you get on.

[Mumraa]

As nasher and paintman say, I think I’d rule out tank breather first.

[CherMac]

I had a loose wire in my throttle (Mercury engine) that created some weird engine cut outs.