Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

[superlund]

Hello all new to this forum, I've had this motor for 3 years now & it's always been very hard to start. I had not used it much this summer, but today was beautiful (low 70's) so I took the boat out & could not get it started.<br />Would sputter & die, the starter eventually got so hot it burned up, even though I would wait a couple minutes between long periods of cranking.<br />It was hard to start when I fished every weekend, but never this bad. I can replace the starter, but need to figure out how to fix the hard starting condition before I toast another starter. Any help would be great!<br />Thanks in advance<br />-Jim

 

[ob]

Re: Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

superlund,If your boat has set for an extended period out of use ,your carburetors are probably fouled.This may have been your initial problem as well and has since gotten worse.They will need to be removed and dismantled to perform the job.Might also insure that all sparkplugs are firing.

 

[superlund]

Re: Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

Thanks, since I had taken the day off & could not fish, I decided to diagnois the hard start, I found..<br />1) Pinched 3/8" fuel inlet (75% pinch/restriction)<br />2) Two fuel filters, a water separating type & another plastic inline under cowl<br />3) Spark plugs were gapped @ .040<br />4) Low compression on #3, <br />5) Blown head gasket on #3<br />6) Broken top piston ring & ring land on #3 piston <br /><br />I assume the first three were responsible for the hard start I always had, and that #1 & #2 led to #4-#6 would this be a correct assumption??

 

[ob]

Re: Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

Was the pinched fuel line you found the carb inlet to # 3?If so this would indeed cause that cylinder to run lean and lead to the low compression reading.What was the actual reading on #3?And were the filters you mentioned restricted or what?Didn't get the gist of your statement.In any case,good luck on your rebuild if that's what your intention is.

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

.040 is NOT a problem on the plugs...infact it will idle better.<br /> I would also make sure your fuel enrichment solenoid is working as it should.

 

[superlund]

Re: Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

The pinched fuel inlet line was the main fuel line to the VRO, the last time I had checked the compression (4/02) all cylinders were 115 PSI. I didn't even check it this time, I pulled the spark plugs & found the milky oil all over the #3 plug so I pulled the head & found the problem. Funny thing, the head gasket was leaking directly at the same spot where the piston ring & land had broken off.<br />About the fuel filters, I am going to guess that (2) filters instead of (1) were contributing to the fuel restriction problem?? <br />So .040 plug gap is OK on this motor? I browsed thru this forum some & came to the conclusion that .030 was preferred? <br />I'll check the fuel enrichment solenoid, is this also called the quick start solenoid that replaces a conventional choke/blade system? Do these cause problems often?<br />Yes a rebuild of the power head is on the way...I plan to tackle it myself. <br />-Jim

 

[walleyehed]

Re: Hard Starting 1996 Evinrude 115 V4 W/ VRO

.030 is what the manual says but we recieved a service bulliton yrs back about plug gap...for trolling or long time idles, .040 creates a higher flame front and fouls less.