89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

[wolfiewolf]

I have an 89 gamefisher 15 hp made by Force that I just acquired. It runs fine and strong in the lower rpms but will bog down and loose power within 20 seconds of Appling WOT. If I apply choke it helps but doesn't fix it. It has new plugs, good spark, and I have only run ethanol free 50:1 mix since I bought it. These symptoms started in the short time since I have owned the motor. I also was told that I have to run the motor out of gas after every use because of a sticking inlet needle. Any ideas or suggestions would be great. Thanks in advance!

Wolf

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

Rebuild the fuel pump for starters. Those old diaphragms were not ethanol rated and get eaten by ethanol (old owner probably ran ethanol) and that 25 year old rubber part probably needs to be replaced anyway. The water pump will need a new impeller also if it hasn't been done yet, basic maintenance item.

If the fuel pump rebuild doesn't solve it, the outboard is probably sucking air through the fuel line somewhere, most likely at the quick disconnect. Pump up the primer bulb and keep it squeezed tight while looking at the quick disconnect, see if fuel drips from the connection. If fuel drips out, air will be drawn in. I have this problem with mine every so often and repositioning the fuel hose fixes it.

Beyond that, it might need a carb rebuild, pretty simple carb.

I run mine out of gas before loading the boat on the trailer as I've had the carb leak fuel bouncing down the road. Makes a nasty mess with fuel and 2 stroke all over the cowling and dripping down the leg.....

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

Do a compression test.
You shouldn't run the motor out of fuel.
It usually causes damage to the piston,rod and bearings and the cylinder walls.
It has no lube and can cause scoring.
If your having trouble with the carb leaking? Rebuild it.
Check the reeds while the carb is off.
Make sure the jets are clear/clean.
Dan he said he never used the dreaded Ethanol.
Change the diaphram,clean the carb.
Make sure there is no water in the tank.
The quick disconnects on the Forces go bad.
They can hold the pressure when you pump it but will suck air while running.
Change them to an OMC or Mercury ones.Yam works too.
I changed mine as soon as I bought my boat.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

You shouldn't run the motor out of fuel.
It usually causes damage to the piston,rod and bearings and the cylinder walls.
It has no lube and can cause scoring.

If your having trouble with the carb leaking? Rebuild it.

Dan he said he never used the dreaded Ethanol.

Running the outboard out of fuel isn't going to harm anything since this is a single carb outboard and it has fuel/oil going to it, to keep it running. There is excess oil coating everything, once it runs out of fuel. Of course don't do this at high RPM, idle only.

The carb's float can bounce trailering down the road and flood over the carb, had it happen a couple times when I forgot to disconnect the fuel line. Carb is perfectly fine, but it overflows due to bouncing and I'm sure elevation changes don't help either. I do agree about rebuilding the carb if needed.

He did say that he didn't use ethanol fuel, but as I said in my earlier post, he doesn't know what the previous owner used.... And I wouldn't trust a 25 year old piece of thin rubber anyway.

 

[wolfiewolf]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

WOW! Thanks for all the great info and suggestions. So here is an update.... I rebuilt the carb and replaced all the seals, the inlet needle, inlet needle seat and cleaned out all the jets and passageways thoroughly. The carb was fairly dirty but not horrible. It is very possible that the previous only ran Ethanol fuel in this motor but I can not confirm this. I replaced the impeller, replaced the plugs with the manufacturers recommended plugs, and changed the lower unit oil after purchase before its first use.

So after rebuilding the carb and cleaning it I took it out to try it out and it ran well for a while about 30 minutes, then its started to putter down when WOT was applied. I pulled the choke and it helped it for a bit. I squeezed the primer bulb ( with no choke ) and that helped it a lot. It almost ran well if I kept constant pressure on the bulb. I got to the dock and removed the cowling and ran the motor in neutral. I have a clear hose that comes off the quick disconnect and runs to the fuel pump. I saw a fair amount of air in the line. Does this confirm a leak between the motor and the fuel tank? or is it normal to see some air bubbules and if so how much is too much? What do I look for to tell if its the fuel pump?

I just bought a new line and bulb. I was going to use the old fittings. The quick disconnect on the motor looks like an air compressor line quick disconnect. and the one on the tank looks like two prongs ( sorry I am not familiar with the names ) I can't run the motor now because I live in an apartment and have to take it to the river to test it so I will not know if it solves the problem until tomorrow or sunday. And finally what type of fittings should I use and how do I convert my motor so it accepts the new fittings properly?

Thanks again!

Wolf

 

[wolfiewolf]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

So i just rebuilt the fuel pump and replaced all the fuel lines in the motor with clear lines as well as the lines from the tank to the motor with a kit I bought from ACE Hardware that came with the primer bulb. I also added a Stingray Jr. I will try to test the motor today. I am hoping for more top end power and speed. I am 260 lbs and and my girlfriend/fishing partner is about 130. We usually have about 30 pounds of gear not counting the 3-4 gallons of fuel I usually put in my 6 gallon tank at the start of a day. Right now I can run about 18 mph and have no problems getting on plane at that weight with my little 15 gamefisher. Is that good or is that slow? What should I expect top speed with a healthy strong 15 hp motor?

 

[roscoe]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

Sounds like you have been busy working on that motor.
The carb rebuild and fuel lines should help.

That speed is decent.
Would not expect too much more.
But hard to tell as you didn't tell us what boat it is on.

But if the rig is 700-800# full loaded, 20 mph is good.

The other factor is do you have the right prop, and is the engine reaching proper top end rpm.

After your test drive, you may want to try removing the stingray and checking performance.
They can help, or hurt, depending on the rig.

 

[fishrdan]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

How did the old fuel pump diaphragm look, any cranks, tears or holes in it, dried up and crusty?

The Stingray will help getting on plane, but will hurt top end speed (if it's dragging in the water at speed). I like mine and wouldn't part with it on my jon boat...

18MPH? What type of boat?

 

[wolfiewolf]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

That speed is decent.
Would not expect too much more.
But hard to tell as you didn't tell us what boat it is on.

It's a 2003 Gheenoe Highsider 15'4 and Ill try without the stingray nextime I run it. I ran it today after installing all that and it ran about 18 mph. I had to adjust the air fuel mix because it was running wayyyy rich after the rebuild. Is that normal?

 

[wolfiewolf]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

Its and 03 Gheenoe Highsider 15'4, sorry about that... The diaphragm was not cracked but it was very stiff and not very flexible. It felt almost like plastic from a solo cup.

 

[wolfiewolf]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

I had the same issue occuring when I ran it this afternoon. It was bogging really bad at anything past half throttle. But today it was also idling pretty high. So i adjusted the idle screw and leaned out the carb until it shut off then backed it out till it ran smooth and it seemed to be working great. I didn't have much time to test because some bad weather was rolling in. Would rebuilding a fuel pump make me have to readjust the idle screw and fuel mix?

thanks!

 

[wolfiewolf]

Re: 89 gamefisher 15 hp no top end power, symptoms improve when choked applied.

The other factor is do you have the right prop, and is the engine reaching proper top end rpm.

I am currently running the original factory 2 blade prop that came with the motor and it is in very good shape but I am uncertain as to what RPM I am running and what RPM I should be running.