Old Evinrude 6hp intermitent bad starter

[epsilonblue]

I Have an Evinrude 6hp 2 stroke out board that has since I've owned it (4yrs) been really unreliable on starting. It now seems to be getting worse, sometimes it will start 1st or second pull. On other occasions I have to pull countless number of times. The Engine is quite old about 20 years, but I only use this to get out of the creek to race the boat so dont want to spend a lot of lolly on a new one, added to which I dont take kindly to being beaten by anything mechanical
I have cleaned out the carb (twice) Changed the plugs and checked the gaps, the spark seems substantial.
I am sure it is a fuel stavation and have checked the fuel pump delivery. If I disconnect the fuel pipe from the carb and turn the engine over only a small amount of fuel drips out, compared with when I squeeze the rubber ball. However once the engine starts it runs like a bird and there is no evidence of fuel stavation. I have checked the obvious.There is a lot of talk here about ethanol but the fuel is fresh. Any suggestions please? Epsilonblue.

 

[Stu Jackson]

Had the same problem a few years ago. Check the kill switch wiring, sometimes it gets grayed and interferes with starting.

 

[sailingdog]

Have you replaced the fuel hoses/lines? It could be an air leak in the fuel lines. Have you replaced the carb jets. Cleaning the carb won't fix the problem if the carb jets are clogged due to corrosion, which could be the case.

 

[Charlie13958]

I have an 8 horse with the same problem, usually the result of flooding. Try the first couple of pulls without choking.

 

[Warren Milberg]

I had an old Evinrude 6 hp years ago. It had both a choke lever and another knob to push in order to prime the engine when cold. It was very easy to flood this engine by priming it more than once. Also, I found that the gas/oil mix resulted in a carbon build-up in the cylinders over time. I used one of those "tune-up in a spray can" products that really cleaned out the engine (with lots of blue smoke) and then it ran fine afterward. Worth a try for a few bucks.

 

[epsilonblue]

thanks for the quick responses, Going to investigate again today, Fitted new hose Bulb assembly when I got the engine, does any one know how much fuel should come through the pipe to the carb when the engine is turned over with the plugs out?

 

[Stu Jackson]

does any one know how much fuel should come through the pipe to the carb when the engine is turned over with the plugs out?

How many times did you squeeze the bulb??? Turned over? Hand start?

 

[kloudie1]

OMC went to electronic ignition on those in 1977.. If the engine is older than that, I would suspect the magneto points rub block may have worn a bunch.. If newer, then the ground wire and timing and other ignition stuff should be checked, as others have noted. If your start technique is the same as it was previous, and you are sure the fuel side isn't a problem, then ignition is next.. Good Luck with it.. I have a 1967 OMC 6 hp that works just fine..

 

[greenminnow]

Bottom line on that motor... if the compression is good, I would get it fixed! Brian

 

[epsilonblue]

Thanks again for the advice. It started like a dream I stripped out the carb again and blew out the jets etc with an air line. As usual with this type of fault I cant be certain what has cured it, I am suspicious of the tickover adjustment next to the pull cord, i was advised by a repair man that this is critical and have recalibrated setting unscrew from fully in: one and a quarter turns out. Time will tell as I have been here before!! Happy Sailing Guys Epsilonblue