1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

[PoonToonBabe]

Hi guys! I'm hoping that you are able to help... This past weekend we were dropping our pontoon in and when I cranked it the motor revved like crazy. I immediately cut it off, let it sit and cranked it again and it started like normal. So then we're running the boat up river and the RPMs start fluctuating while at max speed, almost like it's missing. After awhile it was doing it less and less, but when we dropped down to idle, it was really, really rough. It is currently with the mechanic, but he's kinda scratching his head at this point. Does anyone have any experience with this? Can you offer any ideas?

Edit: Sorry, it's a 1999 90HP Evinrude Ficht

 

[PoonToonBabe]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Anyone? Bueller?

What are the chances all of this is just coming from a tank of bad gas? The gas is fresh, but perhaps bad from the station? Clogged fuel filter?

Please help a girl out!!

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Ficht - Found In Channel Hardly Turning

Sorry

I feel your pain...

 

[PoonToonBabe]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Ficht - Found In Channel Hardly Turning

Sorry

I feel your pain...

Thanks... Yeah, I wish we would have done some research on the motor before purchasing it. Overall it has actually been very good to us.............until now

 

[noelm]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

You may have a fuel leak, if it revs up very high when at idle, possible places are the lift pump the vapour seperator or maybe even an injector, I think this may require a "man" to check it out for you. Look for someone who knows these engines and does say things like "found in channel hardly turning" because he will be of no help, simply because he has no idea!

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

noelm your right - I have no idea. Fichts are not servicable by normal people. Without proper software they are un diagnosable, unchangable and without the proper tools and a wad of cash unservicable.

For a huge amount of owners they are found in the channel hardly turning. There are the few lucky ones who have had good service from them.

 

[PoonToonBabe]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

You may have a fuel leak, if it revs up very high when at idle, possible places are the lift pump the vapour seperator or maybe even an injector, I think this may require a "man" to check it out for you. Look for someone who knows these engines and does say things like "found in channel hardly turning" because he will be of no help, simply because he has no idea!

Thanks for your input! I do have a "man" (mechanic) checking it out right now (definitely didn't say that I was trying to fix it myself), but on the call this morning he said that he has been unable to find anything wrong with it so far... It's not revving high when idling, quite the opposite actually. It's running rough and sounds like it might cut out and die any second. The part about revving high was when I cranked the ignition. It was at night, so perhaps it stuck and I wasn't able to see. It didn't do that again, so mostly the problem is focused on the rough idle and the fluctuating RPMs when at speed. Perhaps its a fuel pump issue....

 

[eriebronze]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

not sure on the 90's but my 225 did the same thing. Found out it dropped the pin from the number 5 injector into the engine. Maybe you have one going out, leaking by?

 

[noelm]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

noelm your right - I have no idea. Fichts are not servicable by normal people. Without proper software they are un diagnosable, unchangable and without the proper tools and a wad of cash unservicable.

For a huge amount of owners they are found in the channel hardly turning. There are the few lucky ones who have had good service from them.

they are no different to any modern motor, BUT, they were modern while everyone else was still using carbies and other old tech, you can still do routine service yourself, plugs, filters, gear oil and a dozen other things, just like any motor today. Diagnosis is not different to any other motor either, you need spark, compression and fuel, you can test and check all of these things with basic home hand tools.

 

[boobie]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

When is the last time the spark plugs were replaced in it? You have to use the correct plugs in this mtr. There was an OMC service bulletin on this back in those days. Hope you get it running.

 

[mtonello]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

I have the same motor and the same problem.
Motor takes 20 minutes to get to the point it will allow me to throttle it up. I can't get it above 4,500 rpm consistently. It throttles down like it is choking
no smoke, just struggles to get up to power and skips out of higher level rpms.

I've removed all old fuel, changed and indexed plugs, changed filter.

What was your fix? Anybody else with recommendations?
I've had it to a mechanic twice, with no conclusions, said it had good compression all around

-mt

 

[82montauk]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Having similar problem with my 1999 90 / 115 ficht. shut down while running 3500 rpm. idled back to ramp at 800 rpm, wouldn't start the next day. Now I can get it started but it's very rough, rev's high occasionally, and won't run for more than 30-45 seconds. BRP/OMC mechanic said it's my fuel pump that won't hold pressure, buy my guage says it holds at 22psi just fine. Maybe he was talking about the lift pump as mentioned above. I've replace my plugs, fuel/water separator. I removed and "cleaned" the vapor separator. Fuel tank has been cleaned. Would love to get it running again without taking it back to mechanic so. Considering buying the diagnostic software - anyone used the one sold on ebay for $70? Any help appreciated.

