Outboard engine won't start

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Squadron

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Nov 8, 2009
35
Hunter 22 Charleston, SC
Hey guys (and girls!)

We've been enjoying some beautiful post-work sailing and weekend sailing recently, we've been learning more and more and more with every time out.

We even had to take down the mast to run new wiring up to the top, which was fun in rolling waves at the marina... but that's another story.

Now that the lights are working, we have a beautifully working bilge pump, and we've been learning more and more about the Art of Sailing... the engine is having problems.

If I need to, I can have it looked at by a mechanic, but I used to work on my car in high school and absolutely love playing with these things, so I figured I'd take a whack at it. Anyone have any good references for learning about these semi-simple engines? The one I have is a 9hp Evinrude long shaft from the late 80s, carburated. Right now the problem we're having is that the engine won't start. We pull on the pull start after squeezing the squeeze bulb on the fuel line a few times, and nothing happens. I'll then disconnect the fuel line and open the engine cover, and when I replace it again the engine will turn over a few times and then die.

I've made sure that the fuel line isn't clogged, and I've made sure that the spark plug is good and spark is getting created.

Not sure what we can try now. I had a friend/mechanic look at it and he thinks there may be water getting into the engine. Does this sound right? And if so, what's the best way to fix this?

Thanks! And if anyone can recommend any good references for learning about these monsters, please let me know!
 
J

jimoc

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Sep 27, 2008
30
Catalina 28 Newport Beach
Carburator drain plug

Look for a small brass screw at the bottom of the fuel bowl. Back it out a few turns, careful!, not all the way out. Look for water or sludge coming out. I'll bet you are using old fuel. If so dump it and wash out the tank with alcohol. Worked for me !! Good luck.
 
T

txtowman

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Mar 8, 2009
530
Catalina 22 Kemah,Texas
add some seafoam to the fuel, spray the intake with carb cleaner, remove all old fuel.
 
jibes138

jibes138

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Jan 27, 2008
3,092
ODay 35 Beaufort, NC
try this

Since you have a two stroke and it runs a little then dies, it does not sound electrical but fuel related. Take off your carburetor, remove the float bowl clean it out of any sediment and old fuel. Remove the jet and adjusting screw, clean all parts in carburetor cleaner like gumout. Reassemble everything making sure your mixture adjusting screw is set to the exact same position. Get some new gas and mix with oil to the right mixture. Fire it up, Once it runs adjust the mixture screw to the idel RPM's recommended in the manual. It might say turn the screw a little each way to get maximum RPM's at idle. My guess is this will fix the problem. Two stroke are really simple engines but fuel allowed to sit will turn to varnish in the carburetor and the oil will increase in concentration as the gasoline evaporate messing up the parts. I ran a 2.2 mercury and every winter would rebuild the carburetor like I note above. Ran the engine for about 12 years using it a lot. then I bought a 4 HP johnson, had that for about 13 years also a two stroke. Still runs great.. Good luck and let us kknow how it works out.
 
BobM

BobM

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Jun 10, 2004
3,269
S2 9.2A Winthrop, MA
Check the priming bulb. They have a relatively short life and if it is cracked it may be breaking siphon.
 
greenminnow

greenminnow

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Sep 28, 2005
56
-Florida Bay Boat Co. -Peep Hen Minnesota
You want to make sure you have good compression and spark. If these are good you probably need a carb kit replacement. Brian
 
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