2pedallers
Recruit
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2006
- Messages
- 2
Great forum, with a lot of useful information seen today. Thanks in advance for the guidance you're sure to give.<br /><br />I'm visiting my parents and they have a pontoon boat with a 2004 Yamaha 40HP that we can't get to start. It is a three cylinder with carbs, electric start (thankfully). By the way, this motor has very few hours on it...maybe less than a dozen.<br /><br />So far, we've: pulled and cleaned the plugs, squirted clean gas into the cyclinders and reinstalled plugs, pulled the fuel bowl and screen and cleaned, pulled the face off the carbs and cleaned, pulled the fuel line from the tank and drawn fuel from a gas can with fresh gas, and shot started fluid into the carbs (I now know we should've used WD-40, thanks!). I expect the gas in the built-in tank is old which is why we tried to draw from another source.<br /><br />We have been able to get the engine to runa dn sputter briefly, but it doesn't seem to be running on fuel drawn through the hose. It simply dies as if it is starved for gas.<br /><br />I don't wish to try other dismantling without some guidance from guys that know what they're talking about. Again, thanks in advance.<br /><br />Keep Pedalling (or in this case, paddling)
<br /><br />You are right that you should not use starting fluid, but you also should not put fuel directly into the cylinders (no lube in the crankcase) or use WD-40. WD-40 used to use propane as a propellant which made it an excellent 2 stroke starter fluid, but it now uses CO2. Though it is still flammable, it is no longer suitable for that purpose.<br /><br />You need to go to the Engine FAQs and do the troubleshooting for an outboard that wont start.<br /><br />Good luck, and let us know what you find. 