04 Yam 50 hp fuel enrichment switch-how long can it be on?

[richgr]

Obvious newbie here. I have a 2004 Yam 50 2 stroke. How long can I run it with the enrichment switch in the emergency position before doing damage? It won't run at idle unless its in that position. I'm off next week and don't want to waste it with the boat at the shop, I'm guessing the carbs need to be cleaned again.

I bought the motor new and had no issues until a few months ago when I got water in the fuel and had to have the carbs rebuilt (twice), fuel drained (twice), separator installed, etc. Still getting a lot of water in the separator too but I don't know why. Mechanic said to keep running around and stopping to empty the separator every 15-30 mins. He said water is working its way out from around all the baffles in the fuel tank (Key Largo).

Did that for a couple of hours with no issues. Now, about three weeks later, it won't run at idle. Hence the question; can I run it with the switch in emergency? Thanks

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 04 Yam 50 hp fuel enrichment switch-how long can it be on?

if its pre-mix you can run it lean until a piston burns, if its oil injected you can run it with an over rich gasoline mix until either a rod bearing fails or a piston burns.
the wait for a carb job is usually shorter than the wait for a rebuild and a carb job and Yamaha warrenty wont cover water/debris in the carbs.
choice is yours,run it till it blows or simply fix it.
luckily a carb job on that engine only takes about 1 1/2 hours. much more than that and someone is milking it.
also be aware that water in a cast aluminium fuel bowl tends to severly corrode the bowl possibly rendering them non repairable.
folks it is customers like this that keep me in a decent income bracket and pay for the hay for my horse

 

[slasmith1]

Re: 04 Yam 50 hp fuel enrichment switch-how long can it be on?

Rod thanks for that post sometimes i need to laugh at honesty. most people call it sarcasm when i do it.

 

[richgr]

Re: 04 Yam 50 hp fuel enrichment switch-how long can it be on?

folks it is customers like this that keep me in a decent income bracket and pay for the hay for my horse

First of all, thanks for the information on the mechanics of the consequences of running it the way I said.

But, Rod, I'm just trying to learn and to find out if it's safe to do what I said. I haven't done it and I have no intention of contributing to your 'decent income bracket'.

Thanks for throwing in the smartass, conceited, and unnecessary comment, you really know how to make a person feel welcome. Must be a mechanic thing, the dealer mechanic is full of himself too.

 

[rodbolt]

Re: 04 Yam 50 hp fuel enrichment switch-how long can it be on?

hahaha
call it what you wish.
I deal with it daily but I still try to help.
all you asked was how long, I replied.
did you ask how to fix it?
nope.
but I did tell you about how long it takes and what to expect.
if you wish to do it yourself its rather simple, most the time all you will need is some basic hand tools, a can of spray cleaner,a few strands of copper wire that has been stripped a can of CRC-06064 or equivalent carb spray,safty goggles and safty gloves.
remove the airbox,,relocate the oil tank for a bit,dissconect the oil link,remove the carbs and associated lines and electrical connectors and head for the work bench.
carbs pretty much need to be removed as an assmbly and reinstalled the same way. if you dont tear the gaskets or lose any orings and no orings are damaged its a matter of clearing the debris and reassembling everthing.
but ya gotta admit, I did get your attention.
to many times I will tell folks something and they dont get it and continue then beef cause it tore up.
however I have found if I irritate them they remember
but yes to many customers tear up the gear then when I am trying to figgure out why it "just quit" I find that the customer was aware there was a problem but it ran kinda and they went anyway.
its very rare that a mechanical failure occurs just cause. usually it was caused.