6hp tohatsu won’t turn on

[Jhayes780]

You should be able to get it into the carb via the air box that is right in front of the carb...

Yes using choke

ok so starter fluid did not help. It kind sounded like it wanted to sniffle but no other indication.

 

[Jhayes780]

Are we talking about a 2T or 4T? I was assuming a 4T. Also I've used starting fluid with 2-strokes many many many times, it's fine. When I was a teenager back in the early 90's my buddies boat had an old Mercury 150 v6 2-stroke that refused to cold start, so we kept a can of starting fluid in the boat for the first start of the day. We must have driven that thing half way around the world. Wait tables at night, pool our tips in the morning to fill the boat, go wakeboarding or fishing all day, rinse and repeat. He had a boat and no truck, I had a truck and no boat, we got along really well.

Tried starter fluid. It seemed like it wanted to sniffle, but no other indication that I wanted to turn over or run.

 

[Jhayes780]

Ok so I actually got a compression test and it’s like 46 psi so I’m thinking that it’s compression now. So do I need a rebuild?

 

[The Force power]

Ok so I actually got a compression test and it’s like 46 psi so I’m thinking that it’s compression now. So do I need a rebuild?

Get another gauge & check again

 

[MattFL]

It has an automatic compression release to make starting easier. Either check the service manual to see what compression number you should be seeing with the compression release working, or disable the compression release and try again. But if it was working just fine when it went into storage, it would be really unusual for it to have a mechanical problem leading to low compression.. unless maybe it was stored wet and the cylinder rusted? Something is missing here..

 

[Jhayes780]

Right I just got off the phone with the national tohatsu service provider. He also thinks it’s unlikely to be anything due to compression advise me to buy a new carb.

 

[MattFL]

Right I just got off the phone with the national tohatsu service provider. He also thinks it’s unlikely to be anything due to compression advise me to buy a new carb.

I really doubt you need a new one, just a very thorough cleaning. Though it should run momentarily on starting fluid. Maybe give it a double spray of the fluid and see if it runs for a few moments.

 

[Jhayes780]

Bought a new one no dice.

 

[Jhayes780]

OK, so compression, I actually remove the fuel pump, there’s o ring that seals off the hole where you can see the camshaft. I replaced it put it back on compressions 50 to 60 where it should be with the electronic compression thing. With the choke completely open and cranking on it 20-30 times I took the spark plug out and it’s still bone dry. Let me know what do you think the next step would. Fuel filter looks good. Fuel is getting to the carb

 

[airshot]

Pull plug and squirt a very small shot of gas into the cylinder, put plug back in and see if it fires. If it turns out to be a carb issue, your vetter off to get a rebuild kit and rebuild the original carb, getting an aftermarket could be another issue/ problem....

 

[MattFL]

Have you tried a new spark plug? And/or are you sure you're getting a big bright spark out of the one you have now?

 

[Jhayes780]

Have you tried a new spark plug? And/or are you sure you're getting a big bright spark out of the one you have now?

Yes. Yes. In this new carb is one from the tohatsu dealer. I’m wondering if maybe the fuel pump is bad? It fills the bowl up but not completely. Maybe it just doesn’t have the four to get it through the top of the carb

 

[MattFL]

If you've got spark and compression, there's no reason it shouldn't run with starting fluid. Are you sure it was working when it went into storage? Maybe it is time to double check the timing..

 

[Scott Danforth]

If you've got spark and compression, there's no reason it shouldn't run with starting fluid. Are you sure it was working when it went into storage? Maybe it is time to double check the timing..

Agreed unless the prop hit something and sheared the flywheel key

 

[km1125]

OK, so compression, I actually remove the fuel pump, there’s o ring that seals off the hole where you can see the camshaft. I replaced it put it back on compressions 50 to 60 where it should be with the electronic compression thing. With the choke completely open and cranking on it 20-30 times I took the spark plug out and it’s still bone dry. Let me know what do you think the next step would. Fuel filter looks good. Fuel is getting to the carb

Just an FYI... but there is no "electronic compression thing". There is a mechanism on the cam that will keep one of the valves open longer when the cam is spinning SLOWLY (like, when you pull start it). Once the engine fires and spins faster than ~200 RPM or so, that mechanism is disabled so both the valves operate normally and the compression then goes up to "normal" (which would be more like 150 PSI)

Are you SURE the choke cable is effectively closing off the carb when you pull the choke knob out? That's adjustable and if the choke is closed off and you have gas in the carb you should definitely get wet plugs after a number of pulls. Even if it can't pull it through the small idle passages, it will pull some up through the main jet and flood the engine.

 

[airshot]

Check the spark gap...the spark should jump a 1/4" gap and the spark should be blue, if yellow, that means a weak spark. They make an inexpensive tool to test the gap a spark to a plug will jump.......

 

[MattFL]

Agreed unless the prop hit something and sheared the flywheel key

We've been going on the theory that it was working OK when it went into storage, but I'm staring to doubt that this was the case..

 

[Jhayes780]

Alright. So I’ve done about damn near everything. The only thing I can think of now is that it’s a weak spark. Also the oil led light that’s supposed to come in when I’m cranking does not always come on. It comes on if I pull it really slow. It’ll flicker on and off about every 5 pulls. Again only when I’m doing it slow. If I start cranking on it the light does not come on

 

[Jhayes780]

Agreed unless the prop hit something and sheared the flywheel key

I have examined the flywheel. That’s not the issue.

 

[Jhayes780]

We've been going on the theory that it was working OK when it went into storage, but I'm staring to doubt that this was the case..

Ya it was put away good. I’m starting to suspect something electrical to do with the oil warning light