My first on-the-river breakdown

mudtertel · Jun 2, 2011

I have the same problem with my 8hp 4 stroke. I put STP gas treatment It takes awhile but it does clear up. I don't know if you can use that on 2 stroke. Sometime moisture gets in the carb, the dry gas breaks it up ( not right away) Good luck to you and good sailing.

timebandit · Jun 2, 2011

If you are having trouble with tank rust use Kreem. I have used it in motorcycle tanks new and old for over 30 years.

http://www.jpcycles.com/product/720-469?utm_medium=cse&utm_source=bingshopping

SubdriverMC · Jun 3, 2011

I had a similar problem last year. I have a 6Hp 4 cycle Merc on my boat. I called a Merc engineer and asked her if ethanol could be a culprit and she told me that the ethanol issues weren't true. That was wrong. I cut open my fuel line (and bulb) and it was totally clogged with solid gunk. I have since bought only enthanol free gas at the marina and have not suffered any issues. Starts up on the first pull.

I do keep an extra fuel filter readily available incase of garbage gets in the fuel but no problems with the fuel lines being gunked up.

R,

Marty

DAVA390 said:
Hot and sunny in Baltimore today, we realized it would be slow going in light air. We had to go out early because kids, grandkids, coming for dinner.
We figured if no wind, motor around a while, enjoy early time on river.
Motor out Middle River from Md. Marina (30 minutes?), hunting some wind out on the bay. Finding none, decide to motor out to Hart-Miller, explore, go swimming. (45 minutes?)

18 ft. boat 4hp Yamaha. We bought this boat last summer, motor has ALWAYS run like a champ. Starts first pull every time, after dewinterize this spring same thing this year. I used fresh gas, mix somewhere between 100/1 (Yamaha specified) and 50/1 (my mechanic specified). Now, when I bought the gas this spring, I didn't check to see if it had ethanol. Even so, this is 5th trip out this summer, always runs great. Until today.

On the way to the marina, I stopped and bought 1.5 gallons gas at Royal Farms at Bengies drive in theater. I looked at several pumps, not seeing any stickers indicating they have any Ethanol mix. I find myself doing that at every station now because at work we are having hell with small tools, pumps, plate tampers, saws, etc.

To this 1.5 gallons, I added about 3 oz. of Sthill 2 cycle oil (what was left in can). I know it wasn't a precise measurement, but thought if it was a little heavy,would dilute in rest of gas in 3 gallon tank.

The engine started and ran fine, but when we got out to the island, it wouldn't stay running at slow speeds or idle. I had to hold the choke knob halfway closed to keep it running at low speed to get into gear from neutral.

Same thing when we restarted 30 mins later to return. 1 hr ride in, running great, stalled out at low speed 7 houses up the river from the marina. When restarted, get it running at low, kick into gear, instantly stalled out.

Drifted into someones pier (wind way against me here), walked to marina, got tugged in by their push barge. All of this in 92 degrees after being out 3 hrs plus. The Admiral is not happy with me.

So campers, did Ethanol finally catch up with me, or am I asking too much of a 4HP (1998 2 stroke) Yamaha, or bad Karma? Discuss please, but be gentle.

Dave

dkdoyle · Jun 3, 2011

DAVA390 said:
Well folks, it looks like I`ve had some good luck. Outside tonight,all fresh supplies and spray carb cleaner and fuel treatment in the tank. Got her running on the third or fourth pull, let it run for quite a while (while we ate dinner nearby in the screen porch) It di well, although I did tweek the idle ip 1/2 turn after it was good and warm. The big test was kicking it in gear and not stalling, this worked well.
The wife and I always say we learn something each time out. Although this was expensive, we got 2 learns for our money. Pay closer attention to fuel ,oil, tank etc. and NEVER put the sails below until you are back on the trailor!! Thanks all, good night. Dave

Congrats.

jibes138 · Jun 4, 2011

Be careful soaking things in gasoline. A spark and you have an explosion. I use gumout or similar carb cleaner to soak things in when doing this. It is cheap and cuts varnish quite well. i used to rebuild the carb each winter whether it needed it or not. You may just need to adjust the idle speed screw setting. Get it running and then turn the screw a quarter turn each way to see if it gets better or worse. I think they recommend setting it at the setting that gives you maximum RPM's, but you only use your ears for that determination. Maybe a meter that connects to the plug wire would be better. I was recently having a lawnmower problem and tried to rebuild the carb to find out they are sealed units and not user fixable. Ended up buying a new lawnmower, for only a couple hundred not worth screwing around with spare parts or mechanic fees at 50 bucks an hour or more.

Maine Sail · Jun 12, 2011

JVB said:
I never heard of a two-stroke engine running on 100-1 gas-oil mixture. Is that really what any manufacturer recommends ? It sounds to me that you have been too casual in your approach to what goes into the gas tank, i.e. fuel, oil, and ethanol.

Yamaha's have been 100:1 well back into the late 80's. I've been running our 50:1 2001 Johnson 4 HP twin cylinder @ 100:1 now since 2006 on Amsoil Sabre oil.. No smoke, faster and runs a LOT better, except for ethanol issues...

Do NOT try 100:1 on a 50:1 engine if not using a synthetic rated to run 50:1 engines at 100:1...

As for the OP I find Yamaha's do not like rich oil gas. Ran 50:1 in my dads Yamaha for an hour and it started running very badly. Thinned the gas and it came right back to life... I'd run it at 100:1 using Yamaha oil or a high quality aftermarket oil like Amsoil Sabre.

Congrats on getting her running! I do suspect though that you may be due for an in-line filter change and carb cleaning.

dkdoyle · Jun 13, 2011

Congradulations Dave. Way better to spend a day sailing.

Tkterrific · Jun 20, 2011

Outboard fix

dkdoyle said:
Sounds like bad luck or clogged fuel filter. Too bad you couldn't sail back.

Sounds like a vacuum leak. Replace the hose and squeeze ball fuel hose. Any small leak will disrupt flow and cause stalling. Make sure it is connected flush on both ends so no air can leak. Also, always use 89 octane gas. Better quality. Be exact about mixing. I suggest you buy the small bottles of oil that way you can use one bottle of oil for each gal. of gas and always have the exact 50 to 1 ratio. Finally and most important, always use marine two cycle oil in your gas. It has an additive that lets it burn at colder temperatures that air cooled engines. That will help with the smoking problem. If you continue to use the non marine oil it will plug up the exhaust valves in your engine resulting in a costly repair even engine failure. While you are at, it go buy yourself a couple of new plugs and re-gap them to the proper gap. My boating season routine is always fresh 89 octane gas, exact marine oil mix, new plugs, change lower gear oil, grease any grease points. Engine always preforms flawlessly all summer. I sail on Lake Mich. so I don,t need any engine surprises. Hope this helps you out. TK