outboard wont start

BobM · Sep 22, 2011

Had a similar problem. I suggest you take the carb off and clean it. In particular check the float to see if it is stuck. Giving the carb bowl a good whack before you pull it might shake it loose too. Try that before you take it off, then try starting it again.

mr c · Sep 22, 2011

Any Autoparts store sells a spark tester. This tester will guarantee their is enough spark to get it started. (12,000 volts min. To light the tester) hope this helps.

Stu Jackson · Sep 22, 2011

Make sure your kill switch is deactivated. Lemme tell you how I know...:dance:

jdratlif · Sep 23, 2011

I agree with BobM. If you pull the starter rope and the engine just spins and it doesn't sound like any combustion is happening you have 2 possible problems. You are not getting any gas in your air mixture or you are not getting any spark. If you have already verified spark, you can verify if fuel is making it to the cylinder. You can do this by removing the spark plugs and wiping them down with a cloth until the electrodes look dry. Be careful to not push to hard on the electrodes. Re-install the the spark plugs. If the engine has a primer ball press it 10 to 20 times and then pull the starter rope a couple times. If there is no primer bulb, turn the choke on and pull the starter rope about 10 times. Remove the spark plugs and check to see if the electrodes look wet. If they look the same as they did after you cleaned them, then there is a fuel supply problem. The most likely cause is the pin on the carb float has been gummed up.

Allan12210 · Sep 23, 2011

Mine had just enough water in the carb bowl that algae grew and it clogged the main jet. Had to take it apart and completely clean everything and blow that jet out. Then it fired right up and runs fine.

Rick I · Sep 23, 2011

ethanol, the curse of the small outboard. How fresh is your "fresh" fuel? Clean the carb. Try and get gas without ethanol.

Winkfish · Sep 23, 2011

Does it turn over at all? Does it sound like it "wants" to start but just won't catch? Or does it really do "nothing"?

jimmyb · Sep 23, 2011

solosail said:
Rick l fresh as in that day fresh didnt want to take a chance it was bad gas
Winkfish wants to start but wont catch.

Thanks
KB

Pull the plug, make sure it is not fouled, better to just install a new one. Put a squirt of carb cleaner into the cylinder and reinstall the plug. It the engine runs for a couple seconds and dies you have a fouled carb. It it doesnt start at all you probably have an ignition issue.

Years of working on 2 stroke motors as a motorcycle tech. most problems are simple as a
1 foulded plug
then look for
2 dirty fuel or carb
3 bad cdi
4 most unlikely bad coil
5 low compression

You must ground the plug when checking spark because many ignition systems can be damaged if you dont.

A good repair manual will walk you step by step through the diagnostics. Every one who works on their own engines should have one.

jimmyb