Rain in engine housing... Motor not starting

[Ubersiler]

So, I purchased an '86 VIP 18' Fish and Ski yesterday. Guy showed me when I picked up boat that the engine would fire up which it did just fine. Sounded great.

On the way home (normally an hour drive) I encountered *heavy* rain and wasn't really in a place to get out and put cover on (very busy highway). As soon as I got home I covered the boat.

Tried to fire the engine up today and it cranks fine but never fires up. Took the cover off and it appears that we rain water entered the engine housing, I'm assuming on the drive home.


So, is it just a matter of letting the engine sit and dry out or is there further action I need to take to prevent damage and get the motor to start?

Engine is an 86 Force 125 HP outboard

 

[Scott Danforth]

welcome aboard

seriously doubt its rain. you can hose a motor off while its running.

do you have fuel?
is the line connected?
did you prime the ball?
did you loosen the vent on the tank
did you accidentally trip the MOB switch
did you apply choke while cranking?

 

[Ubersiler]

Thanks for the the quick response.

Only reason I say it might have been the rain as there was quite a bit of moisture in the housing and the carbs are right there in the front. Motor had just started 2 hours prior. Seller said I probably overchoked it. I opened the throttle to disengage neutral kill switch and tried starting with throttle all the way. No change.

Let it sit overnight. No change. Tried choking. No change. Primer ball seemed to be pretty tight indicting there's fuel in the line. Tried squeezing a little. No change.

To be clear, it is cranking so probably not to do with kill switch. I will point out that there was so much rain in the way home that it put about a foot of water in the bilge, which I drained.

 

[The Force power]

I opened the throttle to disengage neutral kill switch and tried starting with throttle all the way. No change.

To be clear, it is cranking so probably not to do with kill switch.

The neutral switch is not your kill-switch, the neutral-switch prevents the motor from starting while in gear!
The "kill" switch is your ignition-switch and your man overboard switch.

Pull the plugs and briefly crank the engine to check for spark, if no spark on any of the plugs; disconnect the "kill" wire (black & yellow OR white) on the terminal strip and check for spark.

keep us posted

 

[Ubersiler]

Sorry, I did mean neutral switch. Will do. Thanks for the advice.

 

[The Force power]

Sorry, I did mean neutral switch. Will do. Thanks for the advice.

Sorry, I should of said; the neutral-switch prevents the starter from being energized / turning/ cranking