My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

[BKishimoto]

Hello. I have what I think is a 1974 130 Outboard.

I took her out to sea and discovered that I could only go like 4 miles on 6 gallons of gas.

I took it to a local mechanic and he suggested that a float might be stuck in the carburetor so I had him work on it.

I took it out again and the same issue.

Other things I had noticed,

(forgive me for not being technical enough to describe this properly.)

I give it enough throttle to engage and it's smooth. I can get all the way up to about 5mph (1/5 throttle) and no problems.

Then from that position to almost 75% throttle, something strange happens. It will go up to like 17 mph then suddenly drop down to 12mph and its back up and forth / up and down in RPMs. then when i get to 80% throttle it opens up and wants to go 30+mph.

This last weekend we went a total of 8 miles on 15 gallons of fuel. I know my mix is right and I know my carburetors are okay. All my visible hoses are new. Is there any other simple stuff I can check before I take it back to the man for him to pillage my wallet?

Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[TwoFish]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Have you checked the fuel pump diaphragm? If it is split you may be wasting fuel by pumping it directly into the crankcase.

Have you checked the compression on the motor?

If the float was stuck open you would not be able to get the primer bulb to pump up firm.

Is the choke working properly? Do the butterflies return to horizontal when not in use and remain there under load?

 

[foodfisher]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

All the above. Is the engine new to you or do you have a history of accumulating probs.?

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

I bought the boat 2 years ago, in that time I have used it a total of 5 times. The second to last time is when this all started happening.

The choke functions. I press in the key and the little flaps on the carburetor move.

I have ordered a new fuel pump diaphragm and will be replacing it asap.

I also called the guy that serviced the carburetors and he is going to help me test the compression since the work he recommended didn't solve the problem.

 

[Justinde]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

And stick by the forum.

Just a quick word. When I joined, I had purchased against everyones well wishes, a 125HP Force ( 1988). When I had some problems, I found this forum.

i have since replaced the waterpump, lower unit oil, did the timing, link & sync, replaced the exhaust plate ( manifold?), new prop, and now I am doing my own power tilt/trim pump.

The help you get online is invaluable. I am no mechanic, and in many instances I would take a photo, post a question, and get answers. You need basic tools, and not only do I have the satisfaction of having done the work myself, but I know the motor inside out. I know its limits and what to expect. It runs as well as any outboard- sure, it may not be a 'prop rated' 125, but I don't give a toss.By the way, the mechainic I first brought I outboard to to replace the waterpump wanted to charge $1000.00 to replace the waterpump. I did all of the above work for about $300.00 all in.

Stick with it.

Cheers

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

And stick by the forum.

Just a quick word. When I joined, I had purchased against everyones well wishes, a 125HP Force ( 1988). When I had some problems, I found this forum.

i have since replaced the waterpump, lower unit oil, did the timing, link & sync, replaced the exhaust plate ( manifold?), new prop, and now I am doing my own power tilt/trim pump.

The help you get online is invaluable. I am no mechanic, and in many instances I would take a photo, post a question, and get answers. You need basic tools, and not only do I have the satisfaction of having done the work myself, but I know the motor inside out. I know its limits and what to expect. It runs as well as any outboard- sure, it may not be a 'prop rated' 125, but I don't give a toss.By the way, the mechainic I first brought I outboard to to replace the waterpump wanted to charge $1000.00 to replace the waterpump. I did all of the above work for about $300.00 all in.

Stick with it.

Cheers

Thanks for the encouragement. :bounce:

I am doing everything I have seen that makes sense so far. I am going to adjust the timing and I have the parts ordered as I stated above. I also received my service manual today so I will start to try to figure it all out.

 

[roscoe]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Thanks for the encouragement. :bounce:

I am doing everything I have seen that makes sense so far. I am going to adjust the timing and I have the parts ordered as I stated above. I also received my service manual today so I will start to try to figure it all out.

Outboard timing usually doesn't move or need adjustments.

You are likely opening a can of worms that is unneeded, at least for now.
Check the timing, but hold off on making any adjustments unless absolutely necessary.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Once the diaphram is changed and you go for a ride.
Check the rpm's at wot.
Post the results along with the size prop you have.
I changed to a bigger pitchprop and my fuel usage went up about 20-25%
Go out and take the pump off and take it apart.
Check the diaphram.

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

I guess the one thing I am not sure of, is how do I check my RPMs?

My boat doesn't have a Tachometer.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Question #1: Is it a Chrysler outboard? Question #2: Does it have a distributor? Question #3: Is it an electronic distributor?

A couple of photos would help so we know with what we are dealing.

Now: If it is an electric eye distributor it will have two wires attached to the body on insulated terminals. The electric eye module inside may be failing, accounting for erratic performance at mid range speeds. It may be dropping a cylinder at high speeds resulting in low top end and very poor fuel mileage. And, unfortunately there is no good way to test them. If you can find a known good eye, replace it and see what happens to the gas mileage and performance.

A points distributor should be set at .010 open and point spring pressure should be --I think-- somewhere around 25 ounces. Too low a spring pressure and points will bounce again resulting in poor performance.

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

I will try to get it cracked open and take a picture.

Local weather is snotty, so it will take a couple days.

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

I got a break in the weather

Here is a picture of the distributor:

Here is the front top:

Here is a wire that seems out of place, but I am not sure if it will make a difference, this is below and behind the distributor:

Also, I discovered that the little bar that connects the controls for the 2 flaps / wings inside the carburetor was lose and the top wings / flap (I believe that's the choke) was not functioning. I put that bar back in and tightened it up.

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Once the diaphram is changed and you go for a ride.
Check the rpm's at wot.
Post the results along with the size prop you have.
I changed to a bigger pitchprop and my fuel usage went up about 20-25%
Go out and take the pump off and take it apart.
Check the diaphram.

I took apart the fuel pump and the diaphragm was a mess...

Here is the guts shot:

This is what came off of the diaphragm without effort:

Here are both sides of the other piece that goes inside there with the diaphragm:

There is a hole / crack in smaller side:

I am ordering a new one of those as well.

Will that have an impact on my fuel consumption?

 

[foodfisher]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

:lol: Good one. Night vs day.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Ah, yes. You have an older Chrysler with a Motorola electronic ignition and points. Points are set to .010. That engine also has the neutral interlock mounted on the distributor (which Coast Guard at a later date changed requirements to the placement at the shift linkage. It is grandfathered but no longer considered as safe on more modern engines.).

In the photos, the two yellow wires are the start wires, coming off the neutral interlock switch. The white with black trace is the signal wire from the points to the CD box. It is not out of place. In your case it wraps around the timing tower then goes up to the back of the CD box. When the points close, they go to ground and the transistor inside the CD box senses this. It then dumps the capacitors into the coil, causing spark.

Obviously, with the crack in the second stage of the fuel pump diaphragm and the broken gasket, not only will the engine drink fuel excessively, but performance at all speeds will suffer

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Thank you all for all of your help. I am waiting for the parts to arrive and I will update this thread once everything is installed and tested.

Is there any trick to installed the gasket or the diaphragm or it is as simple as turning screws?

 

[foodfisher]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Correct order and don't let the screw/s snag the diaphram and cause twisting.

 

[BKishimoto]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

This weekend I took the boat out and was amazed at how well it ran this time.

I replaced the Diapragm and the Gasket, as well as the little screen on the fuel filter.

I managed to go about 35 miles on about 11 gallons of gas.

Thank you all for your help and it was a good day and night of fishing because you all helped!!!:joyous:

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: My 130 HP outboard is drinking gas!!

Thanks for the update!!! Glad to help.