1987 yamaha 50 ELH

[watertime]

about a month ago I picked up an 1987 yamaha 50 ELH outboard motor and finally got around to giving it a tune up and I have a problem. see below.

my problem is when i go to start it it starts and idles for 20 sec and then it chirps and dies. if you restart it it may run for a little longer then 30 sec and then it chirps and dies again. no clue why this happens.

I took the carbs off and had them rebuilt inside and out put them back on and no change the chirp comes back and the motor dies or slow's down but the chirp is there. now I have replace the spark plugs all fuel lines and it's still doing the chirp.

is there anything else I can check or replace to make the chirp go away??????

please any help on this matter would be great thanks

 

[watertime]

Re: 1987 yamaha 50 ELH

ok so now I know what the chirping noise is in my motor and this will stop all other yamaha motors that have this type of chirp too as well. the chirping noise that you hear in the video's and the chirping noise in my motor is NOT a lean sneeze and I underline the NOT. after trying to figure this out for more then a week and doing more then 80 hours in researching it on Google I decide to break the motor down. took the power head off the lower unit and stripped it down and to my surprise it's not the carbs or the reeds as 80% off all answers given stated on the noise. the chirping noise you hear is coming from the 2 bearings on top and on the bottom of the crank shaft. to solve your problems you will need a complete gasket set for your power head and 2 new bearings and of course some time to yourself to do the work.

man I tell you if only I had known this from the beginning it would have save many sleepless night and maybe my back from sitting on the computer for many hours.

thanks to all that tryed to help

and to those that are trying now to figure it out stop. break the motor down and replace the bearing the chirping noise WILL STOP.

 

[99yam40]

Re: 1987 yamaha 50 ELH

What did you find wrong with the bearings that you say was causing the chirping noise?

As far as I can tell bearings will not make a chirping noise every once in a while when they are bad.
If your top or bottom seal was leaking and sucking air that could cause a lean sneeze, but I just do not see how a bearing would cause the chirping.
Please give more info.

 

[watertime]

Re: 1987 yamaha 50 ELH

more info as requested.

took the power head off and found after dimantling it that both top and bottom bearings were shot. top bearing had started spinning in it's sleeve were as soon as the bearing heated up it would try and stop itself causing it to chirp ( hence why it would run 30 or 40 seconds and chirp and die). both top and bottom bearing were pitted very bad. top bearing after dismantling it would not spin freely in my hand either vertical or horizontaly, bottom bearing would spin but not easy and stop soon after.

I did remove the carbs on my first try and cleaned them from inside out and replaced all gaskets so I knew it was not my carbs , I took my reeds out and checked them for any wear and nothing out of the norm so I knew it was not my reeds.

I put it back together and started it up over the weekend and "bam" no chirp not even a squeel. motor runs better then it did with the chirp..

so to end cap this post

when you have leaned out your carbs and check everything and you still have your chirping motor tear the power head off and check your bearings I will put money on it they are bad. or go ahead and lean those carbs so the noise goes away or better yet put a sh_t load of grease on the bottom bearing and hope for the best.

this post is done my motor NO longer chirps like a bird and I am off to get it in the water

HAPPY BOATING to all and be safe

 

[99yam40]

Re: 1987 yamaha 50 ELH

If the top and bottom bearings were pitted I would be worrying about the crank and rod bearings also. Something caused them to pit and that is usually water

 

[watertime]

Re: 1987 yamaha 50 ELH

yeah thanks for the info already done that. crank is top notch and everything else has been dealt with even replaced the good water impeler. like I said this last weekend motor went back together now I have a whole newly rebuilt power head and lower unit.

see this is what happens when you buy used and the person you buy from does not know how to do a little maintenance.
now I have a good running motor.