1989 60hp evinrude. Cranks but won't start

Joined
Apr 4, 2016
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10
I pulled carbs and cleaned them all and made sure all holes were cleaned. Primer solenoid is shooting gas out and gas is coming out of fuel pump. And when I I hold my hand over the carb when trying to start it sucks gas up into the carb. And spark plugs are getting a spark. So if some one could please help me out it would be greatly appreciated
 
Joined
Apr 4, 2016
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10
yes it did run. and when it sat the winter for 3 or 4 months we always run all the gas out of the motor.and I've owned it for a year-and-a-half. and when I first bought it we had all the carbs redone and sink
 

flyingscott

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Apr 8, 2014
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8,305
You need to pull the flywheel off use the puller that has three bolts not the kind that grabs the edge of the flywheel.
 

flyingscott

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Apr 8, 2014
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8,305
The key keeps the timing if the key shears the flywheel moves on the crank and the motor fires at the wrong time so won't run or start
 

Crosbyman

Vice Admiral
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Nov 5, 2006
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5,961
have you tried a squirt of gas in the cyl. to see if you can wake it up... shoot some gas (teaspoon full) in 3 cyl... close it up start it to see what happens next . use fresh gas... not last year's
 
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WernerF

Petty Officer 1st Class
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Sep 5, 2011
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320
You don't have to pull the flywheel to get a clue about the flywheel key sheared or not. Remove the three spark plugs. Insert a pencil or similar into #1 plug hole in order to feel the position of the piston. Turn the flywheel clockwise by hand until #1 piston is in top position (TDC). Timing pointer now should point to 0? on the flywheel's timing scale.
 

oldboat1

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Apr 3, 2002
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9,612
Get an adjustable spark tester, and buy or borrow a compression tester. Spark should be as above. Compression should be 120psi or so (+/-) -- even between cylinders. If you have good compression and spark after testing, either clean and regap plugs (probably .030, if using regular plugs, but check specs), or replace plugs.

[edit. cranking speed -- make sure it's a hot battery, and cranking at a good clip. Should crank at about the same speed with or without plugs installed.]
 
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Fed

Commander
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Apr 1, 2010
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2,457
Google adjustable spark tester and compression tester, takes all the guesswork out of it for all up less than $50.
 
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Apr 4, 2016
Messages
10
You don't have to pull the flywheel to get a clue about the flywheel key sheared or not. Remove the three spark plugs. Insert a pencil or similar into #1 plug hole in order to feel the position of the piston. Turn the flywheel clockwise by hand until #1 piston is in top position (TDC). Timing pointer now should point to 0? on the flywheel's timing scale.

So I did this and I don't know where to look for the timing deal. But when you can visually see that 1 is compressed 2,and3 and not
 

racerone

Supreme Mariner
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Dec 28, 2013
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39,301
Your best bet is to visit your local boat shop and have them do this simple check for you.
 

oldboat1

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Apr 3, 2002
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9,612
Stick with the basics, and look for simple problems first. Make sure you have a fully charged battery, and that it's cranking the engine over fast. I think you have a kill switch at your remote control (plastic clip on a lanyard). Make sure it's in place. The spring controlled button has to be held out/open by the clip. (If SURE you have spark, it's not the switch.) Screw out one or two of the plugs and check to see if they are wet. If blackened, clean them up with some carb cleaner.

For starting, it's the manual primer bulb that feeds fuel to the carbs, not the fuel pump. Not sure if you pulled the carbs off to correct the starting problem, but should hear fuel flow into the carbs when you pump the bulb -- which should be fairly hard when the carbs are primed.

The spark and compression testers tell you condition -- easy DIY tests. A $10 adjustable spark tester, for example, will tell you if you have spark, and then how strong it is -- i.e., whether it's strong enough to fire the engine.
 
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