engine trouble
I got some engine trouble on my boat, but i think one of you guys may have an idea, as i think it's a general mechanical problem rather than marine specific. We ran the engine for around 4 hours, then suddenly stall -splut stop. Engine cuts out won't re-start. Long story involving the coastguard and it's back on our mooring. Anywho - i figure the plugs are nackered maybee from running abit rich for so long at full throttle, so swapped out the plugs, it's pull start - it turns but doesn't fire! BUGGER! The new plugs are dry even if i flood the carb and try to start... Although when I push the fuel advance (primer) I can hear fuel being pumped in to the carb and it's not coming out anywhere else (overflow etc..) Being an outboard means it's not quite as easy to pull carbs and stuff, so i need to try and figure it out away from the motor, dry plugs and a motor that won't run, obviously indicated a fuel problem, but fuels getting to the carb, is the most likely cause a shitted up carb or something else? Is there a way of finding out if fuels getting to the plugs without pulling the motor apart?

haha - you called the coastguard.... thinking out loud.. dont know outboards but have you deffinately got a decent spark? how does it make its sparks? mag or coil elec ign. or points? if it suddenly cut out id be more thinking electrics than fuel but thats bikes i guess. if it was fuel then it would die gradually like my bike does when i forget to fill it no? what motor is it? ill see if i can download a manual this afternoon if i get a minute on the fuel side - you can hear the fuel pump whirring but do you know its actually pumping anything? can you take the line off the pump and see if it spits fuel when prime it or is that tucked away too? stick to bikes mate - you cant push home on the water..... oh and if my brother offers any handy carb tips IGNORE HIM COMPLETELY - its not his forte haha

haha - thanks mate! There's no fuel pump it's gravity/suction fed in to the carb. I've got a manual in typical fashion it just says, perhaps you have run out of fuel or not turned on the fuel tap! Yup big help! I'm praying it's not electrics they're Orrible on these motors. I'm going down there this evening, might chuck a drop of fuel in teh plugs and see if that works, that could narrow the carbs blocked down. I havn't checked for a spark, mainly because of the huge amout of raw petrol i'd just sloshed all over the floor trying to fill the tender which had run dry 1/2 way to the boat... yes it gets better! and figured i wouldn't try and set fire to the boat just yet... Will see how i get on tonight else i'll pull it and take it somewhere, just trying to figure out why my new plugs are dry and don't smell of fuel...? Arrrggghhhh

wimp..... check for a spark like a man - grab hold of the plug and start it - youll know if theres a spark and your hand is shielding it from the fuel... haha

May I suggest you just keep turning screws on the carb randomly until something happens. That way when you have to take the lawnmower back for a complete service the guy has no idea where to start. The old spark plug zap is bad enough when you do not expect it, ask a mate to hold it for you, or a ladyfriend if you don not want her bothering you in the garage anymore. To avoid her subsequently not letting you bother her in the bedroom try feign surprise and say it could be part of the problem you are trying to slve and that it should not have happened. If I can be of more assistance please do not hesitate to ask. Fashion tips also a speciality. Just ask Dave

How old's the motor an how often do you run it? Could be crap bunging up one of the carb jets. When I was in the RAF on Ascension Island I used to run a 26 footer with a big fuck off Volvo Penta V8. It had a 4 barrel Holley and I was forever stripping it to clean it. Salt water environments and modern petrol don't like each other. You can get a sort of algea building up in your fuel tanks that'll clog everything. If you leave it it turns hard as rock and is a bugger to remove. I suggest a good strip and clean. I think you can get some sort of inhibitor from marine supply shops that you put in your tank. It won't stop it but it'll slow it down.

Thanks guys, usefull advise as ever! Electrocuting and setting fire to the Ms'! I'd just bought the boat and I was just collecting it, 30 mins from home when it went. With the nights drawing and my roll cab 3 miles away, and the boat on a mooring, i pulled the engine and gave it to the local shop. It had only been run twice all year according to the bloke i bought it off so... so prob could do with a good going over anyways. Will let you know what we find!