15HP Tohatsu 2 Stroke Motor Issues - Does running bad gas ruin cylinders?

[rookieboaterj]

I've been killing fish lately. Halibut, kings, coho, humpies, all that jazz. Life has been very good with my little boat/motor. Well, the other day, i was getting ready for the 2 mile cruise to the fishing hole. On the way to the spot, there is nothing but brutal tide rips from 3 different bays all converging on one spot. I decided instead of risking running out of gas in the tide rips, i would stop and put some more fuel in.

Heres where it gets confusing for me. There had been NO issues. I replaced my spark plugs a couple weeks ago as i do a LOT of trolling, and its been a champ since. Well..... When i stopped to put fuel in, i didnt kill the motor first. Heres what i did:

1. Stopped, put in neutral.
2. Put 50:1 Mixed gas in the tank
3. Put lid back on gas tank
4. Put back into forward gear, and started heading for the spot.

I got about 20 feet from where i refueled, and the motor completely died.

I figured maybe i flooded it, so i cranked and cranked and cranked to no avail. I disconnected the fuel line, put it on WOT and cranked some more. Sputtered, but no start. A friend was cruising by and saw me, so he towed me back into the harbor. I spent literally HOURS cranking and trying multiple combinations of stuff on my boat. Seemed to help when i tilt the motor up and let it sit for a few. It would try to kick over but wouldnt start.

So i tilted the motor up and went home for about 3 hours before i came back and tried again. It started! Let it run at idle for a minute, then figured it was ok and would go fishing in the morning. Well yesterday morning, i tried starting it, and nothing! I pulled the carb out, brought it home, cleaned it, and put it back in. STILL nothing.

Now i have it at home on my motor stand. I've pulled/cleaned the carb using clean-r-carb and 100% isopropyl alcohol. I followed that with an air compressor blowing out all passages. Fuel pump diaphragms all look good.

What i know for sure:
Its getting fuel, the carb is filling up no problem.
The spark plugs are brand new, so not sure how that'd be a problem....
I've tried spraying premix fuel into the carb - Nothing
Tried fresh new mixed gas - nothing

My buddy has parts cleaner solvent, should i dip my carb in there for a night?

Could the cylinders have somehow been gummed up? Maybe when putting the refuel in the other day, some water got sucked in?

Any advice is welcome..... im going crazy!

Oh yeah.... With the carb off, it should start if i spray fuel/oil mix into the block where the carb attaches..... right?

I live in remote alaska, so taking it to a shop or anything like that is an absolute last resort thing that i would prefer to avoid......

Any feedback is welcome.

Thanks!

 

[pvanv]

The problem is unlikely due to refueling, unless you had water in the new fuel. Check plug condition. Wet=no spark, dry=no fuel. Fuel to the carb bowl does not necessarily mean fuel to the chambers. Check for spark. If none, verify stop switch, and check ignition components.

 

[Sea Rider]

Strange, probably Alaskan witch doctor doesn't like you going to fish at that excellent fishy area. LOL. Kidding aside, how old is that engine ? Is your interior tank immaculate clean, how about fuel pick up interior small mesh filter, need to unscrew CCW pick up to check that out. Are all your electrical components grounds and power head contact points in shiny state ? Check kill cord electrical connectors are clean and fully inserted to a stop.

Happy Boating

 

[rookieboaterj]

I was messing with it last night and couldnt get spark. About to check all the electrical right now. its a 1985 motor.

If i get spark, then would it kick over with the carburator off and gas/oil mix sprayed into the block where the carb hooks on?

 

[rookieboaterj]

Fixed it! The ignition coil ground connector broke... Soldered it back and its good as new!

 

[Sea Rider]

Congrats that worked for you. Most times electrical ground connectors are overlooked, have seen cases where IC ground connector was split open, badly corroded inside cable, no electrical connection whatsoever, those are tricky ones to dignose.

Happy Boating