about to give up on 1976 50hp

[dawinksta]

I have been trying to get this thing goin for wayy too long. IT will start for a few seconds and quit now. I've cleaned the carbs like 5 times but find another clogged hole usually. New gas line and tank. Should I just keep cleaning the carbs? I'm at my wits end here!

 

[DJ]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

I have been trying to get this thing goin for wayy too long. IT will start for a few seconds and quit now. I've cleaned the carbs like 5 times but find another clogged hole usually. New gas line and tank. Should I just keep cleaning the carbs? I'm at my wits end here!

No. Work backwards. Where is the "trash" coming from?

 

[eavega]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Have you checked for consistent spark? Have you checked compression? Are your plugs properly gapped?

If you have, do you have good fuel lines, or are the old and brittle?

Cleaning the carbs over and over again is an exercise in futility if your problem is not fuel-related.

Rgds

 

[prestridge]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Make sure all the fuel lines on the engine are new. Old lines deteriorate internally, sending bits of rubber into the carb. Also add an inline filter near the carb. just to make sure no trash gets in.

 

[Monte1961]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

As close as you are, I wouldn't give up now! An inline fuel/water separator would be ideal. Are you sure that the trash isn't coming from fuel pump seeing how you have replaced with new tank and hose? What about primer bulb? Is it new or used? They go bad also. Are the gaskets cork or rubber? Just thoughts is all! Keep us posted and let us know how you make out!

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

You gotta replace all of the fuel line on the engine, if you haven't already.

 

[dawinksta]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

I'm not 100% sure whats stopping it from running. It will run longer (5 seconds?) if you spray gas in the carbs so that makes me think its a fuel issue.

I replaced spark plugs, external fuel line and bulb, tank. I replaced the internal fuel line from the filter to the carb because I could see it was clearly cracked but not from the outside connector to the filter (I think I have enough leftover anyways so I'll replace this hose too). And I didnt even know this thing had a fuel pump! do they go bad?

 

[Monte1961]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Yes they sure do. Follow the fuel hose from Carb back to fuel pump. Post back and let us know what yo find!

 

[nwcove]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Have you checked for consistent spark? Have you checked compression? Are your plugs properly gapped?

If you have, do you have good fuel lines, or are the old and brittle?

Cleaning the carbs over and over again is an exercise in futility if your problem is not fuel-related.

Rgds

do yourself and your wallet a big favour! check the compression of your motor......i picked up a 1956 jonson 5.5 for free.....priced all the tune up parts.....not cheap but could have got them. on the advice of other posters here......spent $30 bucks on a compression tester......and the powerhead was no good......could have spent much more only to get no happy ending.

 

[nwcove]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Have you checked for consistent spark? Have you checked compression? Are your plugs properly gapped?

If you have, do you have good fuel lines, or are the old and brittle?

Cleaning the carbs over and over again is an exercise in futility if your problem is not fuel-related.

Rgds

do yourself and your wallet a big favour! check the compression of your motor......i picked up a 1956 jonson 5.5 for free.....priced all the tune up parts.....not cheap but could have got them. on the advice of other posters here......spent $30 bucks on a compression tester......and the powerhead was no good......could have spent much more only to get no happy ending.

 

[emoney]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Once you trace your fuel line into the motor, you'll see it come to the fuel pump and there will be a standard slotted screw holding the cover on. There's a diaphram inside there that goes bad and could be the source of the debris you keep picking up in your carb. They tend to start flaking as they wear out.

 

[dawinksta]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

alright I will check out the fuel pump. I have taken that screw off before and it looked fine, I thought that was only a filter. is there any way to check if the fuel pump is working correctly?

The engine ran great 5 years ago when I parked it. And like I said it will start for a couple seconds, longer if I spray gas in the carbs. Shouldnt the compression be fine than?

 

[Daviet]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

After sitting 5 years, the rings could be stuck, the fuel lines coming apart from the inside, carbs full of gunk if the system was not prepped properly.

 

[jonesg]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

alright I will check out the fuel pump. I have taken that screw off before and it looked fine, I thought that was only a filter. is there any way to check if the fuel pump is working correctly?

The engine ran great 5 years ago when I parked it. And like I said it will start for a couple seconds, longer if I spray gas in the carbs. Shouldnt the compression be fine than?

Disconnect the line from the pump to the carb and crank it over, if no fuel spurts out of the line replace the pump.
Your compression is probably fine, don't worry about that.
Its a fuel delivery problem.

 

[nwcove]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

low compression = low pulse to the fuel pump. probably fine = money wasted. gawd....borrow/rent a tester! dont spend a ton of $$$$$ trouble shooting the little stuff first. a motor can nickel and dime you till yer crazy. (stuck rings after 5 years of setting isnt that uncommon). if i, or most others, were going to buy this motor.....a it sets, the first thing that would be done would be a compression test!

 

[dawinksta]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Ok ok ok ill test the compression. I have a meter burried somewhere, hopefully with the right size adapter. I didn't know that a compression pulse drove the fuel pump.

I tried starting it again today, it went like this, squeezed bulb until hard, started, ran for 2 seconds then quit, gas leaked out from carbs and carbs bowl gasket, clear fuel line between carbs drained slowly. Without priming the bulb I tried starting it again, this time it ran for about 10th seconds then quit.

But anyways, I will check the compression!

 

[Daviet]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Well i just reread all the posts and did not see any mention of fuel leaking out of carbs or bowel gaskets. If that is in fact the case I would wounder if your float level or needle and seat is the problem. Gas should not be running out of the carbs.

 

[dawinksta]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

Finally pulled out the compression gauge, top cyl tested at about 90 and bottom at just over 100 psi. are these numbers acceptable?

Also, it seems like the problem is the fuel pump; nothing more than a slight drip come out of the hose before the carb, although it may not have been primed 100%. I'll test again, but nothing much came out for the several seconds I cranked it.

as for the needle, it was completely gunked closed before I started reviving this beast, I did my best to clean it out but it could be sticking...?

Thanks for all the help so far, I think there may be hope after all.

 

[Monte1961]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

yes they are, that should be plenty for it to run decent.

 

[dawinksta]

Re: about to give up on 1976 50hp

thanks Monte, thats good news.
I just tried the fuel pump again. I primed it this time and it actually has a decent flow to it. looks like maybe a faucet on medium/low.

so is it the carb?