1976 Evinrude, 55hp, two probs, floods easily, it just dies

[Tyler785]

I have a 1976 Evinrude outboard, 55 hp. It is on a 1991 16' quantum bass boat, v-hull.

I have two problems that may or may not be related.

1. After pumpin the gas bulb till it's firm. I turn the key and the motor tries to start, but usually it won't fire up right away and it will flood (i think) really quickly. I will then take out the spark plugs and they will be soaked. I spray some brake parts cleaner on them, let them dry, wait 15 minutes, put them back in and try to start motor again. It will then rev and turn over and usually run after that. I've had to do this a lot though. sometimes if I run it everyday it won't do this.

2. Yesterday After I initially got the motor running, it will idle for 5-20 seconds, then it just dies has done it for two days in a row. The day before, we were out running it on the lake for about an hour, then it just died and wouldn't start up like this again. It wouldn't even rev up-so we thought it was the battery, but I charged it up all night and it still did same thing.

What can I do or is it the carbs or what? I also ran some seafoam in the gas and ran that through a little while ago.

Does this motor have an alternator and charge the battery while it runs?

Thanks guys. let me know if you have any questions.

Tyler

 

[reload]

Re: 1976 Evinrude, 55hp, two probs, floods easily, it just dies

Are you choking it when it floods? After you get it running, how well does it idle? When you say rev up, do you mean crank or do you mean rise above idle? I've never seen a electric start without a way to keep the battery charged?

 

[mikesea]

Re: 1976 Evinrude, 55hp, two probs, floods easily, it just dies

the fact you were running around problem free then it quit with a flooding problem,could be the fuel pump diaphram blew and fuel is pouring into the engine,pull the fuel pump off,if its the type that has a hole on the back whereby it gets its pulse to work (there will be a gasket,)notice if any gas is oozing out that hole when you squeeze the ball,or you may have a newer type ,where the pulse is a seperate hose,do the same test and see of raw gas comes out that hose,no gas should be present where the pulse enters the fuel pump.if there is gas,get a new pump or rebuild old,if thats not the problem,you may have a stuck carb float,needle your engine has a charging system under the flywheel,there should be a rectifier on the starbord side its triangular with round top,red wire and 2 yellow with a grey stripe it is part of the system,if you have a tachometer,it works off charging system,if the tach works,your charging,if tach dont work,it could just be a broken tach,or prob in system,you dont need a tach for system to operate,some boats dont have a tach

 

[Tyler785]

Re: 1976 Evinrude, 55hp, two probs, floods easily, it just dies

reload:

sometimes I choke it to see if it changes anything, should I be? When I do choke, it is a toggle and I'll hold it up for 1-4 seconds usually, I think it is electric choke.

When I say rev up, I mean crank. It idle's good.

mikesea:

I had the flooding problem before the engine quitting problem or the second problem. I took the pump apart already and looked at it and tightened up the hoses. a new pump is too much money for me right now, hope that's not it. My tach used to work every once in a while, but it hasn't worked at all in awhile.

How hard is it to check that carb stuff and/or clean the carbs?

Thanks!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 1976 Evinrude, 55hp, two probs, floods easily, it just dies

tach isn't working recitifer is probably shot not charging the battery. rectifer, carbs, fuel pump, check compression, and spark on all cylinders.