25 hp stalls in the water

[radiodad]

Took the boat out, everything was fine,stopped and fished a few times and then it wouldn't start. It's a 2005 25hp ELH. Pulled the motor up to clear weeds from the prop and for some reason I started it in the pulled up position and it started right up, but when I lowered it into the water it died and wouldn't start again. Out of the water it starts right up. Finally had to start it out of the water, put it in gear - out of the water - and then lower it back down and it would run for a little while and then die. Finally got it to run long enough to get back to the dock. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Is this a 2 or 4 stroke?

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

2 stroke I believe. Today I tried running it in a garbage can filled with water - and it won't start when it's in the water.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Thats a new one. All I know is when it is started in water the exhaust flows through the point of least resistance, thats the idle relief holes under the lower coweling. When you hit the gas and it builds exhaust pressure it flows through the prop. The reason why I am bringing this up is thats really the only thing that changes from starting in water and out of water, besides the motor angle (tilted up or down). Starting out of water the exhaust flows through both ports because there isnt any resistance on any of them. If the pressure builds and there is no way for exhaust to escape, the motor won't run. I dunno though, I really want to see the outcome of this. Hopefully my answer to this question will help more people to chime in with answers, and hopefully a solution to the problem. Please keep us posted.

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Thats a new one. All I know is when it is started in water the exhaust flows through the point of least resistance, thats the idle relief holes under the lower coweling. When you hit the gas and it builds exhaust pressure it flows through the prop. The reason why I am bringing this up is thats really the only thing that changes from starting in water and out of water, besides the motor angle (tilted up or down). Starting out of water the exhaust flows through both ports because there isnt any resistance on any of them. If the pressure builds and there is no way for exhaust to escape, the motor won't run. I dunno though, I really want to see the outcome of this. Hopefully my answer to this question will help more people to chime in with answers, and hopefully a solution to the problem. Please keep us posted.

Thanks for your reply. It starts out of the water in the upright position. Could it be the impeller or impeller sensor? Someone I work with suggested it, I myself don't have a clue.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

This motor has no impellar sensor. All it does is force water into the water passages in the engine block to cool the motor. There are absolutly no electrical parts in the lower unit at all, and really no sensors on the motor either. The only mechanism it has for up position starting is a feature to lock it in neutral when it's tilted up....which is'nt working on your motor since you could put it in foward while it was up. This issue has me stumped as well though. Maybe take a small wire and run it up the exhaust passages under the lower coweling and maybe some compressed air. See if there is anything in there. DO NOT RUN WATER UP THERE, they lead right to the cylinders. Run compressed air there, and if you take the prop off...look into the hole and you will see a small opening leading up toward the motor, run some wire and air in there also. Those are your two exhaust passages. Maybe something fell in there and got stuck when you went to clear the weeds.

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

This motor has no impellar sensor. All it does is force water into the water passages in the engine block to cool the motor. There are absolutly no electrical parts in the lower unit at all, and really no sensors on the motor either. The only mechanism it has for up position starting is a feature to lock it in neutral when it's tilted up....which is'nt working on your motor since you could put it in foward while it was up. This issue has me stumped as well though. Maybe take a small wire and run it up the exhaust passages under the lower coweling and maybe some compressed air. See if there is anything in there. DO NOT RUN WATER UP THERE, they lead right to the cylinders. Run compressed air there, and if you take the prop off...look into the hole and you will see a small opening leading up toward the motor, run some wire and air in there also. Those are your two exhaust passages. Maybe something fell in there and got stuck when you went to clear the weeds.

Thanks. I'll try that. Now I need a prop removal tutorial

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Hold the prob steady, and remove the nut in the middle. Slide it off. If it wont budge, spray some WD40 on the shaft, let it sit for a few minutes and tap it off with a rubber hammer. Easy as that. Before you put it back on, clean the shaft with a rag and apply a good coat of grease to the shaft, slide the prop back on and tighten down the nut.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

BTW, when you remove the prop, there should be nothing behind it, as in weeds, fishing line, fish, wood, rocks. You should see nothing but a washer on the prop shaft, the plate the shaft runs through into the lower unit and that exhuast hole leading up toward the motor. If there is anything foreign objects in there remove them.

 

[EazzeO]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

hi there
i have heard it could be a sign of low compression. When theres no back pressure out of the water it will run and when there is it wont run. It doesnt make complete sence to me as of the relief ports but who knows.
well good luck with it.
cheers

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Thanks. I'll have to wait till the weekend to get on it. I don't know which way the prop turns in forward gear so I'll assume that the nut turns counter clockwise to loosen it. Also, although I had just added new fuel to the old fuel that was still in the tank, at a mix of about three times more new than old, it's been suggested that the fuel may be the problem.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

It doesnt seem like it's the old fuel. As for taking off the prop you just keep the prop from moving and remove the nut like any other nut. You really should do a compression test though. The gauge is like $20 from any auto store. I keep one in my boat and test my compression on a regular basis.

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

I decided to try the simple things first. Took the prop off - no junk etc. blockage. I emptied the gas tank and put in premium 50:1 gas oil. Started it in a bucket of water and it ran fine for a couple of minutes and then died. 2 things I need to know. 1. The bulb on the gas tank line goes soft? 2. Besides the water coming out the pee hole there's also water coming out of the lower unit about 6 or 7 inches above the water intake holes. Is that normal?

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

The water issue is normal, nothing to worry about there. The primer feeling soft MAY be an issue. Starting at your gas tank check for any leaks. Check all your fuel lines all the way to the carb for any dampness or anything even looking like a leak, then replace them with Alcohol resistant fuel line available at any auto store, if you find a problem. Could be that while it's out of the water there is no back pressure on the exhaust and the engine runs VERY easily, then small problems like a tiny fuel leak may not show up. Then when you put it in the water and all the sudden it has that backpressure and that load on the engine these little problems present themselves. I have seen it happen and it's something to take into consideration, easy and fast to check. And if it is the problem it's easy to fix and cheap. Sorry to keep running around with ideas, but most of the people I know that own boats and have problems I can just ride over to their house and look at it myself, and help fix it. Keep up the posts, we can figure this one out and it will make a good reference forum if anyone else ever has the same problem.

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Today with the motor running in water, I ran it for over 5 minutes without it stalling. There is no apparent leak anywhere. I'm tempted to take it out and try it. There's a white cup where the fuel line hooks into and I'm assuming it's the filter which I would like to take off and examine/clean. I'm thinking in the tilted up position, it's getting gas easier? With the cover off, everything looks absolutely brand new and I myself haven't used it that much. Is there anywhere online that I can get a cutaway view of the motor and it's components? I really appreciate your help. Thank you.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

That white bowl can can removed by unscrewing it, there is a filter inside that probably does need a good cleaning. Go to www.crowleymarine.com and follow the instructions and you can look at every single component of the motor.

 

[radiodad]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

Will do. Thanks for the link. Took it out and it ran fairly well, 1 stall and it started right up again. Did some fishing and it started everytime. Only thing is I was only able to get it to top speed once. 14ft aluminum boat - at full throttle - usually the front end picks way up and then flattens out and it really runs. I'm going to take a look at that filter and change the plugs. Thanks again.

 

[will941s]

Re: 25 hp stalls in the water

No problem, clean that filter and install those plugs and see how it does. If it won't hit full throttle, or does so here and there then you may want to clean and rebuild the carb. May be some trash in the bottom of the float bowl clogging the highspeed jet, preventing it from hitting full throttle...then sometimes it will dislodge or move and you can hit full throttle. VERY easy process to do. Keep us posted.