I had some starting problems with my motor today that I need help figuring out. I did a lot of maintenance this Spring and I’ve had it out several times with no problems. Here is the sequence of events today best I can remember. It is a little long because the behavior changed.
When I tried to start the motor at the dock after launch, when I turned the key I got a beep that continued as the engine cranked but did not turn over. I tried this several times with the same result. During my attempts I noticed that the bulb was empty so I pumped it up. If I remember correctly the engine started but died after a second or two. I believe it also beeped. I repeated pumping the bulb and trying to start 2 or 3 times with the same result- start for a second or two and die. I pulled the boat over to the other side of the dock so I wasn’t blocking the ramp and tried starting again. Engine started and stayed running. Seemed to be running good so I went out 2 or 3 miles hitting about 3500rpm. Engine seemed to run fine. Once I got to my destination I let the motor idle some and shut it off. I waited a couple of seconds, turned the key and it started right up.
About 20 minutes later I tried starting the motor and got the same result as at the dock; long beep as the motor cranked. I checked the bulb and it was soft again. This time I noticed that there was gasoline seeping from the tank side hose clamp. I tightened this up which stopped the leak. I tried starting again. This time I got a very short beep as I turned the key but it did not continue as the motor cranked but didn’t turn over. Once the motor got to the point where it was starting and dying after a few seconds there was no beep when I turned the key. I pumped the bulb a couple of times while doing this, even though it seemed pretty full. After I tried cranking it a couple of times the motor seemed to “whir” for a second before it started to crank. I thought maybe I was draining down the battery. The motor eventually started and continued to run all the way to the dock with no issues. It idled fine as I was waiting for other boats to launch and be taken out. I was continually going from idle to forward to reverse etc. to hold position. No complaints from the engine. Tomorrow I will check the fuel filter for water but the engine didn’t seem to be running rough after it started.
What should I be looking at? What does a beep only when the key is turned mean as opposed to a beep that continues as the motor cranks?
Thanks
When I tried to start the motor at the dock after launch, when I turned the key I got a beep that continued as the engine cranked but did not turn over. I tried this several times with the same result. During my attempts I noticed that the bulb was empty so I pumped it up. If I remember correctly the engine started but died after a second or two. I believe it also beeped. I repeated pumping the bulb and trying to start 2 or 3 times with the same result- start for a second or two and die. I pulled the boat over to the other side of the dock so I wasn’t blocking the ramp and tried starting again. Engine started and stayed running. Seemed to be running good so I went out 2 or 3 miles hitting about 3500rpm. Engine seemed to run fine. Once I got to my destination I let the motor idle some and shut it off. I waited a couple of seconds, turned the key and it started right up.
About 20 minutes later I tried starting the motor and got the same result as at the dock; long beep as the motor cranked. I checked the bulb and it was soft again. This time I noticed that there was gasoline seeping from the tank side hose clamp. I tightened this up which stopped the leak. I tried starting again. This time I got a very short beep as I turned the key but it did not continue as the motor cranked but didn’t turn over. Once the motor got to the point where it was starting and dying after a few seconds there was no beep when I turned the key. I pumped the bulb a couple of times while doing this, even though it seemed pretty full. After I tried cranking it a couple of times the motor seemed to “whir” for a second before it started to crank. I thought maybe I was draining down the battery. The motor eventually started and continued to run all the way to the dock with no issues. It idled fine as I was waiting for other boats to launch and be taken out. I was continually going from idle to forward to reverse etc. to hold position. No complaints from the engine. Tomorrow I will check the fuel filter for water but the engine didn’t seem to be running rough after it started.
What should I be looking at? What does a beep only when the key is turned mean as opposed to a beep that continues as the motor cranks?
Thanks