1985 30hp evinrude dies while idling (with video!)

ohmybad · #1 October 3rd, 2006, 05:34 PM

I have a 1985 30hp evinrude that has some problems. When I start the motor it idles for a sec then revs up and dies. Check out the video, could this be carb problem or lose of compression? Make sure your sound is on so you can hear it when it dies.

http://www.floridacoasts.com/100_2817.MOV

cobra 3.0 · #2 October 3rd, 2006, 06:29 PM

Sounds like a fuel issue to me.

How is the primer bulb? Soft or hard when it dies? If you continuously pump it, does the engine still die?

ohmybad · #3 October 3rd, 2006, 06:43 PM

I don't this its the fuel line because I just used that tank yesterday on my 4hp evinrude for an hour on my sailboat and had no problems, but i'll check.

mikesea · #4 October 3rd, 2006, 09:27 PM

probably a fuel pump problem,you fill the carb bowl with fuel by squeezing the ball,then as the engine starts to lean out ,because the bowl is going empty,it starts to run up.just like when you remove the hose.So ,I believe the fuel pump,has gone bad,or the vaccum that makes it work is plugged

ohmybad · #5 October 3rd, 2006, 09:40 PM

Thanks for the replies, whats the best way to check the fuel pump? Should I crank it with the spark plugs disconnected and the hose removed to see if gas comes out?

mikesea · #6 October 3rd, 2006, 10:05 PM

I'm not sure you will create enough vaccuum for the fuel pump to operate well enough without the engine running.When the engine is running,have you kept squeezing the ball to create a pressure that way. Normally if a pump fails.you can keep the engine running well enough by squeezing the ball.There are tools that are out there to check a fuel pump.frankly ,its cheaper to change the pump. You can rebuild them by buying a rebuild kit.You could have a problem with the carb,but if the engine starts, runs a bit, then revves up and dies(which is classic run out of gas scenario)then you squeeze the ball and do it again ,its a problem whithin the fuel pump,does it have a screw on the side that you can take off ,it would be a piece that the hose connects to?if so,theres a screen inside to keep dirt out ,check if its clean(the screen)I want to bet on the fuel pump

Silvertip · #7 October 3rd, 2006, 10:25 PM

As suggested, just keep squeezing the bulb with the engine running. If it continues to run, the fuel pump is bad and can't keep the carbs full of fuel.

ohmybad · #8 October 5th, 2006, 03:15 PM

The problem with the motor is not fuel related. Once the motor is started it will only rev to a certain level before it makes a pop and the motor almost dies. When it makes the pop noise exhaust comes out the side of the motor where the power head connects to the lower part of the motor. I think this is because the seal maybe broken. Would this cause the motor to do this? Also, if it is the seal is there anyway to fix it without replacing the gasket?

G DANE · #9 October 5th, 2006, 03:24 PM

The blown base gasket is caused by loose powerhead to midsection bolts. Get a new gasket and change it. Unfortunetaly this also requires exhaust tube to be seperated from the powerhead, as same gasket covers both. But if you are carefull, all bolts will come out. The two nuts at each side of powerhead can be a pain to get to, but with a little patience and a harsh word, it will go. There is an issue called "lean Sneezing", common on those. Caused by either iddle mixture being set too lean on the adjustable iddle mixture needle, just above air inlet on carb, or simply caused by plugged or dirty orifices in carb, the small ones just above throttle butterfly in carb throat. Do a search on carb cleaning and iddle mixture adjustment here , and several posts will deliver the trick to correct it.