 

[noelm]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

lets put something straight here, for all the people who know absolutely nothing about Fichts, except what they heard after a few beers at the local! the 90 and 115HP Fichts did not suffer any common problems, they were and still are a great motor, regardless of the year they were made, of the V6 models, only a certain couple of HP models ahd major drama, but it was published around and the bad name stuck like glue to all the Ficht models and years, you have a good motor, and well worth spending a few dollars on, try plugs first, make sure you get the correct ones and do a search for indexing, so you install them correctly.

 

[tim1198]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Having similar problem with my 1999 90 / 115 ficht. shut down while running 3500 rpm. idled back to ramp at 800 rpm, wouldn't start the next day. Now I can get it started but it's very rough, rev's high occasionally, and won't run for more than 30-45 seconds. BRP/OMC mechanic said it's my fuel pump that won't hold pressure, buy my guage says it holds at 22psi just fine. Maybe he was talking about the lift pump as mentioned above. I've replace my plugs, fuel/water separator. I removed and "cleaned" the vapor separator. Fuel tank has been cleaned. Would love to get it running again without taking it back to mechanic so. Considering buying the diagnostic software - anyone used the one sold on ebay for $70? Any help appreciated.

---------------------
I had the exact same problem that was intermittent for a few weeks (runs poorly, then runs perfectly). Then, finally stayed running poorly. I hooked up the diagnostics software on a laptop (showed no error code), triggered the injectors and found #2 injector was not working. Swapped cables to isolate that it's the injector and not electrical.

I believe it's crud build-up inside the FI that is causing it to be stuck. I'm soaking it overninght with Seafoam to see if I can unstick it. The new part is $600, and to rebuild is $250.

I now know for a fact it is an injector problem.

Any ideas on how to take it apart?
Tim

p.s.
The ebay kit works well. Just need to have a laptop that has the 9pin serial output. Most Dell Latitudes have them. I transferred the floppy contents onto a usb and put it on my hard-drive. I see ads where you can get it for $50 on this forum (just search).

 

[82montauk]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Tim - I took an injector off to see what it did when the fuel pump was turned on, but that's about as far as I went with it. I also replaced the fuel pump / vapor separator unit with one I found on ebay - still surging and cutting off. Have you had any luck fixing/cleaning the injector? I'm now thinking it's one of three things - computer, injector, or lift pump.

 

[tim1198]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

Tim - I took an injector off to see what it did when the fuel pump was turned on, but that's about as far as I went with it. I also replaced the fuel pump / vapor separator unit with one I found on ebay - still surging and cutting off. Have you had any luck fixing/cleaning the injector? I'm now thinking it's one of three things - computer, injector, or lift pump.

There are 2 fuel pumps in the Fichts: The one in the front of the engine (lift pump) that draws fuel out of the tank, and the second one is in the back of the enginer (vapor separator).

I also replaced a bad fuel injector (used ficht diags software to pinpoint). And now that the FI is fixed, I have a fuel starvation problem. Pretty much everything in the fuel system is replaced, and I can run very well intermittently. Then it runs like crap.

To diagnose whether it's the lift pump, you can take it up to WOT, and manually pump the bulb. If that makes it run well again, it's the lift pump; get the $38 rebuild kit.

I rebuilt the lift pump, and while rebuilding, removed all the fuel lines to inspect, and it appeared that the output of the vapor separator pump was clogged; I found this out after I messed with it for a while, the entire content of the vapor separator emptied onto my driveway. Before this, I could hear the VS pump whine when the key is turned on (10 seconds on time). After the system was drained, there is no more whine, and the pump is at 25psi. I"m trying it on the lake this weekend.

 

[PoonToonBabe]

Re: 1999 Evinrude Ficht: rough idle, fluctuating RPM

There are 2 fuel pumps in the Fichts: The one in the front of the engine (lift pump) that draws fuel out of the tank, and the second one is in the back of the enginer (vapor separator).

I also replaced a bad fuel injector (used ficht diags software to pinpoint). And now that the FI is fixed, I have a fuel starvation problem. Pretty much everything in the fuel system is replaced, and I can run very well intermittently. Then it runs like crap.

To diagnose whether it's the lift pump, you can take it up to WOT, and manually pump the bulb. If that makes it run well again, it's the lift pump; get the $38 rebuild kit.

I rebuilt the lift pump, and while rebuilding, removed all the fuel lines to inspect, and it appeared that the output of the vapor separator pump was clogged; I found this out after I messed with it for a while, the entire content of the vapor separator emptied onto my driveway. Before this, I could hear the VS pump whine when the key is turned on (10 seconds on time). After the system was drained, there is no more whine, and the pump is at 25psi. I"m trying it on the lake this weekend.

Thanks for your input. This has been fixed for awhile, but you're right, we had the fuel lift pump replaced and it runs like a dream now.