1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

Hi,

New to the forum ... first post.

I picked up a 15hp 1988 Evinrude from a local guy. I saw it running fine at his place. Even disconnected it and had it laying down for a bit and then re-hooked it up and it ran fine. Started first pull both time.

So, I get it home and one my boat and it won't start at all.... so I brought it up to the garage and put it on the stand.

Next morning I put it in a bucket and try starting... works first pull... Runs fine.

Take it down to the lake (2 minute car ride) with the motor laying on its side in the back. Hook it up and then nothing.... no fiddling will get it to run!

Take it back up. Tested spark... good. Fuel seems to be getting to the carb fine. Bulb is hard after pumping.

Guy said he resently did a fuel pump, plugs, and carb kit install.

Able to get it to start and run for 5-10 seconds by spraying fuel into the cylinders.

Took the carb apart and it was sparkling clean. Float / needle valve seemed perfect. Blew out what I could with compressed air.

Was able to get it started up after this fairly easy.... ran it for a bit. Then removed it and laid it on its side and back (carrying handle up) for a bit (10-15 minutes) ... hooked it all back up and then it totally wouldn't start again!!!

Went out this morning before work.... gave it a pull and it started right up. Seems to need some adjustment, but was running okay... missing/sneezing a little bit.


So, what would cause it to get messed up when it is moved/laid on its side/back?

Baffled and have tried most everything.

Thanks for any suggestions!

Cheers,
Chris

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

Welcome to iboats! When you lay it on it's back like that the carbs will empty into the cylinders and possibly flood it. When you put it on the boat and pump the primer bulb to refill the carbs you want to make sure that you don't "overpump" it so as to bypass the float and needle assbly and contribute to the flooding. You can also try putting it on your boat and not pump the primer bulb so it burns the fuel out of the cylinders first.

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

Hello. I would open (counter clockwise) the slow speed needle 1/8th of a turn at a time (at the lake). Remember your start point and to get past the nub on the cowl you may have to pull the knob out a wee bit. There is more exhaust back pressure at the lake situation that in a barrel and it sounds as though it's set fine for in a barrel. The above post could be correct but after enough pulls it should have fired from a flooded condition. Best of luck. I envy anyone who can get to the lake in two minutes. Rick.

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

Thanks for the replies...

I don't think it is lake vs. barrel as it also happened when I was testing in the garage by removing it and laying it down after it was working and then re-attaching it.

Can you "unflood" the cylinders by removing the plugs and giving it a few pulls?

The thing is, I can get it to run for a bit (when it is not starting) by spraying fuel in the cylinders. Wouldn't that point to it being starved for fuel, rather than being flooded?

Also as a test, while it was running okay, I detached the fuel line from the motor and let it run out of fuel. Took a while, but finally died. Then I laid the motor down, etc. and re-attached it to the stand/barrel. Wouldn't start and I could hear the carb fill up (and stop filling) when I pumped the bulb.

Really confusing to diagnose.

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

Take your carb off and make sure that the low speed jet is clean by running a small wire through it and then spraying every orafice out with carb cleaner and compressed air. You may have a piece of crud in it that lodges then dislodges when the engine is moved. YOu can unflood it by removing the plugs but the idea is to fix the problem.

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

Bought some carb cleaner. Took the carb apart (minus the dome plug) and sprayed everything, ran a wire through the three jets, blew it all out with compressed air.

Reassembled and listened to the carb fill (and stop) as it should. Got it to start after a 3-5 pulls. Ran okay for a while, but didn't seem happy to go too slow in neutral.

Then, after running for a few minutes it slowed down and then died. Lots of pulling wouldn't get it to start. Gave up at that point.

I'm thinking it is possibly some type of air lock in the fuel system? Cap on gas can is vented as it should be. Line look good, but that's as much as I've investigated there.

Ideas?

Thanks again,
Chris

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

if you can keep it running by continuing to squeeze the primer bulb between the tank and fuel connector, your fuel pump is the most likely culprit

Re: 1988 Evinrude 15hp issues...

If the previous owner rebuilt the fuel pump instead of putting on a new one he might have not done it correctly. when you have the carb off take a flashlight and look into the reed valves behind them and make sure there is not a screw or something leaning against them. Don't ask me how I know this can happen!