89 L-drive... new problem.

[newbie4life]

I'm ready to take the boat out to the middle of the lake, pull the plug, and swim back.

I took 'er out on her maiden voyage, after having the engine rebuilt, last night. Ran EXCELLENT. I was absolutely amazed at how well it ran. Drove it around for a half-hour or so, and then went back to the truck to get the tube. Loaded up with kids, and headed back out to open water.

Put the kids in the tube, tried to start the motor, and it fired a few times, and then killed. Hit the starter again, it must be flooded. Played with it awhile, and finally gave up, and started paddling to shore, stopping to try it a few times on the way back.

Made it to shore, had my folks come down, to pick me up, and take me to my truck (it was about 4 miles away -- I could've walked, but I still wouldn't have made it this morning.)

While waiting, I hit the starter and choke, and it took right off. Drove around the lake a little bit again, and she slowed right down, and killed again. This time, it started right up again, and I raised the fast idle to around 1200 rpms. it would drop to 500 once in awhile, and then come right back up.

Thinking it might be fuel, I pulled the fuel 'filter' -- a piece of screen -- and checked it. Spotless... no dirt, no holes, etc. I'm gonna install another in-line filter today.

Any other ideas?

 

[steelespike]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

When it stops the next time carefully check the spark.Use a manual to trouble shoot as you can damage the system.Sometimes ignition components will fail as they heat up and respond when they cool.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Well, heading out today, to try to replicate the problem. I doubt that it should be too difficult to do.

I will report back with my findings.

Thanks to everyone on here for help. You are extremely helpful to the educationally challenged like myself.

 

[baxtr]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Did you breakin the motor after the rebuild??? Not saying that is your prob, but don't want you to push it by pulling tubers before the break in period and ending up having to rebuild again. Gotta add dbl the oil and take it easy for quite a bit before givinn her.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Doubled the oil. Would love to be given the opportunity to 'break it in'. Thing won't stay running unless it's 3k to 4,500 rpm. Soon as I drop it down to idle, it pops and farts, then kills. If I 'sense' it dropping down in RPMs, I'll hit the gas a little bit, and it'll hesitate, then either go, or die.

Seriously, I'm within minutes of becoming a former boat owner.

If that's not enough, I get the one-finger salute, as I'm trying to keep 'er running. The place I'm running in isn't huge, but there's tubers running, skiing, etc all over the place... but for some reason this pontoon is parked right in the middle of the lake. What do you think is gonna happen? People are going to go around you -- keeping as far away as possible.

Frustrated. Extremely frustrated.

As for pulling a tube, I couldn't keep the darn thing running long enough to fire the tube overboard, throw the kids in, and toss 'em a rope.

I have spark. Pulled the plugs, and there was no excess gas on them (so I would assume this means it's not running rich???) Tightened the battery cables -- one was so loose, I don't know how the thing would start.

Any other ideas? I'd love to hit the water before I have to chop holes in it, to put the boat in.

I'm thinking about buying a bicycle. Could use the exercise, and if the chain falls off, I think I could figure out how to put the stupid thing back on.

Sorry for the rant... I've had this boat since June 7th. I've taken it to the boat landing 5 times. 4 of those, I've ended up paddling back.

I think I'm gonna sell it in the spring. If I want this kind of frustration to deal with, I'll get another mother-in-law.

 

[steelespike]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

I would suspect the idle circuit in the carb.You might see if the choke helps it run.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Try this one on for size:

Thought I'd hook it up to the ear-muffs in the driveway... never done it before, but I'll give her a shot.

Started right up. Runs and misses here and again, like it's been doing.

Then, I shut it off, because I had a revelation.... I'm gonna take my camera, take some live motion shots, and post them on Photo-Bucket, and put the linky on here for all to listen to, and give me some ideas.

Get the camera, go out to the boat, hit the starter, and the warning buzzer goes off.

How 'bout this.... these ear muffs... did I just kill my 2nd new impeller in a 1/2 season?

 

[Nate3172]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Ear muff's are not going to kill your impellar. You do, however, need to ensure that they seal good enough when you put them on that the water is actually going into the gearcase and not just spraying all over. There will be some water pushing it's way out from the sides of the muffs but not so much that there is not enough circulating through the engine.

 

[newbie4life]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

If that is the case, then why would the overheat buzzer go off? I had water leaking out of them, but when it started, there was a mist coming out of the exhaust. Then, I shut it off, grabbed the camera, and went out to start it again, just turning the key on, (not starting) the buzzer went off.

Have I ruined something else?

 

[newbie4life]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Well, replaced the impeller... for the third time. I don't know why I even tried the muffs. Apparently, they're useless -- at least for me they were.

Then, as for getting everything running absolutely PERFECTLY? No carb problems, no fuel pump prob.... Battery. The battery was a marine type battery with the regular automotive posts, and also the machine screw type posts. The guy that had it before me, bolted the battery cable to the automotive lead type connector, then used that to bolt it to the battery terminals. When we looked at the battery, the one clamp on the cable??? MELTED. I'm not even close to kidding. Melted. Bolted everything to the terminals, eliminating a connection or two, and the thing ran perfectly.

It's funny how something soooo simple can make such a HUGE difference in how it runs. It wouldn't idle, it wouldn't start.... After, it ran like I envisioned it would like it was new.

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: 89 L-drive... new problem.

Well, replaced the impeller... for the third time. I don't know why I even tried the muffs. Apparently, they're useless -- at least for me they were.

Then, as for getting everything running absolutely PERFECTLY? No carb problems, no fuel pump prob.... Battery. The battery was a marine type battery with the regular automotive posts, and also the machine screw type posts. The guy that had it before me, bolted the battery cable to the automotive lead type connector, then used that to bolt it to the battery terminals. When we looked at the battery, the one clamp on the cable??? MELTED. I'm not even close to kidding. Melted. Bolted everything to the terminals, eliminating a connection or two, and the thing ran perfectly.

It's funny how something soooo simple can make such a HUGE difference in how it runs. It wouldn't idle, it wouldn't start.... After, it ran like I envisioned it would like it was new.

...that was the problem?...the main connection? wow....what a pain in the butt for something relatively simple....like being brought down by a bad ground wire.
Oh well...hopefully you are good to go now. We need a few positive L-drive experiences I think.
Good Luck!!