Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

[Havoc]

Hi all, Im new to this forum and did a search thru before posting this but with no luck.<br /><br />I have a 1988 3 cylinder suzuki DT85 outboard. <br />This motor generally fires first time but sneezes quite hard and stops while warming up. After a few restarts all seems fine and it runs well at WOT. <br />After running at speed for a while if I stop to an idle for more than a minute it will just suddenly stop. Sometimes it is very difficult to get running again. After it stalled during flushing yesterday with the muffs on it refused to start again for 20mins. <br /><br />I have changed the plugs to no effect.<br /><br />I think the sneezing on starting is a misfire? blowing back thru the reeds? <br /><br />Fuel is new. filter is clean. vents on tank ok and lines are open.<br /><br />Can anyone help me out?

 

[sorrydog]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

From your description it could be several things but likely sounds fuel oriented.<br /><br />Sneezing generally indicates a lean condition. After it dies, pull the plugs and note if they are wet or not. If they are real dry then you probably have a fuel delivery issue (carbs or fuel pump).

 

[Havoc]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

The plugs did seem a little dry when I pulled them to swap after a stall, they werent wet or fouled anyway thats for sure. Also the lowest cylinder plug was a little bit lean looking in colour with a very, very light tan, the others appeared a bit richer.<br />I will be keen to do a plug chop at WOT just to check mixture on the MJs but for now I hope I can solve the idle thing by going richer on the idle screw, which by the way I dont know where they are??

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

I do not think that richer on the idle screw will help. It sounds like there is trash or soem other foreign matter in the carb that is blocking fuel flow. I suggest rebuild the carbs and the fuel pump. Also, put an ohm meter on your coil packs and spark plug wires the way the manual suggests to rule out a no spark issue. <br />I agree with sorrydog that it is fuel because of the lean sneeze. Carb rebuild would be the answer. If you need a line on parts, let us know.<br />Knightgang

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

Because it is simple it is worth trying to enrichen (you have described a lean idle circuit condition) your idle mixture by screwing in (clockwise because the screws meter air) your idle mixture screws. Pull out the plugs in your airbox and screw each in 1/4 turn. If there is no improvement, you will need to remove the carbs and do a complete cleaning/rebuild. It is relatively simple and doable. Go to the bottom of this page and order a manual if you don't have one, order the carb rebuild kits, dismantle the carbs and clean with carb cleaner and compressed air and reassemble with the kit parts.

 

[Havoc]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

Cheers fellas, I will try a 1/4 turn richer on each first. I will order a manual and the carb kit. Out of interest what does the carb kit contain? I am familar with motorcycle carbs and I had them apart all the time but never need to replace anything just clean with air and solvent.

 

[Knightgang]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

May carb kits had the following:<br /><br />1. New Gaskets<br />2. New Neddles & Seats<br /><br />I expected more, but the Munuki Carbs are really simple. Be sure eveything soaks in carb cleaner and that the main jets and the bowls are cleaned out really well. Blow out all of the passages with compressed air to be sure they are clear. I even sprayed carb cleaner throught them to be sure the fluid would flow. When you reassemble, check the adjustment on your choke butterflies. Mine were not closing but about 1/2 way when i got my boat. After adjusting them to close all the way, starts are very easy.<br />Good luck

 

[Havoc]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

An update on my motor.<br /><br />I now have a shop manual. I went and ordered a carb kit from my Suzuki dealer who had no idea what I was talking about so I settled for new carb gaskets.<br />Pulled the carbs which turned out to be spotless all around. Checked fuel filter again.<br />Installed fresh set of correctly gapped plugs (originals were not set correctly)<br />Richened the mixture 1/4 turn on the idle screw.<br /><br />I also got hold of a wool bin (pretty common here in NZ) so I can submerge the leg in water up to 4 inches above the Cavitation Plate.<br /><br />She fired up instantly and warmed up on low idle speed without stalling or sneezing once. Upon reaching normal temp it stalled. Restarting was easy but it again stalled. Richened idle screws a further 1/8th turn and motor now runs perfectly.<br /><br />Thanks guys for your help on this, I'm looking forward to a good season.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

Glad to see you got it sorted out. A carb kit from Suzuki contains a new float valve, a carb bowl gasket, and a carb-to-intake gasket. Although you are down under, www.brownspoint.com has parts available online and exploded parts diagrams available online. Its a handy site to peruse before telling your ill-informed parts dude he doesn't know whassup.

 

[Kiwi]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

Hey Havoc, are you talking about Butlers Marine ? I took my '89 DT85 there for a tune up quite some time ago and ended up doing a better job myself after I got it back. I have found the carbs on my DT85 incredibly sensitive to any adjustment and really it has never idled all that well compared to OMC outboards I have had. I had the same blank look from them when I asked for a Carb Kit as well ! Bit of a worry huh. Have a good time over the summer.

 

[Havoc]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

Kiwi<br /><br />Yes indeed I went to Butlers marine for the bits. Its a rather unprofessional looking outfit but the guy there was fairly helpful if a little vague. He reckoned they never replace the gaskets during a carb clean. That worried me a bit after I've seen the condition mine came off in, the last thing you need is a vacume leak at the intake manifold. I must say though, he agreed my problems sounded like a lean idle mixture and gave me a few extra tips on what to do. <br /><br />Better than the aftersales service I got from Mr Boats where I purchased the boat no more than 4 months ago. I was told by the sales guy that the starting and idle problems I was having were normal for a suzuki motor. I enquired about having one of their workshop guys take a look and they wouldnt even eyeball it until Feb 2004. They dont return phone calls their either.

 

[jim dozier]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

As a response to your less than impressive boat dealer/service you may tell him that my Suzuki 1987 DT85 starts quickly and easily and idles just fine.

 

[Kiwi]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

Yes, I agree the guys at Mr Boats are Rats. I have a Fi-Glass boat made by them and on the one occasion I went to ask them something, there attitute was such that I will never go back there. Given you say your DT85 now idles perfectly I might just have another go at mine. I never stalls but its far from what I would call smooth - very frustrating while putting around at the ramp & beaches etc<br /><br />Cheers

 

[Adza Ford]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

hey guys,<br /> I too have had idle probs but after reading your posts i think ive just sorted the problem .... well as soon as i get some money i have....Thanx guys..... Ive ripped apart cars and bikes before so this is just a scaled down version i think. <br /> Well keep your boats wet and have fun.

 

[Adza Ford]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

hey guys,<br /> I too have had idle probs but after reading your posts i think ive just sorted the problem .... well as soon as i get some money i have....Thanx guys..... Ive ripped apart cars and bikes before so this is just a scaled down version i think. <br /> Well keep your boats wet and have fun.

 

[Adza Ford]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

me again,<br /> Ive sorted the problem....yay.... Get a new diaphram kit for your fuel pump mate it works wonders. I had exactly the same problem and as soon as i put the new kit in ( initialy it was hard to start due to no fuel ) after it started it went better and it did not fail at cold idle or hot idle even when i put it in gear it never stalled. So give that a go and see what happens.

 

[Adza Ford]

Re: Suzuki DT85 Dies and wont Start

me again,<br /> Ive sorted the problem....yay.... Get a new diaphram kit for your fuel pump mate it works wonders. I had exactly the same problem and as soon as i put the new kit in ( initialy it was hard to start due to no fuel ) after it started it went better and it did not fail at cold idle or hot idle even when i put it in gear it never stalled. So give that a go and see what happens.