96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

[Dipster]

Hello everyone,

can anyone offer advice or experience about my problem.

My 115HP Carburreted engine will intermittently stall when hot and then refuse to even kick/splutter for 2-5 mins worth of trying to restart, primer bulb will be hard/full. It will then go no problems for a random period of time until it will do it again.

It seems to happen more often when I am trolling/idling around sounding for fish, although it has sometimes happened at cruise/WOT.

It will only ever happen when it is hot and it will ALWAYS restart after I wait awhile and retry starting. It starts fine when cold and I have prior to this installed new fuel lines/filter/fuel primer and had carby's serviced.

It runs strongly apart from this fault and has no other symptons.

I dropped it into my local Evinrude dealership and they ran it in the tank for 2 hours at idle and trolling speeds and even higher and it didnt stall once, god I hate intermittent faults!!!!! They have suggested that when it does stall that I check for spark by putting an insulated screwdriver into a plug lead and seeing if a spark will jump across to the block when it is cranked.

They feel that it could possibly be an electrical fault. I want them to at least change something to begin fault finding so have told them to order in a new optical sensor ($168 AU) to see if this makes any difference. If this has no effect, they have suggested the next step is to replace the power pack ($380 AU).

Does anyone have any hints or thoughts.

Thanks

Daryl

 

[jonesg]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

Find a new mechanic, real mechanics arrive at faulty powerpacks by troubleshooting and testing with a peak reading meter.
They are throwing parts at it, when the PP doesn't work, whats next..maybe that stator they have sitting on the shelf.

Get it back, we will help you diagnose the cause without throwing expensive parts at it.

 

[Dipster]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

Thanks for the offer to help Jonesg.

I think I would like to get my boat back and do laps of my local river until it does it and then check for spark, this will rule out any fuel problems.

Thoughts?

Daryl

 

[Dipster]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

When I spoke to my mechanic, he said that he has a test box for the optical sensor, but that as its an intermittent problem, it wont show anything unless the engine had just stalled.

Does this sound right?

 

[Big flop]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

I agree about hating to throw parts at it!
Its very hard when it won't do it.
But I do agree with you it does sound like
like a optical sensor.
A bad sensor will test good when it's running.
Also check key switch, kill switch, boat & motor harness.

 

[Dipster]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

Thanks for the response Big, or is it MR Flop?? Haha.

I dont really want to fit a new optical sensor on a hope that it will be the problem, but Im going for a boating holiday for easter and wanted to try something to fix it and Im running out of time. This problem is currently an annoying one, but hasnt yet caused me to be stranded at sea (touch wood!!), I just hope it never does.

You mention that the key switch could be a problem, Im not sure about that as the engine still cranks after it stalls, it just wont fire for about 5 minutes. I thought if the dead man switch was engaged, that it wouldnt even crank??

 

[jeffersondodson561]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

 

[Dipster]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

Jefferson,
Compressions are all good, As for timed spark, I dont know?? My mechanic reckons that because its an optical sensor, the timing cant be adjusted. As for mixture, I've had the carby's serviced, and the engine runs strongly all the time, fuel economy is good (for a dirty old 2 stroke!!).

 

[jeffersondodson561]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

Bullsh*t timing is set using a special tool, find a different mechanic. This is a hall effect sensor not a crankshaft position sensor. I have done service to probably half a dozen that required timing verification, I had to re-re-read in the instruction procedures. To tell you the truth I would not feel comfortable doing it without the service manual in front of me. Find a mechanic who is not embaressed to let you see service manual ink on their nose. If you do tackle it yourself the most important thing you need to know about this motor is that sunlight (cowel removed) can have an adverse reaction on the sensor so doing any work make sure when the cowl is removed you have shade or you could be chasing your tail.

 

[Chris1956]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

Daryl, That behavior seems to be common on that series of engine. The latest info I saw was that it was caused by heatsoak, causing vapor lock. The cure (really a mitigation) that I use on my '98 150HPV6 is to advance the throttle (push the throttle only button), and let her run at high idle until she clears up and runs smooth. usually takes 3-5 min.

let me know if you find a real cure....

 

[Dipster]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling

OK Chris, I will give it a try, I have never tried to start it out of gear.

Thanks for the tip.

 

[Dipster]

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling- UPDATE FIXED!!

Re: 96 V4 Oceanrunner Stalling- UPDATE FIXED!!

My local evinrude mechanic replaced the optical sensor and the problem has gone away. He stated that he changes them every so often for similar symptoms to mine.

Very happy, now time to make up for lost fishing days over Easter!!!