motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

[bunga_2]

Before I post my problem I would like to say "hello" to all here. I have been reading everyone's posts and replies for some time now. We just bought a boat from a friend last week. Took it out on the lake and it ran nicely! Came home, paid for it and ran right back to the lake to play. Being our first boat, we believed the fuel gauge when it said we had half a tank (ha ha). Promtply ran out of gas. Got a tow back to shore and put a half a tank full of LOW OCTANE about 84 or so. Duh. Now that we know better, we filled up the rest of the tank with 92 octane. Motor would not start for anything. Gave up and went home. Next day, went back to the lake and tried to start - nada. Gave up and went home. Finially bought a flush connector so we could try the motor out of the water, and it started right up, just a little rough. Ran it for a minute or so then stopped it thinking it ran out any air in the fuel lines caused by us running it out of gas. Next day, back to the lake and the battery gave up by then, so we bought a new one. Cranked fine now with new battery, but once the engine starts, it turns over a few times, then quits. Consistently. I thought maybe the fuel tank had built up negaitve pressure, so took off the fuel cap, nope no problem there. We did it all; started with no prime or choke, then tried with one squeeze of the primer, then tried with nothing, then tried choking a bit, then nothing choked it some more, still nada. It would start just long enough to think this time it will run! Then quit. Gave up again and came home. Thought I will hook it up to the garden hose one more time. Started up on the first turn of the key! Ran a bit rough for about 5 seconds, then no problem at all! Go figure?! Ok now for the specs. Its a 1989 Force 85HP outboard on a 17ft Maxum. <br />Now that you have spend the last half hour reading this post, do you have any clue why this motor is giving me nightmares? Tomorrow or the next day, my repair manual will be arriving in the mail (hopefully) and between us all maybe I can get this running before next weekend when we go on vacation!<br /><br />Thanks to all who reply in advance!

 

[12Footer]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

I know exactly why this engine is giving you "the buisness"..The guy who sold it to you hadn't run it in a year or better.<br />Am I right? He probably said "it runs great",and wasn't lying.<br />open the gas tank and give a short sniff.<br />Smells like varnish. Now, let's bring her back from the dead

<br />Take out the tank (Gawd, I hope it aint a built-in tank!!) and drain it,clean it spottless inside,and dispose of the old gas in the proper manner (I take it to the same parts store that takes my motor oil).<br />Remove the screws around the fuel output fitting on the tank,and remove the pickup tube/fitting assembly. Clean it good,and put it back together.<br />Inspect fuel lines. They should be very subtle,and not stiff. Look closley at it while bending it.If you see any tiny cracks,replace it,the primer bulb and fittings (switch to merc type fittings as the Chrysler type bite,and are impossable to change out in rough water).<br />I'll ggit right back to ya..............<br /><br />------------------<br />the Early bird get's the worm...So, he don't have to stop for bait.

 

[12Footer]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

Where were we? BTW, Congrats on the new aquisition

<br />The tiny cracks in the fuel line will be in the outer coating (forgot that)....<br />The 85Force has a compression-operated,2-stage fuel pump. Remove the single screw on the top of it (the housing where the fuel line atatches to the pump) ,and remove the screen. Clean it spotless.<br />Next,remove the 4 screws holding the pump to the engine body. Gently tap the pump housing with the screwdriver unitl it breaks seal.<br />Pull up the housing,and inspect the rubber diaphram. With a straight-edge razor blade or exacto knife,gently work it off from one edge.Once you have an edge,gently pull it off the rest of the way. Look for small pieces of the rubber coating inside to be missing,and there will be the tiny cracks. No worries, they are less than 16bukz.<br />We're not done, but about halfway to ski-city.<br />Once you've got the fuel delivery system back to spec, the dreaded carbs are next.<br />You might be ok here,so once the fuel pump is buttoned-up, mix a gallon of gas with 3 oz of TW-C3 oil,and pump up the ball till solid. This may take 15 pumps or so.If it gets solid,and no fuel is leaking from the carbs, crank it up on the garden hose (I like to use a 55gal plastic garbage can with a drain fitting in the bottom..Werks better).<br />If she is still sick,we may have to go into them....Let us know, and again congrats on the new ride.<br />Boats are like that. But it's all worth it when all is said and done.<br /><br /> <br /><br /><br />------------------<br />the Early bird get's the worm...So, he don't have to stop for bait.

 

[KarlG]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

Here is a GOOD guess. The water pump is shot and when the engine is in the water it runs briefly until censor heats and shuts down. It runs on the hose because the water presure is pushing thru the engine keeping it cool. Probably was run out of the water at some point, these pumps go very fast.

 

[pwilke]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

Yes, the water pump impeller is probably shot if the boat has been sitting and you don't want to blow up your motor. Change out the impeller, its not that difficult but get another person to help you if you can when you have to remove the lower unit and replace it. As far as the gas tank being the potential problem get yourself a cheap outboard gas tank setup if you don't have one, (good to carry one with you anyway for an emergency gas source). Hook that up to your motor instead of using the tank thats built into your boat and see what happens. You can even use the tank at the lake but I would at least get a 6 gallon one. Good possibility that you could even have some water in the tank on the boat. Its always good to use a good filter system if the boat doesn't already have one. Good Luck and welcome to Boat Motor World........

 

[Smokepole27]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

Hmm at first it sounded like your float needle was stuck or sticking on the 3rd carb. Glad you goterdone

 

[CharlieB]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

A drop or two of water in the bottom of the tank as you ran it dry, could be lurking in a carb preventing fuel from flowing and a cyl NOT firing, on the hose it can still SEEM to run fine but once in the water with back pressure of water in the lower leg, then all is NOT OK.

Drain each float bowl, it is a pain but you MUST get that drop of water out.

Pump the primer bulb and 'flush' each carb while you have it open, one at a time.

Install a water separating filter to prevent future problems.

 

[Smokepole27]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

Im not sure if it works on 2 strokes but cant you put alcohol in the bowl or fuel tank and shouldnt it burn out??

 

[roscoe]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

Why are you people digging up and answering a 10 YEAR OLD post?
The original poster never even replied back.

But for what its worth, there's no heat sensor to shut down the motor.

Starting with the basics is always best, instead of guessing what might be wrong, and fixing it, without knowing if it was indeed a problem at all.

Start by INSPECTING the spark plugs.
Then check spark.
Then compression.
Then fuel delivery.

It also pays dividends if you use the proper starting procedure.

 

[Smokepole27]

Re: motor works with garden hose but not in lake???

HAHA I didnt see that....