idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

[tfbrown1270]

Hi.
I have a new to me 20 hp Evinrude, and am trying to figure out the year etc right now on another post but in the meantime I thought I would address another issue...
It starts OK, runs pretty smooth except for an occasional hic-up and moderate rpm except when I idle it down to minimum (as though to slow troll) it sneezes and quits....so trying to be procative I decarbed it and that made it run smoother at the higher rpms but no differance at idle. I pulled the plugs and they look OK; wet and oily with black on the protruding tip thing (I could get the plug #'s if need be but I remember they are Chanpions and they are gapped to .034). The bulb stays hard while running and the compression is 105 (top) 110 (bottom) when warm, oh that brings up something..I let it run for over an hour to get it hot but it never got above luke warm. I could hold my hand on the head for 20 minutes if I wanted to...I have not taken apart the carb but will if necessary if thats the problem..thanks,,

 

[mikesea]

Re: idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

well if the engine sat around for a while ,you didn't say I would clean the car and filter,flush the fuel lines.Though It does seem to run and your complaint sounds alot like a neele valve adjustmeny,mostly on the low speed side.Have you done any experimenting.Does the eng have one or two needle valves,If one I would suggest turning it in and close it.Be sure to count how many turns.I do believe a starting point is 1 and 1/2 turns out.To stop the sneezing burping,turn it ou another 1/4 for starters.See if you get imprvement.If you have another one on the bottom of the caeb,that is high speed,do the same procedure but open it 3/4 of a turn for starters.The best way to set the high speed is have someone run the boat,and you turn the needle back and forth til you get the besst performance,then go to the low speed and fine tune it til it idles nice without the farting and burping,then open it about another 1/4

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

Thanks for the reply...I found out its a 1994 if that matters..are those compressions numbers OK?
and what of the low heat?...
I was running it in a garbage can at home at fast idle and couldn't get it very hot (it ran at fast idle for over an hour)....

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

heres a couple of things, could be someone took the thremostat out or it is stuck, read these references:
http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=36;gtid=1035575

http://forums.iboats.com/bbBoard.cgi?a=viewthread;fid=36;gtid=1105882

 

[mikesea]

Re: idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

Compression is fine,I agree with the other poster regarding heat.I wouldd be concerned if you live in cold water climate,in S. Fl. it would be ok to run without the thermo on that motor. Not all motors though. Open the thermo cover and remove it,check it to see if its there and working,you can put it in cold water then hot and see if it opens.probably need a new gasket on the cover after checking.

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

Fixed one thing fubared another....longggg post o

this time I fired it up on muffs (was in a gargabe can lane time)...while contemplating the carburator I noticed the choke was at its "relaxed condition" I had assumed :^ that it returned on its on volition to the off position since every time I pulled it out to apply choke it crawled back in....well as it turned out it was "almost in/almost off" to quote Billy Crystal "almost dead means a little alive" or something like that..in any case I popped it in to the off and locked position and it settled right down to a nice idle...thats the fixed part and thanks to all for the thoughs on that...now for the fubar..
since I found the idle screw (upper left of the carb when viewed from the front, with a spring on it) I just had to monkey with it.
I turned it all the way in by hand (it was out 3 1/2 turns) and backed it out 1 1/2 turns...now it wouldn't run at all so I fiqured I would return it to the 3 1/2 turns spot where it started...still ran crappy, I ended up 7 turns out...
I removed the needle to see if it was scored but it wasn't, it had a nice surface.
I observed this though when putting it back in...if I turned it in by fingers till it stopped (by squishing the spring till it would easily go it further) I only needed to back out about 3 turns (neer where it was)..If I use a screw driver and (carefully) seat the needle with the extra torque provided by the screwdriver then 1 1/2 turns is nowhere near enough....
Do I have a carb problem?
fwiw I got it running OK again but its out 7 turns from seated with the screw driver :^
Thanks again

 

[tfbrown1270]

Re: idles a few moments, sneezes and quits 20hp Evinrude

Oh and I can't FIND the thermostat housing....its not as obvious as the one on my old Force 85 hp...where do I look please