I'll do my best to explain...
I bought it last week and it started up on the first try after sitting all winter from the previous owner I took it out that same day on a nearby lake and it started up on the first or second time the several times I turned the motor on and off. During this past week, I ran it on muffs in my yard two different times. It started right up with no issues.
Then I stopped and got gas today and went to the lake. The motor was raised, I backed it in, and beached it. I pushed it out so I was floating away from shore, climbed aboard and lowered the motor down so the lower end was covered with water, but still elevated. I was in 4-5' of water and no where near the bottom. I tried starting it and the motor just turned and turned. I checked the kill/safety switch to make sure it was engaged, I primed the bulb several times, Idouble checked the oil reservoir to make sure it had oil and it had plenty. I tried it so many times that the battery went dead.
I got it home in the driveway and put another battery in, hooked up the muffs, and same thing. Just turned and turned, but wouldn't start.
I drove it a couple miles down the road to a friend who used to be a marine mechanic. Same thing there, but then all of a sudden it just started right up as soon as the key turned. He has no idea what the deal was, but thought it might have been some sort of safety thing. When you first turn the key part way, the alarm beeps and four lights come on and then go out one by one (low oil, overheat, etc). He thought maybe it has to cycle through that safety checklist before you try to fire it up. It was just a theory though We tried it several more times after it finally started and it started right up every time.
I have no idea what the problem was or how to fix it or prevent it from happening in the future. Any ideas?
I bought it last week and it started up on the first try after sitting all winter from the previous owner I took it out that same day on a nearby lake and it started up on the first or second time the several times I turned the motor on and off. During this past week, I ran it on muffs in my yard two different times. It started right up with no issues.
Then I stopped and got gas today and went to the lake. The motor was raised, I backed it in, and beached it. I pushed it out so I was floating away from shore, climbed aboard and lowered the motor down so the lower end was covered with water, but still elevated. I was in 4-5' of water and no where near the bottom. I tried starting it and the motor just turned and turned. I checked the kill/safety switch to make sure it was engaged, I primed the bulb several times, Idouble checked the oil reservoir to make sure it had oil and it had plenty. I tried it so many times that the battery went dead.
I got it home in the driveway and put another battery in, hooked up the muffs, and same thing. Just turned and turned, but wouldn't start.
I drove it a couple miles down the road to a friend who used to be a marine mechanic. Same thing there, but then all of a sudden it just started right up as soon as the key turned. He has no idea what the deal was, but thought it might have been some sort of safety thing. When you first turn the key part way, the alarm beeps and four lights come on and then go out one by one (low oil, overheat, etc). He thought maybe it has to cycle through that safety checklist before you try to fire it up. It was just a theory though We tried it several more times after it finally started and it started right up every time.
I have no idea what the problem was or how to fix it or prevent it from happening in the future. Any ideas?