atcdude067
Cadet
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2011
- Messages
- 11
The boat I operate is a 99 17' Smokercraft with a 99 115HP Evinrude 2 stroke. It gets taken out 2-3 times per year, until this year, when I finally started taking it out 2-3 times per WEEK. Until this year, I wasn't the one taking it out (family owned boat). I've always known it had starting issues, but never knew what the problem was.
This is what I do know. It doesn't start very well. On a cold start-it probably takes 15-20 key turns to turn over and pur nicely. Even then-you must advance the throttle almost immediately thereafter or it will putter to a stop.
Last week I had it out for a few hours. I ran it hard for 2 hours continuously. The RPMs were hovering around 5k-6k, when it started to make some inconsistent noises. Up until this point it had its normal hum-but this was more of a "choppy" hum. I also noticed a slight (I mean very slight) vibration in the steering wheel-but this could just be because I was being a little more vigilant at this point. I pulled it into a beach, let it cool off during out lunch break, and then tried to start it again. Nothing. Continued to try every 20 minutes or so with no luck.
My father (who knows very little about motors despite what he thinks) made an adjustment inside the motor (some big screw) that he claimed fixed the problem.
Today at the lake, that adjustment appeared to have made it idle like it has never idled before. (starting was still a pain-see below) It idled without issue for as long as we could have asked for. But once I went out into the open water and throttled up-the RPMs would NOT exceed 2500. I stopped, got out the big screwdriver, and backed off the adjustment my father had made. Starting became more difficult with little improvement in the high-end throttle. Low speeds also were very glitchy-couldn't go very slow or it would die. Couldn't idle.
As far as starting-the ONLY way I can get it started is by putting the throttle into "fast idle" mode-advancing it to 3000 RPMs, then quickly shifting back to Neutral and then into gear. Even then-at times it dies when trying to switch.
My father took it in for a tune up a couple summers ago. He claims it was a waste of money. I honestly don't know enough about boats/motors to even know where to begin with this. All I want is the motor to run like everyone else's at the landing. First crank-purs to life. Idles. and hits over 6000 RPMs without dragging. does anyone have any suggestions, short of buying a new motor?
This is what I do know. It doesn't start very well. On a cold start-it probably takes 15-20 key turns to turn over and pur nicely. Even then-you must advance the throttle almost immediately thereafter or it will putter to a stop.
Last week I had it out for a few hours. I ran it hard for 2 hours continuously. The RPMs were hovering around 5k-6k, when it started to make some inconsistent noises. Up until this point it had its normal hum-but this was more of a "choppy" hum. I also noticed a slight (I mean very slight) vibration in the steering wheel-but this could just be because I was being a little more vigilant at this point. I pulled it into a beach, let it cool off during out lunch break, and then tried to start it again. Nothing. Continued to try every 20 minutes or so with no luck.
My father (who knows very little about motors despite what he thinks) made an adjustment inside the motor (some big screw) that he claimed fixed the problem.
Today at the lake, that adjustment appeared to have made it idle like it has never idled before. (starting was still a pain-see below) It idled without issue for as long as we could have asked for. But once I went out into the open water and throttled up-the RPMs would NOT exceed 2500. I stopped, got out the big screwdriver, and backed off the adjustment my father had made. Starting became more difficult with little improvement in the high-end throttle. Low speeds also were very glitchy-couldn't go very slow or it would die. Couldn't idle.
As far as starting-the ONLY way I can get it started is by putting the throttle into "fast idle" mode-advancing it to 3000 RPMs, then quickly shifting back to Neutral and then into gear. Even then-at times it dies when trying to switch.
My father took it in for a tune up a couple summers ago. He claims it was a waste of money. I honestly don't know enough about boats/motors to even know where to begin with this. All I want is the motor to run like everyone else's at the landing. First crank-purs to life. Idles. and hits over 6000 RPMs without dragging. does anyone have any suggestions, short of buying a new motor?
