25 Evinrude floods very easily

[ndolbear1]

Hello. I have a 25 Evinrude that is an '89 or '90 model. It has an automatic choke. It floods SO easily. I thought the needle valve may be stuck, so I had the carb rebuilt by a local shop. It runs extemely well, but still floods. I pump the bulb until hard. I don't touch the primer at all. It cranks on the first or second pull. If I try to open the trottle too soon, it's all over for a while. Is there anything else that can cause and engine to flood? Thanks for any advice.<br /><br />ND

 

[OBJ]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Hello ND and welcome to iboats.<br /><br />Some common reasons for flooding are sticky float needle, improperly set float or, in your case, the primer solenoid is letting gas in when it shouldn't. Take a look at the solenoid. The red lever on it should be pointing toward the back or bottom of the solenoid. If it's not, it's allowing gas in when it shouldn't.<br /><br />If the lever is OK, start the engine and pull the primer hose to the carb off. If it's spurting gas while the engine is running and the solenoid isn't energized, the problem is in the solenoid or the solenoid vlv is stuck to the "open" position.<br /><br />Take a look. Let us know what ya' find....thanks.

 

[fireman57]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Do you have a red lever on your choke? It could be pulled forward like you choked it manually and be flooding. Let me get this right, you have an electric choke but you start it manually? You might just have to let it warm up a bit. Do you have the same trouble on a warm start?

 

[ndolbear1]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Thanks for the great ideas, guys! I will check it out again tomorrow. <br /><br />Fireman57 - You're right. It does great once it warms up, but it's hard to keep the throttle just right while it warms up. Too little and it dies... too much and it floods. It doesn't have an electric choke. The choke is controlled by the throttle. When the throttle is on the "start" line, the butterfly is closed. When I open the throttle, the butterfly opens. It took me a while to figure out that I had to open the throttle a lot more to start it when it was hot. <br /><br />It occurs mainly when cold, but I have started it hot and opened the throttle too quickly which causes it to die and flood. <br /><br />My primer has 3 red & white pictures beside it that appear to be priming instructions. Too much of it is gone for me to understand. Do you guys know what that diagram means?<br /><br />Thanks again for the help!

 

[OBJ]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

OK ND....you said auto choke and I took for granted you had a primer solenoid. The butterfly you are refering to is the throttle plate not a choke plate. When starting the engine cold, use the primer to prime the engine with a pump or two and leave in the mid travel position. Start the engine with the warm up lever on the control up or if you have a simple control, pull out on the handle and push forward to open the throttle plates a little. Once the engine is started, return the primer to the full in position. Make sure the primer knob is all the way in during normal operation. Did the wrench that rebuilt the carb give you any instructions on setting the low speed needle?

 

[ndolbear1]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Sorry for the confusion. I assumed that was a choke plate since it restricted the air flow. The mechanic didn't mention the low speed needle. Is that the dial on the front of the carb?

 

[Johnnielund]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

I have a 1990 30 HP Johnson, tiller, pull start. I have to pump my primer 4 to 6 times and she'll light up on the first or second pull. Warm up a few minutes, push primer in all the way, and i'm good to go.

 

[OBJ]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Yes ND....that's the low speed adjustment needle. Turn the needle all the way in until GENTLY seated. Back out 1 1/2 to 2 turns out. Start the engine. This by the way should be done on the boat under way. After the engine warms up, retard the throttle down to idle. Turn the needle in 1/8 turn and allow 15 seconds between adjustments so the engine can respond. Continue this until the engine starts to run ragged and starts coughing. Turn the needle out about 1/4 turn. This should give you a smooth idle with the throttle plate closed.

 

[ndolbear1]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Thanks for the instructions. My primer does not stay in the out position. I pull it out and it gets sucked right back in all the way. This is my first outboard motor, so I though that was what it was supposed to do. Could something be creating a vacuum when I pull it out?

 

[OBJ]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

It's spring loaded ND to go back in so far. Sure it's going back all the way?

 

[Johnnielund]

Re: 25 Evinrude floods very easily

Your primer lever should have a red mark around the plastic knob. When the primer knob returns to the "in position", that red mark should be visible. This is considered the "warm up" position. After the motor warms up you must push the knob in all the way. Hope this helps.