My outboard won't start - Page 2

Stevie J · 10 April 2010, 15:49

No, it's an old 2 stroke.

Lain unused all winter and hardly used last year.

David G · 10 April 2010, 15:58

Maybe it's completely flooded now?

Take all the plugs out, disconnect the fuel and turn it over a few times, leave for a while, turn over a few more times, drain the carbs down completely.

Then start again

Nos4r2 · 10 April 2010, 19:18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie J

Plenty compression, sparking fine.

Put wee drop of petrol in each plug socket and recleaned the plugs.

Still nothing!

Don't get this!

Did you pump enough fuel through that it's got fresh fuel all the way up the fuel line?

Stevie J · 10 April 2010, 20:29

The bulb was rock hard and the carbs filled up again. When I took out the plugs to check for sparks they were wet with petrol.

Swithering between thinking the fuel pump isn't working one minute and that I'm flooding it the next!

Seriously thinking of getting one of those boats with the big stick in the middle with the flappy thing on it!

Nos4r2 · 10 April 2010, 20:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie J

The bulb was rock hard and the carbs filled up again. When I took out the plugs to check for sparks they were wet with petrol.

Swithering between thinking the fuel pump isn't working one minute and that I'm flooding it the next!

Seriously thinking of getting one of those boats with the big stick in the middle with the flappy thing on it!

Open the middle floatbowl drain up and start pumping fuel through with the primer bulb 'til you smell fresh fuel.

Take the plugs out and dry them by holding them in a flame (well away from the engine as it'll probably stink of fuel by now) and turn the engine over for 10 seconds with the killcord off and the plugs out.

Try to restart it without any choke or fast idle for a while.

blinddog · 10 April 2010, 20:48

If all fails go and speak to Dave Anderson at Tayport 01383 541848 he will sort you out.

Stevie J · 10 April 2010, 20:56

Cheers guys.

Will give it another go tomorrow.

REN_RIBNET · 10 April 2010, 21:21

Choke is not working, would be my guess.

i know i will be qrusified by the purists out there, but put clean/fresh plugs in and give it a dap of starter ether.
If it rumbles a bit, focus your attention on fuel system, if it doesent, its ignition.

R

C-NUMB · 10 April 2010, 21:41

You might try with start spray? If ignition works it will fire/start for a while, sometimes this also is enoght to get the carbs workin. Dont know how good/bad this stuf is for the engine but guess not too bad if not using often. Can be tricky to spray in to 3 carbs simulaneysly though.

Nos4r2 · 10 April 2010, 21:45

DON'T use easystart EVER on a 2 stroke.

The plugs are wet and it's got sparks. You should only need to get fresh fuel through the system. If the plugs are wet with fuel the choke is probably working.It sounds flooded with stale fuel.

Stevie J · 10 April 2010, 22:43

Good you said that! I was thinking cold start spray was an option to kick it over and try and pull fresh fuel through.

biffer · 11 April 2010, 11:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

DON'T use easystart EVER on a 2 stroke.

The plugs are wet and it's got sparks. You should only need to get fresh fuel through the system. If the plugs are wet with fuel the choke is probably working.It sounds flooded with stale fuel.

i'm with you on this one, they reckon 17 weeks for fuel to go stale

Poly · 11 April 2010, 11:22

Stevie,

I'm no expert. But it strikes me that:

(1) you've never drained the carbs.
(2) the carb drains are difficult to get to so possibly the previous owner has never drained the carbs
(3) it sounds like you've stored it with fuel in the carbs possibly gumming everything up (is the oil mixed before it goes into the carb)

So the carbs are probably full of little bits of crap / water / gunk and trying to "force these through into the engine is just going to block the jets.

So it would be worth getting the carbs drained / flushed through properly. Presumably if you manage to get it running on 2 cylinders then the 3rd one is getting no oil and if you keep running it like that you will develop much more serious issues?

Being able to drain the carbs is useful anyway as if you get water in your fuel then you need to be able to do this - possibly at sea.

Stevie J · 11 April 2010, 13:42

Still nothing!

Battery pretty flat now so have ordered 6m jump leads to reach my car battery.

Ho hum!

Nos4r2 · 12 April 2010, 17:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie J

Still nothing!

Battery pretty flat now so have ordered 6m jump leads to reach my car battery.

Ho hum!

Take the carbs off (as one lump if you can).

Drop the float bowls off and clean them out inside then try again.

Jizm · 12 April 2010, 17:33

Do you have a spark or not? tried new plugs?

Stevie J · 12 April 2010, 20:14

Putting it into Ferry Marine at Port Edgar to get it fixed. Money money money!

Jizm · 12 April 2010, 21:06

oh....
you give up too easy!

Stevie J · 12 April 2010, 22:05

Just afraid I cause greater damage to the engine by contantly turning it over.

Since I don't know why it won't start I don't know what it is doing to it!

At least this way it gets fixed and I can use the boat again!

Cheers evrybody for the tips and advice.

Will post a reason for the non starting once I know.

Happy Ribbing all!

Stoo · 12 April 2010, 23:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nos4r2

DON'T use easystart EVER on a 2 stroke.

Why is that? I've heard this for years, but never with an explanation.

I have used a wee shot of ether to get my snowblower and lawnmowers going at the beginning of each season for ever. One is a 4 stoke and the other a 2. Neither one seems to have suffered from it.