Help, Outboard not starting

Stevie J · 06 June 2009, 11:27

Help! Tried to start my Mariner 90 but reluctant to fire then nothing. Have checked fue line, and shaft of outboard submerged in big tub of water. Have added car battery to boat battery for extra juice but still nothing. the flywheel turns when key turned but not biting!

Starter moter getting hot and a bit smokey so scared I burn it out.

What are the symptoms of water in the fuel? The tank I'm using has been outside all winter!

What damage will I have done if it is water in the fuel?

Any help much appreciated!

JSP · 06 June 2009, 12:03

This might sound really stupid but I've done a few times. But make sure the kill cord is on right.
If you in doubt about water being in the tank play safe and bin the fuel (people more experienced on here maybe able to tell you of a better way) has the tank had fuel in it all winter?

neilda · 06 June 2009, 12:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

This might sound really stupid but I've done a few times. But make sure the kill cord is on right.

Yep. I've done this.

JSP · 06 June 2009, 12:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilda

Yep. I've done this.

You feel a right plonker don't ya?

neilda · 06 June 2009, 12:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by JSP

You feel a right plonker don't ya?

Yes, particularly when the head of the dry stack leans over the harbour wall with a withering look and says "KILL CORD!"

There's no decent riposte to this - I might have said 'Yes, I know', or 'I'm testing the fail safe systems' or 'D'uh, thanks mate'.

I went with the latter.

JSP · 06 June 2009, 12:38

Luckily I've only done it once in front of someone. And I just said "You F'ing idiot!" like it was the boats fault.

Stevie J · 06 June 2009, 13:05

Done that with the kill cord myself before when I had a 40hp with a manual start. Just about killed myself pulling on that thing only to find the kill cord dangling from my belt after about 20 minutes! Duh!

Panic over here. Went and got fresh fuel, drained the fuel line and conected her up. Started first time. Don't know if the engine was flooded or water in the fuel or repeated combinations of both but running fine now.

Cheers guys!

JSP · 06 June 2009, 13:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stevie J

Done that with the kill cord myself before when I had a 40hp with a manual start. Just about killed myself pulling on that thing only to find the kill cord dangling from my belt after about 20 minutes! Duh!

Quote:

Panic over here. Went and got fresh fuel, drained the fuel line and conected her up. Started first time. Don't know if the engine was flooded or water in the fuel or repeated combinations of both but running fine now.

Cheers guys!

Nice one

Turbodiesel · 06 June 2009, 21:04

Have you got a spark on all three cylinders?

jyasaki · 07 June 2009, 06:29

Off topic, sorry.

Some buddies of mine ended up calling the CG after unsuccessfully trying to start their Honda for about a half hour after coming up from a dive. CG sent a 41' MLB which took them in tow. After about 5 miles (about halfway back to the dock), they realized they were using a cord with the jetski kill switch key. Back at the dock (and after the CG left) they swapped the key and the motor fired right up.

Back on topic:

Stevie: Water in fuel probably won't cause much damage on a carbureted 4-stroke, as long as you can get the thing fired up and dried out. On a 2-stroke it will cause spotty oiling which could score cylinders and deform rings, but it's pretty unlikely at non-started rpms I would think. Don't know what it will do to injectors, but I bet it wouldn't be good for them.

Easy way to tell if you're sucking water is to disconnect the fuel line at the motor and smell what comes out. Pump some fuel (using the fuel bulb) into a glass container and let it sit for a bit (that will also tell you if you have a clogged fuel line.) Water and fuel will stratify.

If you have a water separating filter installed, remove it, dump it out, and reinstall it (or replace it.) It's possible that you've filled the thing up with water and it won't let anything through. A look at the bowl will tell you if you're getting water and fuel in (water sits in the bottom of the bowl.)

Luck;

jky

Steve Waters · 07 June 2009, 08:36

It's far more likely that the petrol is "dead" especially if it was in a vented container over the winter. The fuel could be used in a car mixed with lots more or you can add octane booster to restore the (I think) Benzene that evaporates and reduces the combustability of the petrol. I rotate all mt fuel stocks (generator, motorbike, RIB lawnmower!) if they are stored for a while they become virtually useless by themselves. I had a 125 Honda that wouldn't start after 7 days standing unless you drained the carb!!
Steve