"87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

Rapid Robert

Cadet
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
17
My 1987 Evinrude 40 HP; 2 cycle (Model E40TLCUD) motor will not keep running. It will start and then die out within 3 or 4 seconds.
I cleaned and rebuilt the carbs; installed a new fuel filter with new fuel lines and put new gas in tank. I can pump the gas bulb and it will start again and die again. It seems that it is starving for gas because the gas bulb is soft again until I pump it again. I took the fuel line off between the VRO (Variable Ratio Oil injector) gas/oil pump and carbs and turned it over for a couple of seconds and it seems to be pumping alright. How would I know if it is pumping strong enough?
The fuel filter is not the small, inline type that is stock. It is a large cannister type mounted outside the motor. That shouldn?t cause a problem, should it?
I could not find a rebuild kit for the VRO pump?just a complete unit for $360.00. I don?t want to spend that much money on a guess. Can that unit be taken apart and cleaned. Does anybody know of a source for a kit?

The low speed & high speed jets on this motor are fixed (no adjustments) plus I don?t see any choke on this motor. Maybe the electric primer on the remote control takes the place of a choke????
 

steelespike

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Apr 26, 2002
Messages
19,069
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

It is most likely a fuel dieivery issue.The motor has a primer see if it hewlps it keep running.The primer bulb is soft when the motor runs it shouldn't collapse.
Gas should pulse strongly out of the line.
You need to be sure all carb passages and jets are clean.
 

Rapid Robert

Cadet
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
17
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

I'm back to cleaning the carbs again. There are no needles for the low & high speed orfices. They are fixed openings. Do I have to take the orfices out to clean them properly?

What about the silver plugs...should they be taken out and replaced? Are there orfices behind these plugs? I have the rebuild kits for these carbs. I aready replaced the orfice below the float and the needle and adjusted the floats.

Is there anything else I should do?

I can keep the motor running by pressing in the key for priming. Does this mean my fuel pump is probably OK? I also did a blow test on the fuel pump. I could blow air towards the carbs but not the other way.

Thanks for your help.
 

Big Bubba

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 11, 2007
Messages
746
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

Rapid Robert,
Yes, clean those carbs out with a fine tooth comb. Yes, remove the jets but make sure you do not mix the jets up between the high spped, low speed, and intermediate becuase it will not run right if you do that, so please do not miss match the jets up make use the jet you removed is the exact same jet going in. If I was you remove 1 jet at a time and make sure it is clean and blow the passageway out that that jet goes into and then put the jet/orifice back in and make sure it is snugged, not smoked back in and then move onto the next jets which I believe or in the upper part of the carb. If I was you go to the www.brp.com website and go to your year, model # outboard and look at the carb break down picture for your particular carb. Each jet has a different size diameter nozzle opening so thatis why I say to make dang sure those jets don't get put back in the wrong holes but back into the holes they came out of. Yes. like an idiot I am I am going to have to take my carbs off and redo them again becuase I forgot to do the intermediate jet/orifice and thought I had only 2 jet/orifices on my carb which I have 3 of them and kinda think that is why my outoard is bogging/stalling sometimes when I go from nuetral/idle to forward throttle but does it sometimes not all of the time. Also F_R can get you the jet/orifice removal tool. I can PM you to give you his email address if you want to get that special jet/orifice removal tool fromk him. I did and he had it to me in less than a week. Take care, Bob:)
 

Big Bubba

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
Apr 11, 2007
Messages
746
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

Rapid Robert,
Here is the website I was talking about disregard the other one since it is not exactly the right web site but click on the web site below and select Johnson and select adavnce and hit enter then all the year model outbaord show up then you scroll down and select your year outbaord and then select the model then select the carb brakdown and your there.

http://epc.brp.com/login.aspx?ReturnUrl=/Default.aspx
 

Rapid Robert

Cadet
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
17
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

Thanks Big Bubba,

What about the silver core plugs...should they be taken out and replaced? Are there orfices behind these plugs?

I can keep the motor running by pressing in the key for priming. Does this mean my fuel pump is probably OK?
 

Daviet

Fleet Admiral
Joined
Sep 24, 2008
Messages
8,958
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

Some people remove them and some don't, core plugs, it all depends how dirty the carb is. By the way you are describing it your fuel pump is probably ok, but you can check it by removing output hose and cranking engine. It should squirt fuel when cranking, make sure to catch fuel in container.
 

Rapid Robert

Cadet
Joined
Jan 13, 2009
Messages
17
Re: "87 Evinrude 40 hp will not keep running

I cleaned the carbs again. This time I found the little brass tube in the middle of each carb plugged. I cleaned those out and PRESTO! It runs! It must be important to keep those main nozzles clear... right? :p

Thanks to all of you for your help. Steelspike...you were right from the get go. Thank you!
 
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